Romanian is a Romance language spoken primarily in Romania and Moldova. Learning how to count in Romanian can be a rewarding experience, especially if you plan to visit or communicate with native speakers. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to count from 1 to 50 in Romanian, including pronunciation tips, usage examples, and more.

Romanian Numbers: 1 to 10

Counting from 1 to 10 in Romanian is the foundation for understanding larger numbers. Here are the numbers along with their pronunciations:

1. Unu (OO-noo)
2. Doi (DOY)
3. Trei (TRAY)
4. Patru (PAH-troo)
5. Cinci (CHINCH)
6. Șase (SHAH-seh)
7. Șapte (SHAHP-teh)
8. Opt (OAPT)
9. Nouă (NOH-uh)
10. Zece (ZEH-cheh)

Understanding these numbers is critical because they form the basis for counting higher numbers.

Romanian Numbers: 11 to 20

To count from 11 to 20 in Romanian, you start with “unsprezece” for eleven and build up from there:

11. Unsprezece (OON-spreh-zeh-cheh)
12. Doisprezece (DOY-spreh-zeh-cheh)
13. Treisprezece (TRAY-spreh-zeh-cheh)
14. Paisprezece (PAHY-spreh-zeh-cheh)
15. Cincisprezece (CHINCH-spreh-zeh-cheh)
16. Șaisprezece (SHAHY-spreh-zeh-cheh)
17. Șaptesprezece (SHAHP-teh-spreh-zeh-cheh)
18. Optsprezece (OAPT-spreh-zeh-cheh)
19. Nouăsprezece (NOH-uh-spreh-zeh-cheh)
20. Douăzeci (DOH-uh-zehch)

Notice the pattern of “sprezece” which means “teen” in English, used from 11 to 19.

Romanian Numbers: 21 to 30

Now, let’s move on to the next set of numbers from 21 to 30. The structure changes slightly but remains simple:

21. Douăzeci și unu (DOH-uh-zehch shee OO-noo)
22. Douăzeci și doi (DOH-uh-zehch shee DOY)
23. Douăzeci și trei (DOH-uh-zehch shee TRAY)
24. Douăzeci și patru (DOH-uh-zehch shee PAH-troo)
25. Douăzeci și cinci (DOH-uh-zehch shee CHINCH)
26. Douăzeci și șase (DOH-uh-zehch shee SHAH-seh)
27. Douăzeci și șapte (DOH-uh-zehch shee SHAHP-teh)
28. Douăzeci și opt (DOH-uh-zehch shee OAPT)
29. Douăzeci și nouă (DOH-uh-zehch shee NOH-uh)
30. Treizeci (TRAY-zehch)

From 21 to 29, “douăzeci” (twenty) is followed by “și” (and) and the respective single digit number.

Romanian Numbers: 31 to 40

Continuing the pattern, let’s count from 31 to 40:

31. Treizeci și unu (TRAY-zehch shee OO-noo)
32. Treizeci și doi (TRAY-zehch shee DOY)
33. Treizeci și trei (TRAY-zehch shee TRAY)
34. Treizeci și patru (TRAY-zehch shee PAH-troo)
35. Treizeci și cinci (TRAY-zehch shee CHINCH)
36. Treizeci și șase (TRAY-zehch shee SHAH-seh)
37. Treizeci și șapte (TRAY-zehch shee SHAHP-teh)
38. Treizeci și opt (TRAY-zehch shee OAPT)
39. Treizeci și nouă (TRAY-zehch shee NOH-uh)
40. Patruzeci (PAH-troo-zehch)

The pattern remains consistent, with “treizeci” (thirty) leading and followed by “și” and the single digits.

Romanian Numbers: 41 to 50

Finally, let’s look at the numbers from 41 to 50:

41. Patruzeci și unu (PAH-troo-zehch shee OO-noo)
42. Patruzeci și doi (PAH-troo-zehch shee DOY)
43. Patruzeci și trei (PAH-troo-zehch shee TRAY)
44. Patruzeci și patru (PAH-troo-zehch shee PAH-troo)
45. Patruzeci și cinci (PAH-troo-zehch shee CHINCH)
46. Patruzeci și șase (PAH-troo-zehch shee SHAH-seh)
47. Patruzeci și șapte (PAH-troo-zehch shee SHAHP-teh)
48. Patruzeci și opt (PAH-troo-zehch shee OAPT)
49. Patruzeci și nouă (PAH-troo-zehch shee NOH-uh)
50. Cincizeci (CHINCH-zehch)

Again, we see the base number “patruzeci” (forty) followed by “și” and the single digit.

Pronunciation Tips

Romanian pronunciation can be challenging for English speakers, but with practice, it becomes easier. Here are some tips:

– **Vowels:** Romanian vowels are generally consistent. “A” sounds like “ah,” “E” sounds like “eh,” “I” sounds like “ee,” “O” sounds like “oh,” and “U” sounds like “oo.”
– **Consonants:** Some consonants have unique sounds. For example, “Ș” sounds like “sh,” and “Ț” sounds like “ts.”
– **Stress:** Romanian words typically stress the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable.

Usage of Numbers in Daily Life

Understanding numbers in Romanian is crucial for everyday activities. Here are some practical applications:

– **Shopping:** “Cât costă aceasta?” (How much does this cost?)
– **Time:** “Este ora douăsprezece.” (It is twelve o’clock.)
– **Dates:** “Astăzi este douăzeci și trei.” (Today is the 23rd.)

Common Phrases Involving Numbers

Here are some common phrases that involve numbers:

– “Am doi copii.” (I have two children.)
– “Vreau trei mere.” (I want three apples.)
– “Locuiesc la etajul patru.” (I live on the fourth floor.)

Practice Exercises

To master counting in Romanian, practice is essential. Here are some exercises:

1. **Write the Numbers:** Write out the numbers from 1 to 50 in Romanian and say them aloud.
2. **Flashcards:** Create flashcards with numbers on one side and the Romanian word on the other.
3. **Listening Practice:** Listen to Romanian speakers and try to identify the numbers they use.

Advanced Counting

Once comfortable with numbers up to 50, you can start learning higher numbers:

– **Hundreds:** “O sută” (one hundred), “Două sute” (two hundred)
– **Thousands:** “O mie” (one thousand), “Două mii” (two thousand)

Counting Beyond 50

For those interested in counting beyond 50, here are the next set of numbers to get you started:

51. Cincizeci și unu (CHINCH-zehch shee OO-noo)
52. Cincizeci și doi (CHINCH-zehch shee DOY)
53. Cincizeci și trei (CHINCH-zehch shee TRAY)
54. Cincizeci și patru (CHINCH-zehch shee PAH-troo)
55. Cincizeci și cinci (CHINCH-zehch shee CHINCH)
56. Cincizeci și șase (CHINCH-zehch shee SHAH-seh)
57. Cincizeci și șapte (CHINCH-zehch shee SHAHP-teh)
58. Cincizeci și opt (CHINCH-zehch shee OAPT)
59. Cincizeci și nouă (CHINCH-zehch shee NOH-uh)
60. Șaizeci (SHAHY-zehch)

Conclusion

Learning to count to 50 in Romanian is a fundamental skill that can greatly enhance your communication abilities in the language. By understanding the basic numbers and their patterns, you can quickly expand your vocabulary and improve your confidence in speaking Romanian. Practice regularly, use the numbers in daily conversations, and soon you’ll find that counting in Romanian becomes second nature. Whether you’re traveling, working, or simply interested in languages, mastering Romanian numbers is a valuable and rewarding endeavor.