Romanian is spoken by around twenty-five million people, mainly in Romania and Moldova where it holds official status. It is the only Eastern Romance language inherited directly from Latin: with this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in Bucharest, Cluj, Iasi or Chisinau.
Romanian (limba romana) has about twenty-five million native speakers and stands as the only Eastern Romance language still alive. It is the official language of Romania and Moldova, with significant diasporas in Italy, Spain, France and Germany. Direct heir of the Latin spoken in the province of Dacia, Romanian has preserved features that other Romance languages have lost: a case system, a neuter gender, archaic verbal constructions. Its appearance still feels familiar to a French speaker: a solid Latin core, sprinkled with Slavic, Greek, Turkish and Hungarian borrowings that bear witness to the Balkans crossroads. Pronunciation is almost entirely phonetic: what is written is pronounced. The diacritics a-breve, a-circumflex, i-circumflex, s-comma and t-comma open a specific sound palette to tame in the first hours. Culturally, hospitality is a cardinal virtue: a guest is fed, watered, celebrated. Politeness goes through a systematic formal address with strangers and through audible greetings when entering a shop. This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival at Bucharest Otopeni, a taxi ride, a restaurant order, a medical emergency and a smooth departure. You will find indispensable greetings, survival phrases for orientation, key words for eating and sleeping, as well as cultural tips to avoid faux pas.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You land at Bucharest Otopeni in the early evening. The hall is busy, signs are in Romanian and English. An agent meets your gaze, you greet him and ask for directions.
The taxi driver loads your suitcase and asks for your destination. You give the hotel address, you want to check the price before leaving, then you will ask him to stop right in front of the entrance.
You enter a restaurant in the centre in the early evening. The waiter seats you and hands you the menu. You hesitate over the daily special and ask for advice before ordering water and the bill.
You feel sick after a meal and you need help quickly. You ask where the nearest hospital is and mention that you are allergic to certain foods.
On the morning of departure, you want to confirm check-out time at the reception, then catch a taxi to the airport. Before leaving, you warmly say goodbye to the hotel staff.
What you need to know before travelling to a romanian-speaking country.
In Romania as in Moldova, the formal address (dumneavoastra) is the norm with strangers, shopkeepers or elders. The informal "tu" is reserved for close friends and clearly informal contexts.
Romanian hospitality is legendary: invited to someone's home, expect to be fed generously. Refusing a plate can hurt, better accept and finish slowly.
You enter a shop or office greeting out loud: Buna ziua. This basic politeness is expected, its absence is noticed.
At the table, you wait until everyone is served before starting. The toast Noroc almost systematically accompanies the first glass, look the person in the eyes when you clink.
Romanians are proud of the Latin roots of their language and appreciate when one highlights the closeness with French or Italian. Avoid confusing Romanian with Russian: it is a frequent faux pas.
Tips (bacsis) hover around ten percent in restaurants, taxis and at the hairdresser. They are not mandatory but remain a courtesy.
The topic of the Roma community and the communist era remain sensitive. Better listen before giving an opinion on these historical and social issues.
In big cities, English and French are spoken by younger generations. Outside metropolitan areas, a few words of Romanian make a real difference.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Da
da
Yes
Nu
noo
No
Mulțumesc
mool-tsoo-MESK
Thank you
Cu plăcere
koo pluh-CHE-re
You're welcome
Scuzați-mă
skoo-ZATS-muh
Excuse me
Apă
A-puh
Water
Mâncare
muhn-KA-re
Food
Hotel
ho-TEL
Hotel
Aeroport
a-e-ro-PORT
Airport
Spital
spee-TAL
Hospital
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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