Learning Romanian can be a rewarding experience, especially as you advance to the B1 level. At this stage, you should be able to hold basic conversations, understand more complex texts, and navigate everyday situations with greater ease. To help you on this journey, we’ve compiled a list of essential Romanian words and phrases that every B1 level learner should know. This guide will cover various categories such as greetings, common expressions, verbs, adjectives, and useful nouns, ensuring you have a well-rounded vocabulary.
Basic Greetings and Expressions
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable with basic greetings and common expressions. These words and phrases are fundamental for everyday interactions and help set the tone for more complex conversations.
1. **Bună ziua** – Good day
2. **Bună dimineața** – Good morning
3. **Bună seara** – Good evening
4. **Noapte bună** – Good night
5. **Salut** – Hi / Hello
6. **La revedere** – Goodbye
7. **Mulțumesc** – Thank you
8. **Cu plăcere** – You’re welcome
9. **Scuze** – Excuse me
10. **Îmi pare rău** – I’m sorry
These basic expressions are often the first words you’ll use when interacting with native speakers. They help in establishing a polite and friendly atmosphere.
Common Verbs and Their Conjugations
Verbs are the backbone of any language, and Romanian is no exception. Here are some commonly used verbs along with their conjugations in the present tense.
1. **A fi** (to be)
– Eu sunt (I am)
– Tu ești (You are)
– El/Ea este (He/She is)
– Noi suntem (We are)
– Voi sunteți (You all are)
– Ei/Ele sunt (They are)
2. **A avea** (to have)
– Eu am (I have)
– Tu ai (You have)
– El/Ea are (He/She has)
– Noi avem (We have)
– Voi aveți (You all have)
– Ei/Ele au (They have)
3. **A face** (to do/make)
– Eu fac (I do/make)
– Tu faci (You do/make)
– El/Ea face (He/She does/makes)
– Noi facem (We do/make)
– Voi faceți (You all do/make)
– Ei/Ele fac (They do/make)
4. **A merge** (to go)
– Eu merg (I go)
– Tu mergi (You go)
– El/Ea merge (He/She goes)
– Noi mergem (We go)
– Voi mergeți (You all go)
– Ei/Ele merg (They go)
5. **A veni** (to come)
– Eu vin (I come)
– Tu vii (You come)
– El/Ea vine (He/She comes)
– Noi venim (We come)
– Voi veniți (You all come)
– Ei/Ele vin (They come)
Learning these verbs and their conjugations will significantly improve your ability to form sentences and express actions.
Adjectives for Describing People and Things
Adjectives add color and detail to your conversations. Here are some essential adjectives that will help you describe people, places, and things more effectively.
1. **Frumos/Frumoasă** – Beautiful (masculine/feminine)
2. **Urat/Urată** – Ugly (masculine/feminine)
3. **Mic/Mică** – Small (masculine/feminine)
4. **Mare** – Big
5. **Tânăr/Tânără** – Young (masculine/feminine)
6. **Bătrân/Bătrână** – Old (masculine/feminine)
7. **Rapid/Rapidă** – Fast (masculine/feminine)
8. **Încet/Încetă** – Slow (masculine/feminine)
9. **Fericit/Fericită** – Happy (masculine/feminine)
10. **Trist/Tristă** – Sad (masculine/feminine)
Understanding how to use these adjectives will allow you to describe your surroundings and feelings more precisely.
Useful Nouns for Everyday Situations
Nouns are equally important as they help identify people, places, and things. Here are some useful nouns you’ll likely encounter in everyday situations:
1. **Casă** – House
2. **Mașină** – Car
3. **Școală** – School
4. **Prieteni** – Friends
5. **Familie** – Family
6. **Mâncare** – Food
7. **Bani** – Money
8. **Loc de muncă** – Workplace
9. **Oraș** – City
10. **Vacanță** – Vacation
Having a good grasp of these nouns will help you navigate various scenarios more effectively.
Time and Date Expressions
Being able to talk about time and dates is crucial for planning and organizing your activities. Here are some essential expressions:
1. **Astăzi** – Today
2. **Mâine** – Tomorrow
3. **Ieri** – Yesterday
4. **Săptămână** – Week
5. **Lună** – Month
6. **An** – Year
7. **Ora** – Hour
8. **Minut** – Minute
9. **Dimineață** – Morning
10. **Seară** – Evening
These words will help you discuss schedules, appointments, and daily routines more fluently.
Common Prepositions
Prepositions are small but mighty words that help link other words together. Here are some common prepositions you should know:
1. **În** – In
2. **Pe** – On
3. **Sub** – Under
4. **Lângă** – Next to
5. **Între** – Between
6. **Deasupra** – Above
7. **Dedesubt** – Below
8. **În fața** – In front of
9. **În spate** – Behind
10. **Cu** – With
Understanding how to use these prepositions will make your sentences more coherent and precise.
Questions Words
Asking questions is an essential part of communication. Here are some question words that will help you gather information and engage in conversations:
1. **Cine** – Who
2. **Ce** – What
3. **Unde** – Where
4. **Când** – When
5. **De ce** – Why
6. **Cum** – How
7. **Cât/Câtă** – How much (masculine/feminine)
8. **Câți/Câte** – How many (masculine/feminine)
9. **Care** – Which
10. **Al cui/A cui** – Whose (masculine/feminine)
Using these question words will enable you to seek clarification and delve deeper into conversations.
Expressions for Giving Directions
Being able to give and understand directions is crucial when navigating new places. Here are some essential expressions:
1. **La dreapta** – To the right
2. **La stânga** – To the left
3. **Drept înainte** – Straight ahead
4. **Înapoi** – Back
5. **Aproape** – Near
6. **Departe** – Far
7. **La colț** – At the corner
8. **Peste drum** – Across the street
9. **Lângă** – Next to
10. **În fața** – In front of
These expressions will help you get around and assist others in finding their way.
Shopping and Dining Vocabulary
Whether you’re shopping or dining out, these words and phrases will come in handy:
1. **Preț** – Price
2. **Reducere** – Discount
3. **Bon** – Receipt
4. **Meniu** – Menu
5. **Nota de plată** – Bill
6. **Chelner** – Waiter
7. **Chelneriță** – Waitress
8. **Mâncare** – Food
9. **Băutură** – Drink
10. **Desert** – Dessert
Understanding this vocabulary will make your shopping and dining experiences more enjoyable and less stressful.
Healthcare and Emergency Phrases
In case of emergencies or medical situations, knowing the right vocabulary can be crucial. Here are some key phrases:
1. **Doctor** – Doctor
2. **Spital** – Hospital
3. **Ambulanță** – Ambulance
4. **Farmacie** – Pharmacy
5. **Medicamente** – Medicine
6. **Rănit/Rănită** – Injured (masculine/feminine)
7. **Durere** – Pain
8. **Ajutor** – Help
9. **Urgent** – Urgent
10. **Alergie** – Allergy
Being familiar with these terms can be life-saving in critical situations.
Technology and Communication Vocabulary
In today’s digital age, knowing technology-related vocabulary is essential. Here are some important words:
1. **Calculator** – Computer
2. **Telefon** – Phone
3. **Internet** – Internet
4. **Email** – Email
5. **Mesaj** – Message
6. **Apel** – Call
7. **Rețea** – Network
8. **Parolă** – Password
9. **Site** – Website
10. **Aplicație** – App
This vocabulary will help you navigate technology and communicate more effectively.
Travel and Transportation Vocabulary
When traveling, knowing the right words can make your journey smoother. Here are some useful terms:
1. **Aeroport** – Airport
2. **Gara** – Train station
3. **Autobuz** – Bus
4. **Taxi** – Taxi
5. **Bilet** – Ticket
6. **Harta** – Map
7. **Destinație** – Destination
8. **Plecare** – Departure
9. **Sosire** – Arrival
10. **Bagaj** – Luggage
These words will help you navigate transportation systems and travel more efficiently.
Idiomatic Expressions and Phrasal Verbs
Idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs add a layer of authenticity to your language skills. Here are a few to get you started:
1. **A da de înțeles** – To hint
2. **A face rost** – To obtain
3. **A lua parte** – To participate
4. **A pune la punct** – To arrange/organize
5. **A scoate în evidență** – To highlight
Using these expressions will make your Romanian sound more natural and fluent.
Practice and Application
While learning these words is crucial, practice is equally important. Engage in conversations with native speakers, watch Romanian movies, and read Romanian books to see these words in context. Use language learning apps and participate in language exchange programs to reinforce your skills.
In conclusion, reaching a B1 level in Romanian involves expanding your vocabulary across various categories. From greetings and basic expressions to more specific terms related to shopping, dining, and healthcare, this guide provides a comprehensive list of words and phrases to help you navigate everyday situations. Practice regularly, and you’ll find yourself becoming more confident and fluent in Romanian. Happy learning!