sfinilor

Sfinilor is a Romanian term that appears primarily in religious, historical, and toponymic contexts. It functions as a form related to sfânt (saint) and is associated with phrases indicating possession or association with the saints, such as “of the saints.” In modern Romanian, the standard genitive plural of sfânt is sfinților, and sfinilor is not commonly used in everyday language. It can occur in older texts, in fixed expressions, or within place names and church titles where historical orthography influenced spelling.

Etymology and usage forms: The word sfânt comes from Latin sanctus, and its Romanian derivatives include sfinți in the nominative plural and sfinților in the standard genitive plural. The form sfinilor is less typical in contemporary prose and is usually encountered in specialized or archaic contexts, or preserved in names that reflect traditional naming practices rather than current grammar.

Toponymy and cultural context: In toponyms and ecclesiastical names, variations in spelling and form can appear due to historical orthography, regional pronunciation, or the desire to preserve a historical identity. Examples in toponymy may render a location as Dealul Sfinilor or similar, conveying “Hill of the Saints” or “ Saints’ Hill” through a fixed historical name rather than current grammatical usage.

See also: Sfânt, Sfinți, Sfinților, toponyms in Romanian religious naming practices.