Romanos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals belonging to or originating from the ancient or modern city of Rome; followers of Roman culture and traditions; members of the Roman Empire's population
2. People associated with the city of Rome in historical or contemporary contexts; those who practice Roman customs or speak a Romance language; citizens or subjects of Roman heritage
3. Residents or natives of Rome, either ancient or current; adherents of Roman societal norms and institutions; individuals linked to the legacy of Roman civilization

Etymology: "Romanos" is the plural of "romano," a word English borrowed from Italian "romano," meaning "Roman." Italian got it from Latin "Romanus," the adjective built on "Roma," the city's name. The English word "Roman" came into the language through a different path, so the two are doublets: separate borrowings of the same ancestor, one arriving from Latin and one from Italian. The plural form matters here. English usually reserves "romano" for a specific kind of cheese, Pecorino Romano, and its plural "romanos" is a word for the Roman people or the figures in that Italian name. Its spelling and form mark it as a recent Italianate borrowing rather than a native English term, and the same Latin root that gave "Roman" also gave it.

Synonyms: Romans