Romanian Language - People, Tradition

Romanian (limba română) is the official language of Romania.
The name Romania, and its derivatives, come from the Latin word 'Romanus' (citizen of Rome),
a legacy of the Roman Empire who took control of ancient Dacia (today Romania) in 106 A.D.
Romanian retains a significant number of features of old Latin and also contains words taken from the surrounding Slavic languages, as well as from French, German, Greek and Turkish.

Romanian is actually easier for English speakers to understand than it is assumed. If you've studied other Romance language, such as Italian, Spanish, French or Portuguese, you may feel at home sooner than you think.
Romanian is a phonetic language, so words are pronounced as they are spelled.

Romanian holds the intriguing status of being the only Romance language spoken in Eastern Europe.

A foreigner trying to learn or speak Romanian can expect positive reactions from native speakers.
Most Romanian will certainly appreciate the fact that you are making an effort to speak their language.

Other languages used in Romania

English has quickly overtaken French as the country's second language, especially with the young people. Communicating in English in large towns in cities should not be a problem.

French and German can also be useful.
In the past, Romania had a sizable German minority population;
nowadays the number of native German speakers is declining
but German is still used by communities in southern Transylvania and in Banat (Western Romania).

Hungarian is widely used in Covasna and Harghita counties, in Eastern Transylvania.
15% to 35% of the population of some larger cities in Central and Western Romania (Târgu-Mureş, Oradea, Cluj-Napoca, Satu-Mare) speaks Hungarian. 

Other Romance languages (especially Spanish and Italian) are also studied by most people in schools
and are therefore spoken with a pretty good level of fluency.   

Pronunciation Guide

The Romanian alphabet has 31 letters, similar to the ones in the English alphabet,
with the exception of five special letters called 'diacritics':
ă (like the 'a' in English word 'musical'),
ș (pronounced as 'sh'),
ț (pronounced 'ts'),
â and î (have the same reading, without an English equivalent).

Certain letters (and letter combinations) are pronounced differently than they are in English.

Romanian Letters Pronunciation
ă as in father
î, â No English equivalent
e as in tell
i [e] as in pick
j as in leisure
ş as in shoe
ţ [ts] as in fits
ce as in check
gi [dsi] as in gin
ge [dse] as in gender
chi [ki] as in skill
che [ke] as in chemistry
ghi [gi] as in give
ghe [ge] as in guess

Useful Words / Phrases

ENGLISH ROMÂNĂ PRONUNCIATION
Salutations Formule de salut  
Good morning. Bună dimineaţa. Boo-nuh di-mi-na-tsa
Hello/Good day. Bună ziua. Boo-nuh zee-wa.
Good evening. Bună seara. Boo-nuh sea-ra.
Good-bye. La revedere. La rev-eh-de-ray
Good night. Noapte bună. Nwap-te boo-nuh
My name is . . . Numele meu este … Noo-me-le meu yes-te ...
What is your name? Cum vă numiţi? Koom vuh noo-mits?
How are you? Ce mai faceţi? Che may fa-chets
I'm fine, thanks. Bine, mulţumesc. Bee-nay, mool-tsoo-mesk
Do you speak English?
. . .  Romanian?
Vorbiţi englezeşte?
. . .  româneşte?
Vor-bits en-gle-zesh-te
. . .  ro-mi-nesh-te
Yes, a little.
No.
Da, puţin.
Nu.
Da, poo-tsin.
Noo.
Please speak slowly. Vă rog, vorbiţi mai rar. Vuh rog, vor-bits may rar
How do you say . . . ? Cum se spune  . . . ? Koom se spoo-ne . . . ?
Do you understand? Înţelegeţi? In-tse-le-jets
I don't understand. Nu înţeleg. Noo in-tse-leg
Please repeat it. Vă rog, repetaţi. Vuh rog, re-pe-tats
I'm sorry. Îmi pare rău. Im pa-re rau
Where are you staying? Unde staţi? Oon-de stats?
I'm at the … hotel. Stau la Hotelul … Stau la ho-te-lool …
Good / Very good. Bine / Foarte bine. Boon / Fwar-tay boo-na
Maybe. Poate. Pwa-te
Certainly. Sigur. Si-goor
May I ? Se poate? Se pwa-te? 
Thank you. Mulţumesc. Mool-tsoo-mesk
You're welcome Cu plăcere Koo pluh-che-re
I don't know. Nu ştiu. Noo shtee-u
I would like... Aş vrea... Osh vray-a
...and / or...... şi / sau... shee / sow
I have / We have Am / Avem... Ahm / Ah-vum
What are you doing? Ce faceţi? Che fa-chets
I beg your pardon? Poftiţi? Pof-tits
Excuse me... Scuzaţi-mă. . . Skoo-za-tsi ma
Here... Aici... Ah-eech…
There... Acolo... Ah-ko-lo
Toward... Spre... Spreh
DAYS OF THE WEEK ZILELE SĂPTĂMÂNII  
Mondayluni loon'
Tuesdaymarţi marts'
Wednesdaymiercuri myer-koor'
Thursdayjoi zho'
Fridayvineri vi-ner'
Saturdaysâmbătăsîm-buh-tuh
Sundayduminicădoo-mi-ni-kuh
NUMBERALS NUMERALE  
zero zero ze-ro
one unu oo-noo
two doi doy
three trei trey
four patru pa-troo
five cinci chinch'
six şase sha-se
seven şapte shap-te
eight opt opt
nine nouă no-wuh
ten zece ze-che
eleven unsprezece oon-spre-ze-che
twelve doisprezece doy -spre-ze-che
thirteen treisprezece trey -spre-ze-che
fourteen paisprezece pay-spre-ze-che
fifteen cincisprezece chinch '-spre-ze-che
sixteen şaisprezece shay-spre-ze-che
seventeen şaptesprezece shap-te-spre-ze-che
eighteen optsprezece opt-spre-ze-che
nineteen nouăsprezece no-wuh-spre-ze-che
twenty douăzeci do-wuh zech'
twenty-one douăzeci şi unu do-wuh-zech' shi oo-noo
twenty-two douăzeci şi doi do-wuh-zech' shi doy
thirty treizeci trey-zech'
forty patruzeci pa-troo- zech'
fifty cincizeci chinch'- zech'
sixty şaizeci shay- zech'
seventy şaptezeci shap-te- zech'
eighty optzeci oot-zech'
ninety nouăzeci no-whu-zech
one hundred o sută o soo-tuh
two hundred două sute do-wuh soo-te
MONTHS OF THE YEAR LUNILE ANULUI  
January ianuarie ya-nwa-rye
February februarie fe-brwa-rye
March martie mar-tye
April aprilie a-pri-lye
May mai may
June iunie yu-ny
July iulie yu-lye
August august augoost
September septembrie sep-tem-brye
October octombrie ok-tom-brye
November noiembrie no-yem-bry
December decembrie de-chem-brye
AT THE HOTEL LA HOTEL  
I have a reservation. Am o rezervare. Am o re-zer-va-re.
Do you have a double room?
. . . single
Aveţi o cameră dublă?
. . . single
A-vets o ka-me-ruh pen-troo do-wuh per-swa-me?
. . . o per-swa-nuh     
Do you have a room with a bath?
. . . a shower
. . . air conditioning
. . . twin beds
Aveţi o cameră cu baie?

. . . duş
. . . aer condiţionat
. . . două paturi
A-vets o ka-me-ruh cu ba-ye?
. . . doosh
. . . a-er kon-di-tsyo-nat
. . . do-wuh pa-toor'
What is the rate per day? Cât costă pe zi? Kit kos-tuh pe zi?
Is breakfast included? Micul dejun e inclus? Mic de-jun ye in-kloo-suh?
Your name, please?
. . . address
Numele dumneavoastră, vă rog?
Adresa . . .
Noo-me-le doom-nea-vwas-truh, vuh-rog?
A-dre-sa . . .
Please wake me up at 6 am. Vă rog, treziţi-mă la şase dimineaţa. Vuh rog, tre-zi-tsi-muh la sha-se di-mi-nea-tsa.
On what floor is my room? La ce etaj e camera mea? La che e-tazh ye ka-me-ra mea?
I need ice,
please
. . . . another blanket
. . . an electric fan
. . . a heater
. . . an iron
. . . a light bulb
. . . a pillow
. . . shampoo
. . . soap
. . . toilet paper
. . . a towel
Am nevoie de gheaţă,
vă rog.

. . . încă o pătură
. . . un ventilator
. . . un reşou
. . . un fier de călcat
. . . un bec
. . . o pernă
. . . şampon
. . . săpun
. . . hârtie igienică
. . . un prosop
Am ne-vo-ye de gea-tsuh,
vuh rog.
. . . in-kuh o puh-too-ruh
. . . oon ven-ti-la-tor
. . . oon re-shoh
. . . oon fyer de kuhl-kat
. . . oon bek
. . . o per-nuh
. . . sham-pon
. . . suh-poon
. . . hîr-tee-ye i-ji-e-ni-kuh
. . . oon pro-sop
At what time is breakfast served? La ce oră se serveşte micul dejun? La che o-ruh se ser-vesh-te mi-kool de-zhoon?
I'm leaving today. Plec astăzi. Plek as-tuhz'.
Please call a taxi Vă rog, chemaţi un taxi. Vuh rog, ke-ma-tsim'oon ta-xi.
MONEY BANI  
Do you accept traveler's checks?
. . . credit card?
Acceptaţi cecuri de călătorie?
. . . Carte de credit?
Ak-chep-tats' che-koor' de kuh-luh-to-ri-ye?
. . . kar-tea as-ta de kre-dit
Where is a foreign currency exchange?
. . . a bank
Unde e un birou de schimb valutar?
. . . o bancă
Oon-de ye oon bi-row de skimb va-loo-tar?
. . .o ban-ka
What is today's exchange rate? Care e cursul de schimb astăzi? Ka-re ye koor-sool de skimb as-tuhz'
Please change this to lei. Schimbaţi-mi în lei, vă rog. Skim-bats 'm in lay, vuh-rog
TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORT  
Where is the
. . . metro station?
. . . train station
. . . bus stop
. . . ticket office
. . . information desk
. . . exit to the street
Unde e . . . ?
staţia de metrou
. . . gara
. . . staţia de autobuz 
. . . casa de bilete
. . . biroul de informaţii
. . . ieşirea spre stradă
Oon-de ye  . . . ?
. . . sta-tsya de me-troh
. . . ga-ra
. . . sta-tsya de a-oo-to-booz
. . . ka-sa de bi-le-te?
. . . bi-ro-ool de in-for-ma-tsiy
. . . ye-shi-rea spre stra-duh
How much is a
ticket ?
. . . one-way
. . . round-trip
. . . first-class
. . . second-class
Cât costă
un bilet ?

. . . dus
. . . dus - întors  
. . . la clasa întâi
. . . la clasa a doua
Kit kos-tuh
oon bi-let ?
. . . doos
. . . doos shi în-tors
. . . la kla-sa yn-tyi
. . . la kla-sa a do-wa
Is there a special . . . rate?
. . . college students
. . . senior-citizens
Există tarif redus pentru. . .?
. . . studenţi
 . . . pensionari
E-xis-tuh ta-rif re-doos
pen-tru . . .?
. . . stoo-dents'
. . . pen-syo-nar'
Smoking or     
non-smoking?
Fumători sau
   nefumători?
Foo-muh-tor' sau
ne-foo-muh-tor'?
TRAIN TRAVEL CALATORIA CU TRENUL  
At what time does the train leave for…? La ce oră pleacă trenul spre …? La che o-ruh plea-kuh tre-nool / spre ...?
At what time does the train get to …? La ce oră ajunge trenul la ...? La che o-ruh a-zhoon-je tre-nool la ...?
Is there a . . . ?
. . . dining car
. . . sleeping car
Există . . . ?
. . .vagon-restaurant
. . .vagon de dormit
E-xis-tuh . . . ?
. . . va-gon res-ta-oo-rant
. . . va-gon de dor-mit
BY CAR CU MAȘINA  
Where can I rent a car? Unde pot închiria o maşină? Oon-de pot in-ki-rya o ma-shi-nuh?
Do you know the road to? ştiţi drumul spre …? Shtiu droo-mool spre… ?
Is the road good?
. . . bad
Drumul e bun?
. . . prost
Droo-mool ye boon?
. . . prost
Which town does this road lead to? Spre ce oraş duce drumul ăsta? Spre che o-rash doo-che droo-mool uhs-ta
How many kilometers to? Câţi kilometri sunt până la.... ? Kits' ki-lo-me-tri sint pi-nuh la ...?
Could you direct me . . . ?
. . . to the next town
. . . to the highway
. . . to the parking lot
Cum se ajunge  . . . ?
 . . . în următorul oraş
 . . . pe autostradă
 . . . la parcare
Koom se a-zhoon-je . . . ?
. . . in oor-muh-to-rool o-rash
. . . pe a-oo-to-stra-duh
. . . la par-ka-re
Is it far? E departe? Ye de-par-te?
Could you direct me to...?
. . .  a garage
. . . a gas station
Cum se ajunge la . . . ?
. . . un garaj
. . . o benzinărie
Koom se a-zhoon-je la  ?
. . . oon ga-rash
. . . o ben-zi-nuh-ree-ye
I need gasoline. Am nevoie de benzină. Am ne-vo-ye de ben-zi-nuh.
Please fill the tank up. Vă rog, faceţi plinul. Vuh rog, fa-chets' pli-nool.
Where can I find a mechanic? Unde pot găsi un mecanic? Oon-de pot guh-si oon me-ka-nik?
Please repair . . .
. . . the tire
. . . the headlight
Vă rog, reparaţi  . . .
. . . cauciucul
. . . farul
Vuh rog, re-pa-rats'  . . .
. . . ka-oo-chyu-kool
. . . fa-rool
How much will it cost? Cât costă? Kit kos-tuh?
When will it be ready? Când e gata? Kind ye ga-ta?
IMPORTANT SIGNS SEMNE IMPORTANTE  
Men Bărbaţi Buhr-bats'
Women Femei Feh-mey
Toilet W.C. Ve-che
Entrance Intrare In-tra-re
Exit Ieşire Ye-shi-re
Emergency Exit Ieşire de incendiu Ye-shi-re de in-chen-dyu
Open Deschis Dehs-kis
Closed Închis Yn-kis
Subway Metrou Me-troh
Caution Atenţie A-ten-tsye
Danger Pericol Pe-ri-kol
Speed Limit Limită de viteză Li-mi-tuh de vi-te-zuh
Reduce Speed Reduceţi viteza Re-doo-chets' vi-te-za
Parking Parcare Par-ka-re
No Parking Parcare interzisă Par-ka-re in-ter-zi-suh
No Standing Staţionarea interzisă Sta-tsyo-na-rea  in-ter-zi-suh
One Way Street Stradă cu sens unic Stra-duh koo sens oo-nik
Right Turn Curbă la dreapta Koor-buh la dreap-ta
Left Turn Curbă la stânga Koor-buh la stîn-ga
Dangerous Curve Curbă periculoasă Koor-buh pe-ri-koo-lwa-suh
Sharp Turn Viraj brusc Vi-razh broosk
Keep Right Staţi pe dreapta Stats' pe dreap-ta
Keep Left Staţi pe stânga Stats' pe stîn-ga
Automobiles Prohibited Interzis pentru automobile In-ter-zis pen-troo a-oo-to-mo-bi-le
Vehicles Prohibited Interzis pentru vehicule In-ter-zis pen-troo ve-hi-ko-le
No Entry Intrarea interzisă In-tra-rea in-ter-zi-suh
No Admittance Intrarea oprită In-tra-rea o-pri-tuh
Detour Ocol O-kol
Tunnel Tunel Too-nel
Bridge Pod Pod
Overpass Pasaj superior Pa-sazh soo-pe-ri-or de ni-vel
Underpass Pasaj subteran Pa-sazh in-fe-ri-or de ni-vel
This Way Pe aici Peh a-ich'
Railroad Cale ferată Ka-le fe-ra-tuh
Railroad Crossing Trecere peste calea ferată Tre-che-re  pes-te ka-lea fe-ra-tuh
First Aid Station Post de prim ajutor Post de prim a-zhoo-tor
No Smoking Fumatul interzis Foo-ma-tool in-ter-zis