The Plural Vocative: Addressing a Crowd
When you want to address a group of people directly—such as saying "Friends!", "Citizens!", or "Ladies and gentlemen!"—Romanian uses the vocative case.
For plural nouns, the vocative is identical to the plural genitive/dative form. Create it by adding the suffix -lor to the plural noun (for example, doamne becomes doamnelor, and domni becomes domnilor).
| Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to achieve victory! | Doamnelor și domnilor, o să obținem victoria! |
This structure is especially common in public addresses, political speeches, and rallies. Notice how the plural noun patrioți (patriots) becomes patrioților (Patriots!) when speaking to a crowd.
| Patriots, if you vote, we are going to win! | Patrioților, dacă votați, o să învingem! |
| Citizens, the reform is more and more necessary! | Cetățenilor, reforma este din ce în ce mai necesară! |
Rallying the People
When delivering an inspiring message, you will often pair these vocative forms with strong political vocabulary like unitatea (the unity), națiunea (the nation), and prosperitatea (the prosperity).
| Friends, our country needs unity. | Prietenilor, țara noastră are nevoie de unitate. |
| Colleagues, the nation wants prosperity and justice. | Colegilor, națiunea vrea prosperitate și dreptate. |
You can apply the -lor suffix to almost any group of people you are speaking to, from students to workers, to grab their attention and make a direct appeal.
| Students, the reform is going to guarantee unity! | Studenților, reforma o să garanteze unitatea! |
| Workers, our victory is closer and closer. | Muncitorilor, victoria noastră este tot mai aproape. |