Learning Romanian: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Romanian course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Romanian is like
Romanian is a Romance language and mostly phonetic: each letter is said the way it is written. It has three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter) and, unusually, the definite article attaches to the end of the word: un om (a man) → omul (the man). The extra letters ă, â/î, ș and ț carry its distinctive sounds.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Romanian has five extra letters (ă, â/î, ș, ț) but besides those it is very phonetic — learn them and you can read any word aloud.
- ă — "uh" as in the last sound of "sofa", as in apă = AH-puh · țară = TSAH-ruh.
- â / î — a deep "uh", like the "e" in "herd", as in română = ro-MUHN-uh · în = uhn.
- ș — "sh" as in shop, as in șase = SHAH-seh · și = shee.
- ț — "ts" as in cats, as in țară = TSAH-ruh · mulțumesc = mool-tsoo-MESK.
- r — a rolled or tapped r, as in român = ro-MUHN · revedere = reh-veh-DEH-reh.
- c — before e/i = "ch" as in church; else "k", as in ceai = chah-i · casa = KAH-sah.
- g — before e/i = "j" as in jam; else hard "g", as in geam = jahm · gata = GAH-tah.
- j — "zh" as in leisure, as in jos = zhohs · jurnal = zhoor-NAHL.
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Romanian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Salut | sah-LOOT | Hi |
| Bună ziua | BOO-nuh ZEE-wah | Good day |
| Bună seara | BOO-nuh SYAH-rah | Good evening |
| La revedere | lah reh-veh-DEH-reh | Goodbye |
| Ce mai faci? | cheh mai fahch | How are you? |
| Mă numesc Alex | muh noo-MESK | My name is... |
| Te rog | teh ROHG | Please |
| Mulțumesc | mool-tsoo-MESK | Thank you |
| Cu plăcere | koo pluh-CHEH-reh | You're welcome |
| Îmi pare rău | uhm pah-reh RUH-oo | I'm sorry |
| Da | dah | Yes |
| Nu | noo | No |
| Unu | OO-noo | 1 |
| Doi | doy | 2 |
| Trei | tray | 3 |
| Patru | PAH-troo | 4 |
| Cinci | cheench | 5 |
| Zece | ZEH-cheh | 10 |
| Apă | AH-puh | water |
| Pâine | PUH-ee-neh | bread |
| Vin | vin | wine |
| Cafea | kah-FYAH | coffee |
| Nota | NOH-tah | the bill |
| Unde este...? | OON-deh ES-teh | Where is...? |
| La dreapta | lah DRYAP-tah | to the right |
| La stânga | lah STUHN-gah | to the left |
| Gara | GAH-rah | the station |
| Cât costă? | kuht KOS-tuh | how much is it? |
| E prea scump | yeh preh-ah skoomp | it's too expensive |
| Pot să plătesc? | pot suh pluh-TESK | may I pay? |
How the Romanian course is structured
The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings & being polite — salut · bună ziua · mulțumesc · te rog
- Being polite — mulțumesc · te rog · cu plăcere · îmi pare rău
- Numbers 1–10 — unu · doi · trei · zece
- I want" — the verb a vrea — aș vrea · vreau · un · o
- Food & drink — apă · pâine · vin · nota
- Getting around — unde este · la dreapta · la stânga · gara
- Questions & "do you have…?" — aveți · există · pot
- Family & people — familie · mamă · tată · prieten
- Time, days & weather — azi · mâine · ce vreme e?
- Small talk & your name — mă numesc · cum te cheamă · încântat
- Health & emergency — ajutor · doctor · farmacie · nu înțeleg
- Tying it together — aș vrea · unde este · cât costă · mulțumesc
- Airport & tickets — aeroport · pașaport · bilet · poartă
- The taxi — taxi · hotel · opriți
- The hotel — rezervare · cameră · cheie · noapte
- Ask for help — nu înțeleg · mai încet · engleză
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings & being polite
Key pieces: salut · bună ziua · mulțumesc · te rog
Let's start with the friendliest greeting: Salut — hi. Say it out loud.
- salut (sah-LOOT) — hi Memory hook: ≈ French salut / Italian salve.
- bună ziua (BOO-nuh ZEE-wah) — good day
- bună seara (BOO-nuh SYAH-rah) — good evening
- mulțumesc (mool-tsoo-MESK) — thank you
- te rog (teh ROHG) — please
To say “Hello, thank you” in Romanian: Salut, mulțumesc (sah-LOOT, mool-tsoo-MESK). Built from salut = hi; mulțumesc = thank you.
Two more essentials: te rog (please) and la revedere (goodbye).
To say “A coffee, please” in Romanian: O cafea, te rog (oh kah-FYAH, teh ROHG). Built from o = a; cafea = coffee; te rog = please.
To ask how someone is: Ce mai faci? (informal). The reply is bine, mulțumesc — well, thanks.
- Ce mai faci? (cheh mai fahch) — How are you?
- Bine, mulțumesc (BEE-neh, mool-tsoo-MESK) — Well, thanks
- Foarte bine (FWAHR-teh BEE-neh) — Very well
To say “Hi, how are you?” in Romanian: Salut, ce mai faci? (sah-LOOT, cheh mai fahch). Built from salut = hi; ce mai faci? = how are you?.
Being polite
Key pieces: mulțumesc · te rog · cu plăcere · îmi pare rău
Being polite opens doors. Mulțumesc — thank you — is your golden word.
- mulțumesc (mool-tsoo-MESK) — thank you
- cu plăcere (koo pluh-CHEH-reh) — you're welcome
- te rog (teh ROHG) — please
- îmi pare rău (uhm pah-reh RUH-oo) — I'm sorry
- scuză-mă (SKOO-zuh-muh) — excuse me
To say “Thank you very much” in Romanian: Mulțumesc mult (mool-tsoo-MESK moolt). Built from mulțumesc = thank you; mult = much.
Da is yes and Nu is no. Cu plăcere means 'with pleasure' — your 'you're welcome'.
To say “Yes, please” in Romanian: Da, te rog (dah, teh ROHG). Built from da = yes; te rog = please.
To apologize: Îmi pare rău — I'm sorry.
To say “I'm sorry, excuse me” in Romanian: Îmi pare rău, scuză-mă (uhm pah-reh RUH-oo, SKOO-zuh-muh). Built from îmi pare rău = I'm sorry; scuză-mă = excuse me.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: unu · doi · trei · zece
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: unu, doi, trei .
- unu (OO-noo) — 1
- doi (doy) — 2
- trei (tray) — 3 Memory hook: ≈ Italian tre / Spanish tres.
- patru (PAH-troo) — 4
- cinci (cheench) — 5
- zece (ZEH-cheh) — 10
To say “Two coffees, please” in Romanian: Două cafele, te rog (DOH-uh kah-FEH-leh, teh ROHG). Built from două = two; cafele = coffees; te rog = please.
Cât costă? = how much does it cost? A key phrase for shopping.
To say “How much is it?” in Romanian: Cât costă? (kuht KOS-tuh). Built from cât = how much; costă = does it cost.
To say “It's five lei” in Romanian: Cinci lei (cheench lay). Built from cinci = five; lei = lei (the currency).
I want" — the verb a vrea
Key pieces: aș vrea · vreau · un · o
The magic phrase to order anything: aș vrea — I would like. More polite than vreau (I want).
- aș vrea (ahsh VRYAH) — I'd like
- vreau (VROW) — I want
- un (oon) — a (masculine)
- o (oh) — a (feminine)
- apă (AH-puh) — water Memory hook: ≈ Italian acqua / Spanish agua.
To say “I'd like a coffee” in Romanian: Aș vrea o cafea (ahsh VRYAH oh kah-FYAH). Built from aș vrea = I'd like; o cafea = a coffee.
To say “I'd like a water” in Romanian: Aș vrea o apă (ahsh VRYAH oh AH-puh). Built from aș vrea = I'd like; o apă = a water.
Word order is easy — un = a for masculine nouns, o for feminine ones like cafea and apă.
To say “I want bread” in Romanian: Vreau pâine (VROW PUH-ee-neh). Built from vreau = I want; pâine = bread.
Food & drink
Key pieces: apă · pâine · vin · nota
Eating out? Key words: apă (water), pâine (bread), vin (wine).
- apă (AH-puh) — water
- pâine (PUH-ee-neh) — bread
- vin (vin) — wine Memory hook: ≈ Italian/Spanish vino.
- cafea (kah-FYAH) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ French café / Italian caffè.
- meniu (meh-NYOO) — the menu Memory hook: ≈ English/French menu.
- nota (NOH-tah) — the bill Memory hook: ≈ French note / Latin nota.
To say “Water and bread, please” in Romanian: Apă și pâine, te rog (AH-puh shee PUH-ee-neh, teh ROHG). Built from apă = water; și = and; pâine = bread; te rog = please.
To say “I'd like the menu” in Romanian: Aș vrea meniul (ahsh VRYAH meh-NYOOL). Built from aș vrea = I'd like; meniul = the menu.
Nota is the bill: Aș vrea nota = I'd like the bill.
Delicios! = delicious. Say it and you'll make the chef's day.
To say “It's delicious!” in Romanian: Delicios! (deh-lee-CHOS). Built from delicios = delicious.
Getting around
Key pieces: unde este · la dreapta · la stânga · gara
The most useful question in any city: Unde este…? — where is…?
- Unde este...? (OON-deh ES-teh) — Where is...?
- la dreapta (lah DRYAP-tah) — to the right
- la stânga (lah STUHN-gah) — to the left
- gara (GAH-rah) — the station
- toaleta (twah-LEH-tah) — the bathroom
To say “Where is the station?” in Romanian: Unde este gara? (OON-deh ES-teh GAH-rah). Built from unde este = where is; gara = the station.
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Romanian: Unde este toaleta? (OON-deh ES-teh twah-LEH-tah). Built from unde este = where is; toaleta = the bathroom.
La dreapta and la stânga tell you which way to turn. 'Straight ahead' is drept înainte .
To say “Straight ahead” in Romanian: Drept înainte (drehpt uhn-NAYN-teh). Built from drept = straight; înainte = ahead.
Questions & "do you have…?"
Key pieces: aveți · există · pot
To ask someone if they have something: Aveți…? (formal) or Ai…? (informal).
To say “Do you have a table?” in Romanian: Aveți o masă? (ah-VEH-tsih oh MAH-suh). Built from aveți = do you have; o masă = a table.
Există…? = is there…? Very useful.
To say “Is there wifi?” in Romanian: Există Wi-Fi? (egz-EES-tuh WEE-fee). Built from există = is there; Wi-Fi = wifi.
Pot…? = may I…? For polite requests.
To say “May I pay?” in Romanian: Pot să plătesc? (pot suh pluh-TESK). Built from pot = may I; să plătesc = to pay.
Family & people
Key pieces: familie · mamă · tată · prieten
Family words: familie (family), mamă (mother), tată (father).
- familie (fah-MEE-lee-eh) — family Memory hook: ≈ Italian famiglia / Spanish familia.
- mamă (MAH-muh) — mother
- tată (TAH-tuh) — father
- frate (FRAH-teh) — brother
- soră (SOH-ruh) — sister
- prieten (pree-EH-ten) — friend
To say “I have a friend” in Romanian: Am un prieten (ahm oon pree-EH-ten). Built from am = I have; un prieten = a friend.
Am = I have. It's the key verb to say what you've got.
To say “I have a family” in Romanian: Am o familie (ahm oh fah-MEE-lee-eh). Built from am = I have; o familie = a family.
To say “She is my mother” in Romanian: Ea este mama mea (yah ES-teh MAH-muh myah). Built from ea = she; este = is; mama = mother; mea = my.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: azi · mâine · ce vreme e?
Today is azi , tomorrow is mâine .
- azi (ahz) — today
- mâine (MUH-ee-neh) — tomorrow
- luni (loon) — Monday
- vineri (VEE-neh-ree) — Friday
- Ce vreme e? (cheh VREH-meh yeh) — what's the weather?
To say “See you tomorrow” in Romanian: Pe mâine (peh MUH-ee-neh). Built from pe = until; mâine = tomorrow.
Ask about the weather: Ce vreme e?
To say “It's raining” in Romanian: Plouă (PLOH-uh). Built from plouă = it rains.
To say “It's sunny” in Romanian: E soare (yeh SWAH-reh). Built from e = it is; soare = sun.
Small talk & your name
Key pieces: mă numesc · cum te cheamă · încântat
Introduce yourself: Mă numesc… = my name is…, and Încântat (m) / Încântată (f) = pleased to meet you.
To say “My name is Alex” in Romanian: Mă numesc Alex (muh noo-MESK Alex). Built from mă numesc = my name is; Alex = your name.
To ask someone's name: Cum te cheamă?
To say “What's your name?” in Romanian: Cum te cheamă? (koom teh KYAH-muh). Built from cum = how; te cheamă? = do they call you?.
De unde ești? — where are you from?
To say “I'm from America” in Romanian: Sunt din America (soont deen ah-MEH-ree-kah). Built from sunt = I am; din = from.
To say “Pleased to meet you” in Romanian: Încântat (uhn-kuhn-TAHT). Built from încântat = pleased.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: ajutor · doctor · farmacie · nu înțeleg
The most important words if you need help: ajutor (help), doctor (doctor), farmacie (pharmacy).
- ajutor (ah-zhoo-TOR) — help!
- doctor (dok-TOR) — the doctor Memory hook: ≈ English doctor / Italian dottore.
- farmacie (far-mah-CHEE-eh) — the pharmacy Memory hook: ≈ French pharmacie / English pharmacy.
- Nu înțeleg (noo uhn-tseh-LEG) — I don't understand
- spital (spee-TAHL) — the hospital
To say “Help!” in Romanian: Ajutor! (ah-zhoo-TOR). Built from ajutor = help.
To say “I don't understand” in Romanian: Nu înțeleg (noo uhn-tseh-LEG). Built from nu = not; înțeleg = I understand.
To say you need help: Am nevoie de ajutor .
To say “I need help” in Romanian: Am nevoie de ajutor (ahm neh-VOH-yeh deh ah-zhoo-TOR). Built from am nevoie = I need; de ajutor = of help.
Tying it together
Key pieces: aș vrea · unde este · cât costă · mulțumesc
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Romanian: Salut, ce mai faci? (sah-LOOT, cheh mai fahch). Built from salut = hi; ce mai faci? = how are you?.
To say “I'd like a water, please” in Romanian: Aș vrea o apă, te rog (ahsh VRYAH oh AH-puh, teh ROHG). Built from aș vrea = I'd like; o apă = a water; te rog = please.
To say “Where is the station?” in Romanian: Unde este gara? (OON-deh ES-teh GAH-rah). Built from unde este = where is; gara = the station.
To say “How much is it?” in Romanian: Cât costă? (kuht KOS-tuh). Built from cât costă? = how much is it?.
Airport & tickets
Key pieces: aeroport · pașaport · bilet · poartă
You have landed. The building is the aeroportul . Your document is a pașaportul .
- aeroportul (ah-eh-ro-POR-tool) — the airport
- pașaportul (pah-sha-POR-tool) — the passport
- biletul (bee-LEH-tool) — the ticket
- poarta (PWAR-tah) — the gate
To say “Where is the airport?” in Romanian: Unde este aeroportul? (OON-deh ES-teh ah-eh-ro-POR-tool). Built from unde este = where is; aeroportul = the airport.
To say “Here is my passport” in Romanian: Iată pașaportul meu (YAH-tuh pah-sha-POR-tool meh-oo). Built from iată = here is; pașaportul meu = my passport.
To say “A ticket, please” in Romanian: Un bilet, te rog (oon bee-LET, teh ROHG). Built from un bilet = a ticket; te rog = please.
To say “Where is the gate?” in Romanian: Unde este poarta? (OON-deh ES-teh PWAR-tah). Built from unde este = where is; poarta = the gate.
The taxi
Key pieces: taxi · hotel · opriți
The driver is waiting. taxi is the same word. Tell them aș vrea să merg la hotel .
- taxi (TAK-see) — taxi
- șoferul (sho-FEH-rool) — the driver
- aș vrea să merg (ahsh VRYAH suh MERJ) — I would like to go
- opriți aici (o-PREE-tsee ah-EECH) — stop here
To say “Taxi, please” in Romanian: Un taxi, te rog (oon TAK-see, teh ROHG). Built from un taxi = a taxi; te rog = please.
To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Romanian: aș vrea să merg la hotel (ahsh VRYAH suh MERJ lah ho-TEL). Built from aș vrea = I would like; să merg = to go; la hotel = to the hotel.
To say “Stop here, please” in Romanian: Opriți aici, te rog (o-PREE-tsee ah-EECH, teh ROHG). Built from opriți = stop (plural/polite); aici = here; te rog = please.
To say “How much is it?” in Romanian: Cât costă? (kuht kos-TUH). Built from cât = how much; costă = does it cost.
The hotel
Key pieces: rezervare · cameră · cheie · noapte
At the desk: am o rezervare — I have a reservation.
- hotelul (ho-TEH-lool) — the hotel
- o rezervare (oh reh-zer-VAH-reh) — a reservation
- o cameră (oh kah-MEH-ruh) — a room
- cheia (KAY-yah) — the key
- o noapte (oh NWAHP-teh) — one night
To say “I have a reservation” in Romanian: Am o rezervare (ahm oh reh-zer-VAH-reh). Built from am = I have; o rezervare = a reservation.
To say “A room for one night, please” in Romanian: O cameră pentru o noapte, te rog (oh kah-MEH-ruh PEN-troo oh NWAHP-teh, teh ROHG). Built from o cameră = a room; pentru o noapte = for one night; te rog = please.
To say “The key, please” in Romanian: Cheia, te rog (KAY-yah, teh ROHG). Built from cheia = the key; te rog = please.
To say “Where is my room?” in Romanian: Unde este camera mea? (OON-deh ES-teh KAH-meh-rah MEH-ah). Built from unde este = where is; camera mea = my room.
Ask for help
Key pieces: nu înțeleg · mai încet · engleză
When Romanian is too fast: mai încet, te rog — slower, please.
- mai încet (my EEN-chet) — slower
- din nou (deen NOH) — again
- engleză (en-GLEH-zuh) — English
- mă puteți ajuta? (muh poo-TET-see ah-ZHOO-tah) — can you help?
To say “I don't understand” in Romanian: Nu înțeleg (noo uhn-TZEH-leg). Built from nu = not; înțeleg = I understand.
To say “Speak slowly, please” in Romanian: Mai încet, te rog (my EEN-chet, teh ROHG). Built from mai încet = slower; te rog = please.
To say “Can you help me?” in Romanian: Mă puteți ajuta? (muh poo-TET-see ah-ZHOO-tah). Built from mă = me; puteți = can you; ajuta = help.
To say “Do you speak English?” in Romanian: Vorbiți engleză? (vor-BEET-see en-GLEH-zuh). Built from vorbiți = do you speak; engleză = English.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- un (oon): masculine.
- o (oh): feminine.
Culture and etiquette
A Latin island
Romanian is a Romance-language island surrounded by Slavic neighbours. If you know Italian, Spanish or French, you'll find words like apă (water), vin (wine) and prieten (friend) oddly familiar.
They love a guest
Romanians are famously hospitable. You'll be offered a seat, a coffee and often a meal. Accepting with a warm mulțumesc goes a long way.
Comfort food
Sarmale (cabbage rolls), mămăligă (polenta) and ciorbă (sour soup) are staples. A Romanian meal is generous — come hungry.
Coffee is social
Cafenele are a way of life. Ordering a simple cafea and lingering is perfectly normal — coffee here is for conversation, not just caffeine.
Formality matters
Use the formal dumneavoastră with strangers and older people. The informal tu is reserved for friends, and people usually offer it first.
A little goes far
A bună ziua and a mulțumesc open every door. Romanians warm up fast when visitors try their language — effort beats perfection.
Example dialogues
At a café
You: Bună ziua! O cafea, te rog. (BOO-nuh ZEE-wah, oh kah-FYAH, teh ROHG) — Good day! A coffee, please.
Barista: Imediat. La masă sau la pachet? (ee-meh-DYAHT, lah MAH-suh sa-hoo lah PAH-ket) — Right away. For here or to go?
You: La pachet, mulțumesc. (lah PAH-ket, mool-tsoo-MESK) — To go, thanks.
Barista: Poftim. Sunt doi lei. (pof-TEEM, soont doy lay) — Here. That's two lei.
You: Mulțumesc mult! (mool-tsoo-MESK moolt) — Thanks a lot!
At the station
You: Scuzați, unde este gara? (skoo-ZAH-tsih, OON-deh ES-teh GAH-rah) — Excuse me, where's the station?
Local: E aici, la dreapta. (yeh ah-EECH, lah DRYAP-tah) — It's here, on the right.
You: Mulțumesc. Un bilet spre București, te rog. (mool-tsoo-MESK, oon bee-LET spreh boo-koo-RESH-tee, teh ROHG) — Thanks. A ticket to Bucharest, please.
Ticket: Douăzeci de lei. Trenul pleacă la ora nouă. (DOH-uh-zech deh lay, TREH-nool PLYAH-kuh lah OH-rah NOH-uh) — Twenty lei. The train leaves at nine.
At a restaurant
Waiter: Bună seara! Aveți o rezervare? (BOO-nuh SYAH-rah, ah-VEH-tsih oh reh-zer-VAH-reh) — Good evening! Do you have a reservation?
You: Da, pentru două persoane. (dah, PEHN-troo DOH-uh per-SWAH-neh) — Yes, for two people.
You: Meniul, te rog. (meh-NYOOL, teh ROHG) — The menu, please.
You: Aș vrea ciorba și un pahar de vin. (ahsh VRYAH chyor-BAH shee oon PAH-har deh vin) — I'd like the soup and a glass of wine.
Waiter: O alegere excelentă! Poftă bună. (oh ah-LEH-jeh-reh eks-cheh-LEN-tuh, pof-TUH BOO-nuh) — Excellent choice! Enjoy your meal.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.