Essential Romanian Vocabulary for English Speakers: A Beginner’s Guide

Learning a new language can be a thrilling adventure, especially when that language is as rich and fascinating as Romanian. Whether you’re traveling to Romania, interested in its culture, or simply want to pick up a new language, knowing some basic Romanian vocabulary will make a big difference. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to essential Romanian words and phrases that will help you in everyday conversations.

1. Greetings and Basic Phrases

Let’s start with the basics! These greetings and polite expressions will help you navigate through casual encounters and make a good first impression.

  • Hello – Salut / Bună
  • Good morning – Bună dimineața
  • Good afternoon – Bună ziua
  • Good evening – Bună seara
  • Good night – Noapte bună
  • Goodbye – La revedere
  • Please – Te rog (informal) / Vă rog (formal)
  • Thank you – Mulțumesc
  • Yes – Da
  • No – Nu
  • Excuse me – Scuză-mă (informal) / Scuzați-mă (formal)
  • Sorry – Îmi pare rău
  • Nice to meet you – Încântat de cunoștință
  • How are you? – Ce mai faci? (informal) / Ce mai faceți? (formal)
  • I’m fine, thank you – Sunt bine, mulțumesc
  • And you? – Și tu? / Și dumneavoastră?

2. Numbers

Knowing how to count in Romanian is useful for handling money, shopping, and asking for directions. Here are the numbers from 1 to 10:

  • 1 – unu
  • 2 – doi
  • 3 – trei
  • 4 – patru
  • 5 – cinci
  • 6 – șase
  • 7 – șapte
  • 8 – opt
  • 9 – nouă
  • 10 – zece

For higher numbers:

  • 20 – douăzeci
  • 50 – cincizeci
  • 100 – o sută
  • 1000 – o mie

3. Days of the Week and Time

Knowing the days of the week and how to ask for the time is essential for making plans, booking appointments, or just understanding daily conversations.

  • Monday – Luni
  • Tuesday – Marți
  • Wednesday – Miercuri
  • Thursday – Joi
  • Friday – Vineri
  • Saturday – Sâmbătă
  • Sunday – Duminică

Telling the time:

  • What time is it? – Cât este ceasul?
  • It’s one o’clock – Este ora unu
  • It’s half past three – Este ora trei și jumătate
  • In the morning – Dimineața
  • In the afternoon – După-amiază
  • In the evening – Seara

4. Food and Drinks

Romanian cuisine is full of delicious traditional dishes, so here are some food-related words that will help you order at a restaurant or buy food from a market.

  • Breakfast – Mic dejun
  • Lunch – Prânz
  • Dinner – Cină
  • Water – Apă
  • Coffee – Cafea
  • Tea – Ceai
  • Wine – Vin
  • Beer – Bere
  • Bread – Pâine
  • Cheese – Brânză
  • Meat – Carne
  • Fish – Pește
  • Chicken – Pui
  • Fruit – Fructe
  • Vegetables – Legume
  • I would like to order… – Aș dori să comand…
  • Can I have the menu, please? – Îmi aduceți meniul, vă rog?

5. Directions and Travel

If you’re traveling around Romania, you’ll need to know how to ask for directions, book transport, or check into your hotel.

  • Where is…? – Unde este…?
  • How much is the fare? – Cât costă biletul?
  • Train station – Gara
  • Bus station – Stația de autobuz
  • Airport – Aeroport
  • Taxi – Taxi
  • Hotel – Hotel
  • Left – Stânga
  • Right – Dreapta
  • Straight ahead – Drept înainte
  • Near – Aproape
  • Far – Departe

Booking accommodation:

  • Do you have any rooms available? – Aveți camere disponibile?
  • I would like a single room – Aș dori o cameră pentru o persoană
  • How much per night? – Cât costă pe noapte?
  • Where is the nearest hotel? – Unde este cel mai apropiat hotel?

6. Shopping and Money

If you want to go shopping or deal with money in Romanian, here are some useful phrases and words:

  • How much does this cost? – Cât costă asta?
  • Can I pay with a credit card? – Pot plăti cu cardul de credit?
  • I am just looking – Doar mă uit
  • I will buy this – Voi cumpăra asta
  • Market – Piață
  • Store – Magazin
  • Cheap – Ieftin
  • Expensive – Scump

7. At the Doctor’s

In case you need medical attention, knowing some basic medical terms can be incredibly useful.

  • I need a doctor – Am nevoie de un doctor
  • I don’t feel well – Nu mă simt bine
  • Do you speak English? – Vorbiți engleză?
  • It hurts here – Mă doare aici
  • Headache – Dureri de cap
  • Stomachache – Dureri de stomac
  • Pharmacy – Farmacie
  • Medicine – Medicament
  • Prescription – Rețetă

8. Emergency Phrases

In case of an emergency, these are some key phrases to know.

  • Help! – Ajutor!
  • Call the police – Chemați poliția
  • I need help – Am nevoie de ajutor
  • Fire – Foc
  • Lost – Pierdut
  • Where is the hospital? – Unde este spitalul?

Mastering even a few basic words and phrases in Romanian can greatly enhance your experience while visiting the country or interacting with native speakers. Whether you’re asking for directions, ordering food, or having a polite conversation, these expressions will help you communicate more effectively and make a great impression. So, don’t hesitate to practice these key phrases, and before you know it, you’ll be conversing with ease in Romanian!

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