Category: Romanian without Tears

Being able to ask accessible, open-ended questions in Romanian might give you the chance to strike up a conversation and make friends, if your stay in Bucharest turns out to be longer than planned, so today we offer you a string of questions that might be helpful in various day-to-day situations.

As usual, we begin with a useful set of words and phrases:

A fi casatorit=to get married

Milionar=millionaire

Copil=child

Copii=children

Trei=three

Insula=island

Insula pustie=desert island

A vorbi=speak

Perfect=perfectly

It’s now time to use some of the words in relevant types of questions.

Ce ati face daca ati fi casatorit?

What would you do if you were married?

Ce ati face daca ati fi milionar?

What would you do if you were a millionaire?

Ce ati face daca ati avea trei copii?

What would you do if you had three children?

Ce ati face daca ati ajunge pe o insula pustie? What would you do if you arrived on a desert island? Ce ati face daca ati sti perfect romaneste?

What would you do if you could speak Romanian perfectly?

Thank you ALL for the interest you take in Romanian culture, and for being so keen on learning Romanian with us. Good Bye! La revedere!

Lets begin with some new notions:

– border = granita

– violation = incalcare

– foreign relations = relatii externe

– sovereignty = suveranitate

– break-up = destramare

– territory = teritoriu

– independence = independenta

– autonomy = autonomie

– involvement = implicare

– agreement = acord

Now, let’s use these words in sentences.

The break-up of Yugoslavia has created new borders.

Destramarea Iugoslaviei a creat noi granite.

This is a violation of international law.

Aceasta este o incalcare a legislatiei internationale.

She is an expert in foreign relations.

Ea este expert in relatii externe.

This is a threat on sovereignty.

Aceasta este o amenintare la adresa suveranitatii.

The country has expanded into new territory.

Tara s-a extins într-un nou teritoriu.

India gained independence peacefully.

India a castigat independenta in mod pasnic.

It was decided this territory needs more autonomy.

S-a decis ca acest teritoriu are nevoie de mai multa autonomie.

Parliament decided Romania needs more international involvement.

Parlamentul a decis că Romania are nevoie de mai multa implicare la nivel international.

The two countries have reached an agreement.

Cele doua tari au ajuns la un acord.

Your survival Romanian kit must include a basic knowledge of a fact-finding, question-and -answer exchange, in which you share relevant information about someone, or you give information about yourself, if you want relate to a happenstance acquaintance you may have come across in Bucharest, or elsewhere across Romania.

As usual, we begin with a useful set of words and phrases:

A face= to do

Sigur= of course

A dormi= sleep

Ceva=anything

Cineva=anyone

A locui=live

Noapte=night

Prieten=friend

Prieteni=friends

Ei=they, them

It’s now time to use some of the words in relevant types of questions:

Ai ce face?

Have you got anything to do?

Sigur ca am ce face.

Of course I have got something to do.

Ai unde dormi?

Have you got a place to sleep/spend the night?

Da, am unde dormi.

Yes, I have a place to sleep/spend the night.

Aveti cu cine vorbi?

Have you got anyone to talk to?

Nu, nu am cu cine vorbi.

No, I haven’t got anyone to talk to.

Aveti unde sta in Bucuresti?

Have you got a place to live in Bucharest?

Da, avem unde locui in Bucuresti.

Yes, we have got a place to live in Bucharest.

Niste prieteni ne-au invitat sa locuim la ei.

A couple of friends invited us to stay with them.

You may think it is a stereotype, but for all its economic predicament, Romania still boasts an impressive wildlife. If you happen to travel north of the country, in Maramures, you’ll soon find out it was well worth driving 400 miles, as what you will see there is quite rewarding for you as foreign tourists.

As usual, let us start with some useful words and phrases:

Priveliste=landscape

Frumusete rara=breathtaking beauty

Padure=forest

Brad=fir-tree

Molid=pine spruce

Stejar= oak tree

Fag=beech tree

Fauna=fauna

Vinator=hunter

Cautat=sought-after

Urs=bear

Cerb carpatin=Red deer

Mistret=wild boar

Now let us use some of the words in sentences.

Maramuresul este o regiune bogata in privelisti de o rara frumusete.

Maramures is a region rich in landscapes of a breathtaking beauty.

De asemenea, Maramures este o zona in care se afla paduri intinse de brad, molid stejar si fag.

Also, Maramures is an area where you can find large fir-tree, pine spruce, oak tree and beech forests.

Fauna acestor paduri este cautata de vinatori.

The fauna of these forests is extremely sought-after by hunters.

In Maramures gasim ursi, cerbi carpatini, mistreti, precum si alte animale.

In Maramures you can find bears, Red deers, wild boars, as well as many other animals.

For more than a week now, Romania has been literally snowed under, so traveling freely around the country as a tourist is wishful thinking, for the time being, at least. So instead of keeping fit, today we invite you to jog your mind, and IMAGINE what you would do if you had the opportunity to visit Romania.

As usual, we begin with a series of useful words and phrases:

Vacanta=holiday

Urca=climb up

Cobori=climb down

Respira=breathe

Aer curat=fresh air

A se bronza=to get suntanned

Carari de munte=mountain paths

Now let us use some of these words and phrases in meaningful sentences.

Daca ati avea vacanta, ati putea face un tur prin Romania.

If you were on holiday, you could take a tour of Romania.

Ati putea veade o multime de locuri frumoase, de orase, fiecare cu ceea ce are specific.

You could see a lot of beautiful places, a lot of cities, each with their own specific elements.

Urcind si coborind pe jos, pe carari de munte, respirind aer curat, v-ati odihni cu adevarat.

Climbing up and down, along mountain paths, breathing fresh air, you can really rest.

La mare, v-ati bronza, ati inota, si ati putea face plimbari lungi pe plaja.

At the seaside, you could get suntanned, you could swim, and you can take long walks on the beach.

Orasul Cluj, in centrul Transilvaniei, este vestit pentru numeroasele lui institutii de invatamint si cultura.

The city of Cluj, in central Transylvania, is famous for its numerous education and culture institutions.

In Cluj ati putea vedea si vestita Gradina Botanca.

In Cluj, you can also visit the famous Botanical Gardens.

In Brasov, in centrul Romaniei, ati vedea Biserica Neagra.

In the central Romanian city of Brasov, you can visit the famous Black Church.

In Moldova, ati putea vizita manastirile pictate si Iasul cu universitatea sa renumita.

In Moldavia, you could visit the painted monasteries and the city of Iassi, with its famous university.

In Bucuresti, puteti vizita Ateneul Roman si Muzeul de Arta.

In Bucharest, you could visit the Romanian Athenaeum and the Art Museum

Your ability to relate to people around you is crucial, since you need to function socially in a proper and efficient way. If you are a foreign speaker of Romanian, you need to be a lot more mindful of how you reason what you do in a certain context.

The well-known wh- questions seems to be working well in this respect.

As usual, we begin with a set of useful words and phrases:

De ce= Why

A intarzia= to be late

Copii=children

Ceas=alarm clock

A suna=ring

Autobuz=bus

A sosi=arrive

La timp= on time

A se rataci= to get lost

Now let us use some of the words and phrases in a relevant set of wh-questions:

Din ce cauza ati intirziat?

Why are you late?

Am intirziat din cauza copiilor.

I was late because of the children.

Am intirziat fiindca n-a sunat ceasul.

I was late because the alarm clock didn’t ring.

Am intirziat pentru utobuzul nu a venit la timp.

I was late because the bus didn’t arrive on time.

Am intirziat pentru ca a fost pana de curent.

I was late because we had a power cut.

Din ce cauza nu stii bine romaneste?

Why can’t you speak Romanian well?

Nu stiu bine romaneste pentru ca nu am prea avut cu cine sa vorbesc.

I can’t speak Romanian well because I did not have someone to speak to.

Din ce cauza ai ramas acasa?

Why did you stay at home?

Am ramas acasa pentru ca am racit.

I stayed at home because I caught a cold.

Din ce cauza te-ai ratacit?

Why did you get lost?

Let’s learn some basic terms about the cold season, winter holidays and celebrations.

winter — iarna

season-anotimp

holidays– sarbatori

Christmas — Craciun

New Year-Anul Nou

eve-ajun

party-petrecere

New Year’s Eve Party– petrecere de revelion

snow — zapada

blizzard — viscol

sleet – polei

to freeze — a ingheta

icicles — turturi

eave —streasina

to hang- a atarna

sled — sanie

gifts — daruri

family– familie

favourite-preferat

Let’s use these words to make up sentences:

Winter is my favorite season.

Iarna este anotimpul meu preferat

Jane visits her family for the holidays.

Jane isi viziteaza familia de sarbatori.

Christmas is eagerly expected by everyone.

Craciunul este asteptat cu nerabdare de toata lumea.

This year we’ll go to the best New Year’s Eve Party.

Anul acesta vom merge la cea mai grozava petrecere de Revelion.

George loves icicles hanging from the eaves.

Lui George ii plac turturii care atarna pe la stresini.

This year we had less snow.

Anul acesta am avut mai putina zapada.

So far we had only one day of blizzard.

Pana acum am avut numai o zi de viscol.

Sleet makes traffic difficult.

Poleiul îngreunează circulaţia.

The lake in the park freezes in winter.

Lacul din parc ingheata iarna.

Children come out to play with their sleds.

Copiii ies la joacă cu săniile.

WE WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR! LA MULTI ANI!

The cold season may catch some of you unawares, and you may need something to cure or maybe stave off any form of flu for the rest of the winter.

As usual, we begin wits a series of useful words and phrases.

Farmacie=chemist’s

Client=customer/client

Picatura=drop

Nas=nose

Picaturi de nas=nose drops

Copil=child

Adult=adult/grown-up

Amindoi/amindoua=both

Reteta= prescription

Recomanda=recommend

Pastila=tablet

Fiola=phial

Now, let us some some of the the words in meaningful conversation patterns: Buna ziua! Cu ce va putem servi?

Good afternoon! How may I help you?

As dori aspirina calcica si picaturi de nas.

I should like some calcium aspirin and some nose drops, please.

Pentru copii sau pentru adulti?

For children or for adults?

Pentru copii, dar prefer sa-mi preparati picaturile de nas dupa reteta.

For children, but I’d like you to prepare the nose drops according to a prescription.

Totul va fi gata dupa-amiaza aceasta.

Everything will be ready this afternoon.

Since Christmas is drawing near, from the bottom of our heart we wish you Merry Christmas! Craciun fericit!

In the age of the Internet, where the Global village seems to be the slogan phrase for the world we live in, sport still provides a strong bond for people who come from different parts of the world. And of all sports disciplines, football continues to top the rankings of all sports disciplines, especially in Europe. So if you’re still around, in Romania, I mean, chances are that tackling football when you strike up a conversation with a native might provide the common ground for carrying the talk further.

As usual, we begin with a series of useful words and phrases.

Fotbal=football

A placea= like

A tine cu= support

Jucator=player/footballer

Preferat=favorite

Mare=great

Nu tin cu=I don’t support

Now let us use the words in short, meaningful communicative patterns:

Va place fotbalul?

Do you like football?

Cu cine tineti/cu cine tii?

Who do you support?

Care este jucatorul dumneavoastra/tau preferat?

Who is your favorite player?

Eu tin cu…

I support….

E un jucator mare.

He is a great player.

But I don’t support ….

Dar nu tin cu….

Nu e bun.

He is no good.

Well, that’s all we had time for in Romanian Without Tears today. Thank you ALL for being with us, and getting your fresh dose of Romanian. Bye for now! LA REVEDERE!

Expressing likes and dislikes, but also expressing wishes in a foreign language, accurately and fluently, may help you carry on with a conversation in Romanian.

The “what would you do if…” game is frequently used in a foreign language speaking class, so today we’ll be exploring the pattern, encouraging you to feel free and speak in Romanian.

As usual, we begin with a series of useful words and phrases.

Servici=work

Teatru =theatre

Cinci mii= five thousand

Devreme=early

Mai devreme=earlier

Cumpara=buy

Masina=car

Vacanta de vara=summer vacation

Zi libera=a day off

A sta= to stay

A sta acasa=to stay at home

Now let use some of the words and expressions in wh-open questions:

Ce ai face daca ai iesi mai devreme de la servici astazi?

What would you do if you finished work earlier today?

As merge la teatru.

I would go to the theatre.

Ce ai face daca ai avea cinci mii euro?

What would you do if you had five thousand Euro?

Mi-as cumpara o masina.

I would buy a car.

Ce ai face daca vacanta ta de vara ar fi mai lunga?

What would you do if your summer vacation were longer?

As merge in Grecia.

I would go to Greece.

Ce ai face daca seful ti-ar acorda o zi libera lunea urmatoare?

What would you do if your boss gave you a day off next Monday?

As vrea sa stau acasa.

I would like to stay at home.

So if your likes include learning Romanian, feel free to express your wishes in that language. Best of luck!

Your survival Romanian might as well include a kit of expressions and basic sentences you may want to use if you have no choice other than to strike up a conversation with someone. Or rather, you might start talking to someone simply because you happen to know those people and you just want to make friends.

As usual, we begin with a set of useful words and phrases.

A se trezi= to wake up

A se scula= to get up

A se spala= to wash oneself

A-si pieptana parul= to comb one’s hair

A se imbraca= to get dressed

A se incalta= to put on one’s shoes

A se duce= to go

A se intoarce= to come back

A se culca= to go to bed

A se grabi= to be in a hurry

A se gindi= to think

A intirzia=to be late

Now let us use some of these words in sentences that might in turn be part of a meaningful communicative pattern in Romanian:

La ce ora te trezesti dimineata?

What time do you wake up in the morning?

Cind te scoli din pat?

What time do you get up?

La ce ora te duci la servici?

What time do you go to work?

Dimineata ma trezeste desteptatorul.

In the morning, my alarm clock wakes me up.

Dupa ce ma scol, intii imi beau cafeaua.

After I get up, I drink my coffee first.

Dupa aceea, ma duc in baie sa ma spal si sa ma imbrac.

After that, I go to the bathroom to wash and get dressed.

Daca am timp sufficient, servesc micul dejun.

If I have enough time, I have breakfast.

Dar aceasta nu se intimpla prea des.

But that doesn’t happen very often.

Nu vreau sa intirzii la servici.

I don’t want to be late for work.

If you want to speak better Romanian, allow some time for yourself and stop doing things by the book. Get at it, and start talking to native Romanians!

Despite the economic crisis which is still ongoing in Romania, the country is recovering and is even making progress in various respects. These days, you can reach every spot you may feel like visiting across the country using a wide range of transport means.

Here are some words and useful phrases.

Cu masina= by car

Cu autobuzul= by bus

Cu troleibuzul= by trolley bus.

Cu trenul=by train.

Cu avionul=by plane

Cu vaporul=by ship

Pe jos= on foot

Oras=city

Sat=village

Munte=mountain

Ape=waters

Clipa=instant

Let us now use some of the words in sentences.

De ce iti pace sa mergi cu masina?

Why do you like traveling by car?

Pentru ca este mai comod.

Because it is more comfortable

Cind mergem cu avionul, ajungem repede, dar nu vedem nimic..

When we travel by plane, we reach our destination quickly, but we don’t’ get round to seeing anything.

Orasele si satele,muntii si apele, apar o clipa si dispar.

Cities and the villages, mountains and waters appear for an instant and then disappear.

Daca, insa, mergem cu masina, putm sa vedem ce vrem.

But if we travel by car we can see whatever we want to see.

Putem opri si cobori unde ne place.

We can stop and get off wherever we like.

Putem sa stam in natura, sau sa facem cumparaturi intr-un oras.

We can stay in the middle of nature, or we can do our shopping in a city.

Cind mergem pe jos, vedem mute, dar ajungem incet.

When we go on foot, we see a lot of things, but we reached our destination slowly.

This week we’re going to look at that linguistic phenomenon known as the “false friend”. So, what is a false friend?

Basically false friends are words or phrases that exist in two different languages or dialects that, though they might look and sound similar, in fact have different, or at least partially different, meanings in each case. False friends can be a cause of confusion when you’re learning a foreign language, especially if that language has links to your mother tongue. And the misunderstandings created when you unwittingly use a false friend can often have comic consequences!

Let’s look at just a few examples of false friends in Romanian and English. Take the English word “actual”, which also exists in Romanian, “actual”. What’s the difference? In English “actual” is used to mean “real” or “true”, while in Romanian — as, incidentally, in various other European languages — it means “current”, as in “current affairs”.

Another common false friend is the word “magazine”, which in English is a periodical publication like The Economist or Private Eye magazine. In Romanian, however, the word magazin means shop! So make sure you take enough money with you next time you say “I’m going to buy un magazin”!

And another fun example is the Romanian word “sef”’, which in English sounds like “chef”, someone who cooks for a living, which in Romanian actually means ‘boss’. So unless your boss is also a professional good cook, you’d better try not to confuse these two words!

Then there’s also the Romanian “librarie”, which looks and sounds similar to the English “Library”. However, a “librarie” is not somewhere you go to borrow a book, it’s actually where you go to buy one — that is, a bookshop!

If your stay in Romania turns out to be longer than planned, you may find it useful to learn how to ask for directions.

Here are a couple of words and phrases that are crucial for your survival Romanian kit.

A cauta= to look for

Inainte=straight on/straight ahead

La dreapta= to the right

La stinga= to the left

A cere= to ask for

A incerca=to try

Departe=far

Aproape=near

A gasi= to find

A gresi= to make a mistake

A ajunge= to arrive

Now let us use some of the words in meaningful communicative patterns:

Alin and Sanda Popescu sint din Brasov.

Alin and Sanda Popescu are from Brasov.

They are now in Bucharest and are looking for the “Astoria” hotel.

Acum ei sint in Bucuresti si cauta hotelul “Astoria”.

Spuneti-mi, va rog, unde este hotelul Astoria”?

Could you please tell me where the Astoria Hotel is?

Mergeti inainte, apoi faceti la dreapta.

Walk straight ahead, then turn right.

Scuzati-ma, cit de departe este posta?

Excuse, me, how far is the post office?

Nu foarte departe. Mergeti pe jos cam zece minute, apoi faceti la stinga.

Not very far. Walk for about ten minutes, then turn left.

Veti vedea cladirea postei chiar in fata dumneavoastra.

You will see the post office building right in front of you.

Este o cladire foarte mare. Nu aveti cum sa nu o observati.

It is a huge building. You can’t miss it.

Let’s begin with the basics.



what? – ce?

who? – cine?

where? – unde?

when? – cand?

why? – de ce?

how? – cum?

which? – care?

how much? – cat?

Now lets make some sentences.



What do you have in your bag?

Ce ai in geanta?



Who is that woman?

Cine este femeia aceea?



Where is Alexandru?

Unde este Alexandru?



When can you come?

Cand poti veni?



Why hasn’t he arrived?

De ce nu a ajuns?



How do you open this box?

Cum deschizi cutia aceasta?



Which car is yours?

Care este masina ta?



How much did your jacket cost?

Cat a costat jacheta ta?