sfânt

Sfânt is a Romanian adjective and noun meaning holy or sacred. As an adjective it describes persons, places, days or objects regarded as sacred or consecrated, and it is used in religious, liturgical and everyday language. As a noun it can denote a saint, especially in religious contexts, and the capitalized form Sfântul or Sfântă is used before proper names (for example, Sfântul Petru).

Etymology and orthography: sfânt derives from Latin sanctus, through the historical development of Romanian. The word is written with a circumflex on the a (sfânt) and, in the feminine form, with a final a (sfântă). The plural forms are sfinți (masculine) and sfințe (feminine). When used before names as a title, it appears as Sfântul or Sfântă.

Forms and grammar: The adjective agrees with gender and number: masculine singular sfânt; feminine singular sfântă; masculine plural sfinți; feminine plural sfințe. In predicative or attributive use, it can describe a thing as sacred: o zi sfântă (a holy day), un loc sfânt (a sacred place). In naming, the title Sfântul Petru indicates Saint Peter.

Usage and context: Sfânt is central in Romanian religious language and culture, appearing in prayers, hymns, saints’ biographies, and church-related toponyms or inscriptions. It also features in secular discourse to express reverence or sanctity, such as in expressions that designate moral purity or ritual correctness. The term encompasses both the sacred attributes of individuals recognized by tradition and the broader sense of holiness attributed to places, days, and objects.