100 Common Romanian Words for Beginners
Master the 100 most essential Romanian words. Build your vocabulary foundation with everyday words, phrases, and pronunciation guides.
100 Common Romanian Words Every Beginner Should Know
Building a strong vocabulary foundation is essential when learning Romanian. This guide covers the 100 most useful words you'll need for everyday conversations, organized by category for easy learning. These words were selected based on frequency in daily speech and relevance to couples navigating a bilingual relationship.
How to use this list effectively: Start with greetings and pronouns (words 1-30), since these appear in almost every conversation. Then move to verbs (31-50), which let you build simple sentences. Finally, add questions, adjectives, and nouns to expand your range. Aim to learn 5-10 words per day, and practice each one in a short sentence with your partner.
Phrase to Learn
Good day / Hello
[ BOO-nuh ZEE-wah ]
The standard polite greeting in Romanian, used throughout the day.
Greetings and Basic Phrases (1-15)
| # | Romanian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bună | Hi | BOO-nuh |
| 2 | Bună ziua | Good day | BOO-nuh ZEE-wah |
| 3 | Bună dimineața | Good morning | BOO-nuh dee-mee-NYAH-tsah |
| 4 | Bună seara | Good evening | BOO-nuh SYAH-rah |
| 5 | Noapte bună | Good night | NWAP-teh BOO-nuh |
| 6 | La revedere | Goodbye | lah reh-veh-DEH-reh |
| 7 | Pa | Bye | pah |
| 8 | Mulțumesc | Thank you | mool-tsoo-MESK |
| 9 | Cu plăcere | You're welcome | koo pluh-CHEH-reh |
| 10 | Te rog | Please | teh rohg |
| 11 | Da | Yes | dah |
| 12 | Nu | No | noo |
| 13 | Scuze | Sorry/Excuse me | SKOO-zeh |
| 14 | Îmi pare rău | I'm sorry | uhm PAH-reh ruh-oo |
| 15 | Noroc | Cheers/Good luck | noh-ROK |
Formal vs Informal
Romanian has formal (dumneavoastră) and informal (tu) forms of address. Use formal language with strangers and elders. With your partner, you'll use the informal "tu" form shown in these lessons.
Pronouns and People (16-30)
| # | Romanian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Eu | I | yeh-oo |
| 17 | Tu | You (informal) | too |
| 18 | El | He | yel |
| 19 | Ea | She | yah |
| 20 | Noi | We | noy |
| 21 | Voi | You (plural) | voy |
| 22 | Ei/Ele | They | yay/YEH-leh |
| 23 | Bărbat | Man | buhr-BAHT |
| 24 | Femeie | Woman | feh-MEH-yeh |
| 25 | Copil | Child | koh-PEEL |
| 26 | Prieten | Friend (m) | pree-EH-ten |
| 27 | Prietenă | Friend (f) | pree-eh-TEH-nuh |
| 28 | Familie | Family | fah-MEE-lyeh |
| 29 | Iubit/Iubită | Boyfriend/Girlfriend | yoo-BEET/yoo-BEE-tuh |
| 30 | Soț/Soție | Husband/Wife | sots/SOH-tsyeh |
Common Verbs (31-50)
Pronunciation: ah fee
"Sunt fericit. (I am happy.)"
| # | Romanian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | A fi | To be | ah fee |
| 32 | A avea | To have | ah ah-VEH-ah |
| 33 | A face | To do/make | ah FAH-cheh |
| 34 | A merge | To go/walk | ah MEHR-jeh |
| 35 | A veni | To come | ah veh-NEE |
| 36 | A vedea | To see | ah veh-DEH-ah |
| 37 | A vorbi | To speak | ah vor-BEE |
| 38 | A mânca | To eat | ah muhn-KAH |
| 39 | A bea | To drink | ah beh-ah |
| 40 | A dormi | To sleep | ah dor-MEE |
| 41 | A iubi | To love | ah yoo-BEE |
| 42 | A plăcea | To like | ah pluh-CHEH-ah |
| 43 | A vrea | To want | ah vreh-ah |
| 44 | A putea | To be able/can | ah poo-TEH-ah |
| 45 | A ști | To know | ah shtee |
| 46 | A înțelege | To understand | ah uhn-tseh-LEH-jeh |
| 47 | A lucra | To work | ah LOO-krah |
| 48 | A învăța | To learn | ah uhn-vuh-TSAH |
| 49 | A citi | To read | ah chee-TEE |
| 50 | A scrie | To write | ah SKREE-eh |
Questions and Time (51-65)
| # | Romanian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Ce? | What? | cheh |
| 52 | Cine? | Who? | CHEE-neh |
| 53 | Unde? | Where? | OON-deh |
| 54 | Când? | When? | kuhnd |
| 55 | De ce? | Why? | deh cheh |
| 56 | Cum? | How? | koom |
| 57 | Cât? | How much? | kuht |
| 58 | Azi | Today | ahz |
| 59 | Mâine | Tomorrow | MUH-ee-neh |
| 60 | Ieri | Yesterday | yehr |
| 61 | Acum | Now | ah-KOOM |
| 62 | Apoi | Then/Later | ah-POY |
| 63 | Mereu | Always | meh-REH-oo |
| 64 | Niciodată | Never | nee-choh-DAH-tuh |
| 65 | Uneori | Sometimes | oo-neh-OHR |
Adjectives (66-80)
Romanian adjectives change form to match the gender of the noun they describe. Most adjectives have a masculine and a feminine form. For example: un bărbat frumos (a beautiful/handsome man) vs. o femeie frumoasă (a beautiful woman). The table below shows both forms where applicable.
Pronunciation: froo-MOHS/froo-MWAH-suh
"Ești foarte frumoasă. (You are very beautiful.)"
| # | Romanian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | Bun/Bună | Good | boon/BOO-nuh |
| 67 | Rău/Rea | Bad | ruh-oo/reh-ah |
| 68 | Mare | Big | MAH-reh |
| 69 | Mic/Mică | Small | meek/MEE-kuh |
| 70 | Drăguț/Drăguță | Cute/Pretty | DRUH-goots/DRUH-goo-tsuh |
| 71 | Fericit/Fericită | Happy | feh-ree-CHEET/feh-ree-CHEE-tuh |
| 72 | Trist/Tristă | Sad | treest/TREES-tuh |
| 73 | Nou/Nouă | New | noh-oo/NOH-wuh |
| 74 | Vechi | Old (things) | vehk |
| 75 | Cald/Caldă | Warm | kahld/KAHL-duh |
| 76 | Rece | Cold | REH-cheh |
| 77 | Ușor/Ușoară | Easy | oo-SHOR/oo-SHWAH-ruh |
| 78 | Greu/Grea | Hard/Heavy | greh-oo/greh-ah |
| 79 | Rapid | Fast | RAH-peed |
| 80 | Încet | Slow | uhn-CHEHT |
Food and Drink (81-90)
| # | Romanian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | Apă | Water | AH-puh |
| 82 | Vin | Wine | veen |
| 83 | Bere | Beer | BEH-reh |
| 84 | Cafea | Coffee | kah-FEH-ah |
| 85 | Pâine | Bread | PUH-ee-neh |
| 86 | Carne | Meat | KAR-neh |
| 87 | Pește | Fish | PEHSH-teh |
| 88 | Fructe | Fruit | FROOK-teh |
| 89 | Legume | Vegetables | leh-GOO-meh |
| 90 | Mâncare | Food | muhn-KAH-reh |
Places and Directions (91-100)
| # | Romanian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | Casă | House | KAH-suh |
| 92 | Acasă | Home/At home | ah-KAH-suh |
| 93 | Stradă | Street | STRAH-duh |
| 94 | Oraș | City | oh-RAHSH |
| 95 | Țară | Country | TSAH-ruh |
| 96 | Stânga | Left | STUHN-gah |
| 97 | Dreapta | Right | DREHP-tah |
| 98 | Sus | Up | soos |
| 99 | Jos | Down | zhohs |
| 100 | Aici | Here | ah-EECH |
Romanian Spelling
Romanian uses special characters: ă (like "a" in "about"), â/î (a sound unique to Romanian), ș (like "sh"), and ț (like "ts"). Learning these sounds early will greatly improve your pronunciation.
Study Tips
- Learn in context -- Practice words in sentences, not isolation. For example, instead of memorizing "apă" alone, say "Vreau apă, te rog" (I want water, please).
- Focus on high-frequency words first -- These 100 words cover roughly 50% of everyday Romanian conversation.
- Practice with your partner -- Try using 3-5 new words each day in real conversations. Ask your partner to correct your pronunciation.
- Review regularly -- Spaced repetition helps retention. Review yesterday's words before learning today's.
- Pay attention to gender -- Romanian has three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter). Adjectives and articles change to match, so always learn the gender alongside the noun.
Related Articles
- 50 Romanian Greetings and Farewells -- Perfect next step after mastering the basics above.
- 30 Romanian Pet Names and Endearments -- Learn what to call your partner beyond the formal pronouns.
- 75 Romanian Date Night Phrases -- Put your new vocabulary to use on a romantic evening.
- Romanian Moving In Together: Household Vocabulary -- Essential words for couples sharing a home.
- Romanian Baby & Pregnancy Vocabulary -- For couples planning a family together.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I effectively memorize these Romanian words as a couple?
Create flashcards with the Romanian word on one side and the English translation on the other. Quiz each other regularly. Use the words in everyday conversations, even if it's just a simple sentence. Label items around your house with their Romanian names. Make it a fun and collaborative learning experience. Consistent practice is key!
Are there any common Romanian words that sound similar to English words but have different meanings?
Yes, these are called 'false friends.' For example, 'a ড্রtt ড্রnde' sounds like 'attend' but means 'to wait.' ' ড্রctual' sounds like 'actual' but means 'current.' Pay close attention to these words and their correct meanings to avoid confusion. Creating a list of false friends and reviewing them together can be a helpful strategy for couples.
What's the best way to learn the correct pronunciation of these Romanian words?
Listen to native Romanian speakers pronounce the words online or through language learning apps. Pay attention to the stress and intonation of each word. Record yourself saying the words and compare it to the native speaker's pronunciation. Practice with your partner and provide feedback on each other's pronunciation. Repetition and consistent practice are essential.
How can I use these common Romanian words to start having basic conversations?
Start by using the greetings and basic phrases you've learned. Ask simple questions like "Ce mai faci?" (How are you?) or "Cum te cheamă?" (What's your name?). Use the pronouns and verbs to form simple sentences about yourself and your partner. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; it's part of the learning process. Consistent practice will build your confidence.
Besides memorizing the words, how can I understand their usage in context?
Read simple Romanian texts, such as children's books or news articles. Watch Romanian movies or TV shows with subtitles. Pay attention to how the words are used in different situations. Ask your partner to explain the meaning of words in context. The more you expose yourself to the language, the better you'll understand its nuances. Immersing yourselves can be a fun activity for couples.
