Etymologically

Etymology and origin of the Romanian word emoțional

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1889 the periodical Arhiva More words from the 19th century
Borrowed from
French émotionnel
Ultimate origin
French émotion

Pronunciation

  • Literary: /e.mo.t͡si.oˈnal/[1]
  • /e.mo.t͡sjoˈnal/[1]

Forms

emoțional m or n (feminine singular emoțională, masculine plural emoționali, feminine/neuter plural emoționale)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French émotionnel, as DELR, DEX and MDA2 give it; the DLR and MDN add German emotional.[2][3][4][5][6] DLRM and NODEX derive it in Romanian from emoție.[7][8] Wiktionary also notes the surface analysis emoțiune with -al.[1] The French adjective is formed from émotion with -el.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

DELR's first record is of 1889, in the periodical Arhiva, meaning “relating to emotion”.[2]

Semantic evolution

The DLR's quotations, from Caragiale and Gherea on, use it of the power of poetry to move: virtutea emoțională, fondul emoțional.[5][9] The derivative emoționalitate “emotionality” is recorded from 1893.[2]

Timeline

  • 1889 – emoțional “relating to emotion” in Arhiva.[2]
  • 1893 – emoționalitate in Convorbiri literare.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Belonging to emotions; caused by an emotion; that produces emotion; emotiv.[3][4][1]
  2. (of people) Showing one's emotions, emotional.[8]

Word family

  • emoționalitate

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2011–), Dicționarul etimologic al limbii române (DELR), vol. I: A–B (2011), vol. II: C (2015–2018), București: Editura Academiei Române; continued online at delr.lingv.ro, p. s.v. emoție
  3. ^ a b DEX (2009), Dicționarul explicativ al limbii române [Explanatory dictionary of the Romanian language], Bucharest: Editura Univers Enciclopedic
  4. ^ a b Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2010), Micul dicționar academic, 2nd ed., 4 vols., București: Univers Enciclopedic Gold, p. 1, 809
  5. ^ a b Academia Română (1965–2010), Dicționarul limbii române (DLR), serie nouă, tom I–XIX, București: Editura Academiei Române, p. s.v. emoțional
  6. ^ Marcu, Florin (2000), Marele dicționar de neologisme, București: Saeculum Vizual
  7. ^ Academia Republicii Populare Romîne (1958), Dicționarul limbii romîne moderne, București: Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Romîne
  8. ^ a b Academia Română, Institutul de Lingvistică „Iorgu Iordan – Al. Rosetti” (2002), Noul dicționar explicativ al limbii române, București: Litera Internațional
  9. ^ Macrea, Dimitrie; Petrovici, Emil (coord.) (1955–1957), Dicționarul limbii romîne literare contemporane, 4 vols., București: Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Romîne

Related etymologies

  • cap · also from French
  • dura · also from French
  • pur · also from French
  • pană · also from French
  • pat · also from French
  • masă · also from French
  • lac · also from French
  • primar · also from French
Cite this entry

“Emoțional.” Etymologically, 12 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/ro/emo%C8%9Bional. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·