romains
B2formal, historical, religious
Definition
Meaning
The people of ancient Rome, or the book of the Bible (the Epistle to the Romans).
May refer to the citizens, culture, or civilization of ancient Rome. In religious context, the New Testament book authored by Paul.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always capitalised. Functions as a plural noun (the people) or a proper noun (the biblical book).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Historical, classical, or theological. In the UK, may be more associated with classical history due to curriculum; in the US, perhaps slightly more with religious contexts.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, appearing in historical and religious discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Romans + past tense verb (e.g., built, conquered, believed)the + Romans + of + noun phrase (e.g., the Romans of antiquity)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
- “All roads lead to Rome.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not typically used, except in branding or naming (e.g., a company name).
Academic
Frequent in history, classics, archaeology, and theology departments.
Everyday
Used in discussions about history, travel to Rome, or Bible study.
Technical
Used in historical research, theological exegesis, and archaeological reports.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The Roman empire was vast.
- We studied Roman architecture.
American English
- Roman law influenced many systems.
- She wrote about Roman mythology.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Romans lived in Italy.
- I have read about the Romans.
- The Romans built many roads across Europe.
- The book of Romans is in the New Testament.
- Historians debate the reasons for the Romans' military success.
- Paul's letter to the Romans addresses themes of faith and law.
- The administrative legacy of the Romans endured long after the empire's fall.
- The epistle to the Romans is considered a cornerstone of Pauline theology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember: Romans built ROads and wrote the book of ROMANS.
Conceptual Metaphor
ROMANS ARE BUILDERS (of civilization, laws, infrastructure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'романс' (romance) which is unrelated.
- The Russian word is 'римляне' (rimlyane) for the people and 'Послание к Римлянам' for the biblical book.
Common Mistakes
- Writing 'romans' in lowercase.
- Confusing with 'Romanian' (which refers to modern Romania).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a correct use of 'Romans'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring to the people of ancient Rome or the biblical book, it is always capitalised as it is a proper noun.
'Roman' is the singular adjective (e.g., Roman soldier) or a singular noun for a person (a Roman). 'Romans' is the plural noun for the people collectively or the title of the biblical book.
No, 'Romans' specifically refers to the ancient people. Modern inhabitants of Rome are called 'Romans' only in a contemporary, non-historical sense (e.g., 'the Romans of today'), but this is less common.
The primary meanings stem from history (the ancient civilization) and religion (the New Testament epistle addressed to the Christian community in Rome). Both derive from the city of Rome.