salutare

Salutare is a term found in Romance languages with related meanings connected to greeting or saluting. In Italian, salutare is the infinitive of a verb meaning to greet someone or to salute. In Romanian, the word appears in the language as a noun meaning a greeting or salutation, and in informal writing it can appear as part of a casual opening such as a greeting in a message.

In Italian, the verb salutare follows a regular -are conjugation. The present tense forms are saluto, saluti, saluta, salutiamo, salutate, salutano. The past participle is salutato, used with auxiliary av- to form compound tenses (ho salutato, hai salutato, ecc.). The imperative is: saluta, salutiamo, salutate. Reflexive usage exists as salutarsi, meaning to greet each other. Example: “Volevo salutare tutti al concerto.” The verb covers a range of social gestures, from a quick hello to a formal salute.

In Romanian, the core verb is a saluta (to greet). The noun form salutare is encountered less frequently, but it can denote a greeting or a salutation in descriptive contexts. In everyday writing and online communication, salutare may appear as a casual opening, for example “Salutare tuturor!” meaning “Hello everyone!” More formal greetings in Romanian typically use expressions such as Bună ziua or Salut.

Etymology and cognates: salutare derives from Latin salutare, meaning to greet or salute, from salutus health or safety. Related forms appear in several Romance languages, such as Italian salutare and French saluer, reflecting common Latin roots. The concept of salutare encompasses both the act of greeting and the social ritual surrounding it, with variations across languages and register.