târziu

Târziu is a Romanian adverb and adjective meaning “late” or “after the expected time.” As an adverb it modifies verbs, indicating that an action occurred later than expected or scheduled, e.g., „să ajungă târziu” (to arrive late). As an adjective it describes a state or condition that is delayed, such as „o decizie târzie” (a late decision) or “timp târziu” (late time). The word derives from the Latin *tertīus*, through the Romanian past participle *târziu*, and it is closely related to the adjective *târzenie* (lateness).

In everyday usage, târziu can refer to punctuality, deadlines, or temporal events. It is often paired with particles like „măi” or “pe” in colloquial speech: „târziu pe aeroport” (late at the airport). In literature and formal writing, the term frequently appears in the context of ethics or morality, especially in expressions describing “decizii tardive” or “consecințe târzii.”

Târziu also functions in compound phrases such as “întârziere” (delay) and “exercițiu târzi” (late exercise). In Romanian orthography, the letter â is used in the second syllable; the acute accent signals the pronunciation. The term is distinct from *târset* (tardy) which is used in some dialects, particularly in Moldavian speech.

Related concepts include ontime, punctual, retras, and late. In computing and information technology contexts, târziu may be used metaphorically to describe a delay in processing or execution, for example in describing a “târziu de rețea” (network delay). The term remains an essential lexical item for discussing schedules, deadlines, and temporal expectations in Romanian‐speaking communities.