Learning a new language can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and Romanian is no exception. As a Romance language, Romanian shares many similarities with other languages like Spanish, Italian, and French, but it also has its unique characteristics that make it a fascinating language to learn. If you are just starting out with Romanian, you are at the A1 level, which is the beginner level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). At this level, you will be focusing on basic phrases, vocabulary, and simple grammatical structures that will help you navigate everyday situations.
In this article, we will cover essential Romanian words and phrases that you need to know at the A1 level. These words will be grouped into categories for easier learning and reference. By the end of this article, you will have a solid foundation of basic Romanian vocabulary that will help you in your language learning journey.
Greetings and Basic Phrases
One of the first things you’ll need to know in any language is how to greet people and use basic polite expressions. Here are some essential greetings and phrases in Romanian:
– Bună – Hello
– Bună dimineața – Good morning
– Bună ziua – Good afternoon
– Bună seara – Good evening
– Noapte bună – Good night
– La revedere – Goodbye
– Te rog – Please
– Mulțumesc – Thank you
– Cu plăcere – You’re welcome
– Scuze – Sorry
– Da – Yes
– Nu – No
Introducing Yourself
When you meet someone new, you’ll want to know how to introduce yourself. Here are some phrases to get you started:
– Eu sunt… – I am…
– Numele meu este… – My name is…
– Îmi pare bine – Nice to meet you
– De unde ești? – Where are you from?
– Sunt din… – I am from…
– Câți ani ai? – How old are you?
– Am … ani – I am … years old
Numbers
Knowing numbers is crucial for various daily interactions, such as shopping, telling time, or asking about prices. Here are the numbers from 1 to 20 in Romanian:
– Unu – One
– Doi – Two
– Trei – Three
– Patru – Four
– Cinci – Five
– Șase – Six
– Șapte – Seven
– Opt – Eight
– Nouă – Nine
– Zece – Ten
– Unsprezece – Eleven
– Doisprezece – Twelve
– Treisprezece – Thirteen
– Paisprezece – Fourteen
– Cincisprezece – Fifteen
– Șaisprezece – Sixteen
– Șaptesprezece – Seventeen
– Optsprezece – Eighteen
– Nouăsprezece – Nineteen
– Douăzeci – Twenty
Days of the Week and Months
Being able to talk about time is essential. Here are the days of the week and months in Romanian:
Days of the Week
– Luni – Monday
– Marți – Tuesday
– Miercuri – Wednesday
– Joi – Thursday
– Vineri – Friday
– Sâmbătă – Saturday
– Duminică – Sunday
Months of the Year
– Ianuarie – January
– Februarie – February
– Martie – March
– Aprilie – April
– Mai – May
– Iunie – June
– Iulie – July
– August – August
– Septembrie – September
– Octombrie – October
– Noiembrie – November
– Decembrie – December
Colors
Colors are another basic vocabulary category that you will find useful. Here are the primary colors in Romanian:
– Roșu – Red
– Albastru – Blue
– Galben – Yellow
– Verde – Green
– Negru – Black
– Alb – White
– Portocaliu – Orange
– Mov – Purple
– Maro – Brown
– Roz – Pink
Family Members
Talking about your family is a common topic of conversation. Here are some words you’ll need to discuss family members:
– Familie – Family
– Mamă – Mother
– Tată – Father
– Frate – Brother
– Soră – Sister
– Fiică – Daughter
– Fiu – Son
– Bunic – Grandfather
– Bunică – Grandmother
– Unchi – Uncle
– Mătușă – Aunt
– Văr – Cousin (male)
– Vară – Cousin (female)
Common Verbs
At the A1 level, you should familiarize yourself with some basic verbs that will help you form simple sentences. Here are some important verbs to know:
– A fi – To be
– A avea – To have
– A face – To do/make
– A merge – To go
– A veni – To come
– A mânca – To eat
– A bea – To drink
– A vedea – To see
– A auzi – To hear
– A vorbi – To speak
– A scrie – To write
– A citi – To read
– A învăța – To learn
Food and Drink
Food and drink are common topics in any language. Here are some essential words for talking about food and drink in Romanian:
– Pâine – Bread
– Apă – Water
– Lapte – Milk
– Ceai – Tea
– Cafea – Coffee
– Fructe – Fruits
– Legume – Vegetables
– Carne – Meat
– Pește – Fish
– Ou – Egg
– Brânză – Cheese
– Unt – Butter
– Zahăr – Sugar
– Sare – Salt
Common Adjectives
Adjectives help you describe people, places, and things. Here are some basic adjectives in Romanian:
– Mare – Big
– Mic – Small
– Frumos – Beautiful
– Urat – Ugly
– Nou – New
– Vechi – Old
– Bun – Good
– Rău – Bad
– Calm – Calm
– Agitat – Agitated
Basic Questions
Being able to ask questions is crucial in any language. Here are some basic question words and phrases in Romanian:
– Cine? – Who?
– Ce? – What?
– Unde? – Where?
– Când? – When?
– De ce? – Why?
– Cum? – How?
– Cât? – How much?
– Câți? – How many?
Useful Expressions
Here are some useful expressions that will come in handy in various situations:
– Ce mai faci? – How are you?
– Sunt bine, mulțumesc – I’m fine, thank you
– Ce oră este? – What time is it?
– Unde este…? – Where is…?
– Pot să…? – Can I…?
– Nu înțeleg – I don’t understand
– Vorbiți engleză? – Do you speak English?
– Ajutor! – Help!
Shopping and Money
When shopping or handling money, it’s important to know some specific vocabulary. Here are some useful words and phrases:
– Magazin – Store
– Preț – Price
– Bani – Money
– Card de credit – Credit card
– Numerar – Cash
– Cât costă? – How much does it cost?
– Reducere – Discount
– Bon fiscal – Receipt
– Factură – Invoice
Directions
Knowing how to ask for and understand directions is very useful. Here are some basic words and phrases related to directions:
– Stânga – Left
– Dreapta – Right
– Drept înainte – Straight ahead
– În spate – Back
– Colț – Corner
– Stradă – Street
– Drum – Road
– Harta – Map
Weather
Talking about the weather is a common conversation starter. Here are some words and phrases to help you discuss the weather in Romanian:
– Vreme – Weather
– Soare – Sun
– Plouă – It’s raining
– Ninge – It’s snowing
– Frig – Cold
– Cald – Hot
– Vânt – Wind
– Nor – Cloud
Travel and Transportation
When traveling, it’s useful to know some basic travel and transportation vocabulary. Here are some key words and phrases:
– Autobuz – Bus
– Tren – Train
– Mașină – Car
– Avion – Airplane
– Aeroport – Airport
– Gara – Train station
– Bilet – Ticket
– Stație – Station
– Taxi – Taxi
Health and Emergencies
In case of emergencies, knowing some basic health-related vocabulary can be very helpful. Here are some important words and phrases:
– Doctor – Doctor
– Spital – Hospital
– Farmacie – Pharmacy
– Ambulanță – Ambulance
– Rău – Bad
– Durere – Pain
– Medicament – Medicine
– Ajutor – Help
Conclusion
Learning Romanian at the A1 level involves familiarizing yourself with basic vocabulary and phrases that will help you navigate everyday situations. By mastering these essential words, you will build a strong foundation for further language learning. Remember to practice regularly and immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. Whether you’re planning to visit Romania or simply interested in expanding your linguistic skills, these words and phrases will serve as a valuable starting point. Happy learning!
