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MD Romanian Language Lessons
MD Romanian Language Lessons
Up to 30 million people are currently speaking Romanian. 20 million live in Romania (90 percent
of the population); 3 million in the Republic of Moldova and about 1 million in neighboring
countries (Ukraine, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria
and Greece). There are also significant communities of Romanian language speakers in countries
like Canada, United States, Germany, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Spain.
Romanian is the only Eastern Romance language and most words in Romanian vocabulary (about
75 percent) are of Latin origin. This is why Romanian shares approximately 70 percent of its
vocabulary with the other Romance languages, mostly Italian and French, followed by Sardinian,
Catalan, Portuguese, Romansh, and Spanish. Over the centuries, Romanian has also borrowed
many words from its Slavonic neighbors, German, Hungarian, Turkish, French and, more
recently, from English.
The Romanian alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet, and has five additional letters (these are
not diacriticals, but letters in their own right): , , , , and . The Romanian alphabet is basically
phonetic (with one exception: - used inside the words - and - used at the beginning or the end both represent the same sound). The sounds denoted by letters are largely similar to Italian.
Note that a version of the Cyrillic alphabet was used in the Soviet Republic of Moldova until 1989,
when they switched back to the Romanian version of the Latin alphabet.
CONTENTS
The text accompanies the following seventeen (19) audio tracks:
MD_Romanian_Lesson_1.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_2.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_3.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_4.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_5.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_6.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_7.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_8.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_9.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_10.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_11.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_12.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_13.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_14.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_15.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_16.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_17.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_18.mp3
MD_Romanian_Lesson_19.mp3
Good luck!
Lesson 1:
Listening Exercises
Limba romn este de provenien latin, sor cu italiana, franceza, spaniola, portugheza. Este
vorbit de aproximativ 30 de milioane de oameni n Romnia, Republica Moldova i Ucraina.
Pn n present, limba romn a fost studiat de peste 650 de voluntari n Corpul Pcii din
Moldova. Moldovenii snt mndri de limba lor. Chiar i imnul Republicii Moldova se numete
Limba noastr.
Romna e considerat de ctre specialiti una dintre cele mai muzicale limbi din lume.
LIMBA NOASTR
Este a noastr limba noastr
i noi sntem cu ea popor,
cum stelele din cer
snt stele
cu venica lumin-a lor.
Este a noastr limba noastr
i noi sntem cu ea pmnt,
cum marea mare
este mare
cu ape venic vlurnd.
Este a noastr limba noastr
i soart noi sntem cu ea,
cum este codru verde soart
cu ciuta i cu pasrea.
Din strbunici cu limba noastr
noi am crescut i cretem, demn,
cum cretem pomul din rn
suit-n frunz i n lemn.
Ci noi cu ea, cu
limba noastr,
nemuritori vom fi oricnd,
nemuritor cum e Pmntul
cu Soarele mereu arznd.
(Dumitru Matcovschi)
Basic Romanian Language Lessons / Peace Corps Moldova
Lesson 2:
Basic Expressions
English
Romanian
Pronunciation
Hello!
Hi!
How are you?
Fine, thank you.
Excuse me.
I am sorry.
It was nothing.
Nice to meet you!
Goodbye.
Good.
Please.
Thank you very much!
Yes.
No.
You are welcome!
Cheers!
What is your name?
My name is ...
Good morning!
Good afternoon!
Good evening!
Good night!
See you later ...
I do not speak Romanian.
Bun!
Salut!
Ce mai facei?
Bine, mulumesc.
Scuzai-m.
mi pare ru.
Nu-i nimic
mi pare bine!
La revedere.
Bine.
V rog.
Mulumesc mult!
Da.
Nu.
Cu plcere!
Noroc!
Cum v numii?
Numele meu este...
Bun dimineaa!
Bun ziua!
Bun seara!
Noapte bun!
Pe curnd...
Nu vorbesc romnete.
I do not understand.
I understood.
I speak a little Romanian.
Eu nu neleg.
Eu am neles.
Eu vorbesc puin romnete.
Excellent!
I need some water.
Unfortunately.
I am a vegetarian.
I am hungry.
I am thirsty.
Excelent!
Am nevoie de ap.
Din pcate.
Snt vegetarian.
Mi-e foame.
Mi-e sete.
boo - nuh
sa - loot
cheh my faht - chaits
bee - nay, mool - tsu - mesk
scoo - zah - tsee - muh
oohm pah-reh ruh-oh
nooee nee - meec
oohm pah-reh bee-neh
lah reh-veh-deh-reh
bee - neh
vuh rohg
mool-tsu-mesk moolt
dah
noo
koo pluh-chai-reh
noh - rok
coom vuh noo-meets
noo-meh-leh meh-oo yehsteh
boo-nuh dee-mee-nyah-tsuh
boo-nuh zee-wah
boo-nuh syah-ruh
nwahp-teh boo-nuh
peh cur-oohnd
noo vor-besk ro-moohn-eshteh
yuh noo oohn-tseh-leg
yuh ahm oohn-tseh-les
yuh vor-besk pooh-tsin romoohn-esh-teh
ex-che-lent
ahm neh-voyeh deh apuh
deen puh-cah-teh
soont veh-geh-tah-ree-ahn
myeh fwah-meh
myeh seh-teh
Lesson 3:
Introductions
English
Romanian
Pronunciation
Hello!
What is your name?
My name is Mark.
Glad to meet you!
I am glad to meet you too!
Bun ziua.
Cum te cheam?
M cheam Mark.
mi pare bine!
i mie mi pare bine!
Ci ani ai?
Eu am douzeci i trei de ani.
Eti cstorit?
Da.
Nu.
Ai copii?
Am un fiu.
Am o fiic.
De unde eti?
Eu snt din Boston.
Tu ai frai? Surori?
boo-nuh zee-uah
koom teh kyah-muh
muh kyah-muh ...
oohm pah-reh bee-neh
shee meeh oohm pah-reh beeneh
coohts ahn ahee
yuh ahm 23 deh ahn
ehsht kuh-suh-toh-reet
dah
noo
ahee koh-pee
ahm oon fee-oo
ahm oh fee-cuh
deh oon-deh ehshtee
yuh soohnt deen Boston
too ahee frah-tsee / soo-roh-ree
Ce ai lucrat n America?
Cum te simi?
Snt puin obosit.
Pot s merg n camera mea?
Sure
Your room is right here.
Sigur
Camera ta este aici.
Thank you.
Mulumesc.
i place Moldova?
Da, mi place foarte mult.
Lesson 4:
English
Romanian
Pronunciation
Who?
What?
Where?
When?
How?
Why?
What is this?
What do I need to do?
Where is the Internet Caf?
How can I get to the hotel?
Cine?
Ce?
Unde?
Cnd?
Cum?
De ce?
Ce este aceasta?
Ce trebuie s fac?
Unde este Internet Cafe?
Cum pot s ajung la hotel?
Go straight.
to the right.
to the left.
The hotel is close.
The restaurant is far.
Mergei nainte.
... la dreapta.
... la stnga.
Hotelul este aproape.
Restaurantul este departe.
Ce nseamn aceasta?
Ct cost o cafea?
Dai-mi, v rog, un suc.
M-am rtcit.
Am o mic problem.
Nu m simt bine.
Snt bolnav.
M doare stomacul.
Ct este ora?
Este trziu.
Unde pot s iau un taxi?
I need help.
Am nevoie de ajutor.
chee-neh
cheh
oon-deh
coohnd
coom
deh cheh
cheh yes-teh ah-chahs-tah
cheh treh-boo-yeh suh fahk
oon-deh yes-teh
coom poht suh ah-zhoong lah
mehr-jehts oohn-aheen-teh
lah dryah-ptah
lah stoohn-gah
yes-teh ah-pro-peh
rehs-tah-oo-rahn-tool yes-teh
deh-pahr-teh
cheh oohn-syahm-nuh ahchahs-tah
oon-deh poht suh coom-puhr
kah-fyah
cooht cohs-tuh oh kah-fyah
dah-tseem, vuh rohg, oon sook
mahm ruh-tuh-cheet
ahm oh mee-cuh proh-blehmuh
noo muh seemt bee-neh
soont bohl-nahv
muh doh-reh stoh-mah-cool
cooht yes-teh oh-rah
yes-teh toohr-zee-uh
oon-deh poht suh yah-uh oon
Lesson 5:
Letter
Sound
Similar
Example
Meaning
English sound
sun
Aa
u
argument
argument
other
er
mas
table
label
e
stpn
owner
bat
Bb
b
baie
bathroom
cake
Cc
k
cas
home
dog
Dd
d
dans
dance
pen
Ee
e
elev
pupil
fun
Ff
f
familie
family
gap
Gg
g
gard
fence
hand
Hh
h
hart
map
bee
Ii
ee
inim
heart
label
e
nalt
tall/high
treasure
Jj
zh
jurnal
journal
kit
Kk
k
kilogram
kilogram
lip
Ll
l
lun
month/moon
man
Mm
m
mam
mother
nut
Nn
n
nas
nose
top
Oo
o
ofert
offer
pin
Pp
p
prieten
friend
quick
Qq
q
Quebec
Quebec
rat
Rr
r
robot
robot
son
Ss
s
sal
hall
ship
sh
ans
chance
top
Tt
t
tat
father
bits
ts
ar
country
push
Uu
u
u
door
vat
Vv
v
var
summer
word
Ww
wolfram
wolfram
box
Xx
x
xylofon
xylophone
yoga
Yy
yoga
yoga
zip
Zz
z
zmbet
smile
Note: Any Romanian word starting with e is pronounced with an English y sound at the beginning.
Example: este is pronounced as yes-teh
Phonetic Variations:
ce
ci
che
chi
ge
gi
ghe
ghi
Diphthongs:
Note: Put the two vowel sounds together to make the diphthong sound.
i (ee) + e (eh) = ie (yeh)
o (oh) + a (ah) = oa (wah)
Basic Romanian Language Lessons / Peace Corps Moldova
Lesson 6:
Pronouns
A. The English pronouns (I, you, he, she, we, etc.) are the same in Romanian. The only exception is that
Romanian has a singular and plural form for you. Lets learn the pronouns:
ROMANIAN
ENGLISH
Eu
Tu
El
Ea
Noi
Voi
Ei
Ele
I
You
He
She
We
You (plural)
They (masculine)
They (feminine)
Notes:
1. If there is a group of masculine and feminine nouns, then it is always referred to by the pronoun ei.
2. If a person wishes to address someone (or group of people) in a formal tone, the speaker would use the
pronoun DUMNEAVOASTR. The verbs form for this pronoun is the same as for voi.
Lesson 7:
Two of the most basic verbs in Romanian are a fi (to be) and a avea (to have). Lets us learn the
present tense conjugation of these verbs.
a fi
Eu snt
Tu eti
El, ea este
singular
I am
You are
He, she, it is
Noi sntem
Voi sntei
Ei, ele snt
plural
We are
You are (pl.)
They are
Examples:
Eu snt student.
(I am a student.)
El nu e voluntar.
(He is not a volunteer.)
Mircea este inteligent. (Mircea is intelligent.)
a avea
Eu am
Tu ai
El, ea are
singular
I have
You have
He, she, it has
Noi avem
Voi avei
Ei, ele au
plural
We have
You have (pl.)
They have
8
Examples:
Radu are un apartament. (Radu has an apartment.)
Noi avem muli prieteni. (We have many friends.)
Tu nu ai bilet.
(You dont have a ticket.)
Notes:
1. From the examples above you can notice that the conjugation este can be shortened to e, and it is done
quite often in spoken Romanian. It has the same meaning.
2. The negation of a verb is done by preceding it with nu. You can observe it in the examples above.
Lessons Vocabulary:
student student (m.)
inteligent intelligent (m.)
muli many (m. pl.)
prieten friend (m.)
bilet ticket
Articles
Lesson 8:
As in English, in Romanian the indefinite articles (a, an, some) precede the noun to which they refer.
A. Indefinite Articles
un
nite
some
Examples:
Adrian este un om bun.
Cristina are o carte.
Nite copii sunt in faa colii.
B. Definite Articles
But the definite articles in Romanian come after the noun, as a suffix.
If the word ends in a consonant, add ul:
Indefinite (sng.)
om
man
Definite (pl.)
omul
the man
Indefinite (sng.)
oameni
men
Definite (pl.)
oamenii
the men
cas
house
Definite (pl.)
casa
the house
Indefinite (sng.)
case
houses
Definite (pl.)
casele
the houses
cafea
coffee
Definite (pl.)
cafeaua
the coffee
Indefinite (sng.)
cafele
cups of coffee
Definite (pl.)
cafelele
Indefinite (sng.)
erou
hero
Definite (pl.)
eroul
the hero
Indefinite (sng.)
eroi
heroes
Definite (pl.)
eroii
the heroes
If ending in u, add l:
Examples:
Copacul este foarte nalt.
Maina va veni peste o or.
Tricoul este murdar.
Notes: In some instances the Romanian definite articles must be used, though they will not be used in English.
1. When we speak about something in general:
Viaa este foarte diferit.
(Life is very different.)
mi place cafeaua foarte mult. (I like coffee very much.)
2. When showing possession:
Fratele meu este doctor.
Trenul tu pleac mine.
Lessons Vocabulary:
carte book (f.)
copil child (m.)
n fa in front (adv.)
coal school (f.)
copac tree (m.)
nalt tall (adj.)
main car (f.)
Basic Romanian Language Lessons / Peace Corps Moldova
10
or hour (f.)
tricou t-shirt (m.)
murdar dirty (adj.)
via life (f.)
diferit different (adj.)
sor sister
doctor doctor (m.)
tren train (m.)
mine tomorrow
Lesson 9:
Numbers
As in other numerical systems, the Romanian number names use a limited set of words and combining
rules, which can be applied to generate the name of any number within sufficiently large limits.
NUMBER
ENGLISH
ROMANIAN
1
One
Unu
2
Two
Doi
3
Three
Trei
4
Four
Patru
5
Five
Cinci
6
Six
ase
7
Seven
apte
8
Eight
Opt
9
Nine
Nou
10
Ten
Zece
11
Eleven
Unsprezece
12
Twelve
Doisprezece
13
Thirteen
Treisprezece
14
Fourteen
Paisprezece
15
Fifteen
Cincisprezece
16
Sixteen
aisprezece
17
Seventeen
aptesprezece
18
Eighteen
Optsprezece
19
Nineteen
Nousprezece
20
Twenty
Douzeci
21
Twenty one
Douzeci i unu
30
Thirty
Treizeci
40
Forty
Patruzeci
50
Fifty
Cincizeci
60
Sixty
aizeci
100
One hundred
O sut
1000
One thousand
O mie
10000
Ten thousand
Zece mii
1235
One thousand two hundred thirty five
O mie dou sute treizeci i cinci
Basic Romanian Language Lessons / Peace Corps Moldova
11
Days
Lesson 10:
ENGLISH
ROMANIAN
Week
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Sptmn
Luni
Mari
Miercuri
Joi
Vineri
Smbt
Duminic
Today
Yesterday
Tomorrow
This week
Last week
Next week
Astzi
Ieri
Mine
Sptmna aceasta
Sptmna trecut
Sptmna viitoare
Months
Lesson 11:
ENGLISH
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
ROMANIAN
Ianuarie
Februarie
Martie
Aprilie
Mai
Iunie
Iulie
August
Septembrie
Octombrie
Noiembrie
Decembrie
Note: The first day of the month is called nti (oon-tooee) not one. For example the first of August is nti
August.
12
Lesson 12:
English
Romanian
Pronunciation
Yes
No
Thanks
Please
Hello
Goodbye
Ok / Fine
Da
Nu
Mulumesc
V rog
Buna
La revedere
Bine
dah
noo
mool-tsu-mesk
vuh rohg
boo - nuh
lah reh-veh-deh-reh
bee-neh
Lesson 13:
A: Adverbs
English
Romanian
Pronunciation
again
also
always
here
maybe
much
never
now
sometimes
there
usually
very
din nou
de asemenea
ntotdeauna
aici
poate
mult
niciodat
acum
uneori
acolo
de obicei
foarte
deen no
deh-ahseh-meh-nyah
oohn-toht-dyah-oonah
aheech
poh-teh
moolt
neech-oh-dahtuh
ah-coom
oo-neh-ohr
ah-coh-loh
deh oh-bee-chai
fwahr-teh
English
Romanian
Pronunciation
available
bad
beautiful
big
clean
cold
different
difficult
disponibil
ru
frumos
mare
curat
rece
diferit
dificil
dees-poh-nee-beel
ruh-oo
froo-mohs
mah-reh
coo-raht
reh-cheh
dee-feh-reet
dee-fee-cheel
B: Adjectives
13
dirty
easy
funny
good
happy
healthy
little
many
new
nice
old
open
same
satisfied
strange
tasty
warm
weak
wonderful
Lesson 14:
English
beef
beer
bread
cheese
chicken
food
fish
fruit
meat
milk
pork
potatoes
pepper
tea
tomatoes
vegetables
water
wine
murdar
uor
amuzant
bun
fericit
sntos
puin
muli
nou
drgu
btrn
deschis
identic
satisfcut
ciudat
gustos
cald
slab
minunat
moor-dahr
oo-shohr
ah-moo-zahnt
boon
feh-ree-cheet
suh-nuh-tohs
poo-tseen
moolts
no
druh-goots
buh-troohn
dehs-kiss
ee-dehn-teek
sah-tees-fuh-koot
chew-daht
goos-tohs
cahld
slahb
mee-noo-naht
Romanian
Pronunciation
carne de vit
bere
pine
brnz
pui
mncare
pete
fruct
carne
lapte
carne de porc
cartofi
piper
ceai
roii
legume
ap
vin
14
Lesson 15:
House Orientation
English
Romanian
Pronunciation
house
bedroom
bathroom
kitchen
room
toilet
window
Where is the bathroom?
cold water
hot water
cas
dormitor
baie
buctrie
camer
toalet
fereastr
Unde este baia?
ap rece
ap cald
cah-suh
dohr-mee-tohr
bah-yeh
boo-cuh-tuh-ree-yeh
cah-meh-ruh
twah-leh-tuh
feh-ryas-truh
oon-deh yes-teh bah-yah
ah-puh reh-cheh
ah-puh cahl-duh
Lesson 16:
Listening Exercises
Good afternoon!
My name is Ben.
I am from America, from California
I am an agribusiness consultant.
I am a Peace Corps Volunteer.
- Bun seara!
- M numesc Jessica.
- Snt din America, din New York.
- Snt profesoar
- Snt voluntar n Corpul Pcii.
Good evening!
My name is Jessica.
I am from America, from New York.
I am a teacher.
I am a Peace Corps Volunteer.
- Salut!
- Eu snt Matt.
- Snt din S.U.A., din Las Vegas.
- Snt fermier.
- Acum, snt voluntar n Corpul Pcii.
Hi!
I am Matt.
I am from U.S.A., from Las Vegas.
I am a farmer.
Now, I am a Peace Corps Volunteer.
15
Lesson 17:
Listening Exercises
Good morning!
Good Morning!
How do you feel?
I am fine, thank you. And you?
Fine, thank you.
I have to go to Chisinau today.
At what time?
At 9 oclock.
At what time will you come back home?
I am not sure, probably by 7 in the evening.
Have a safe trip.
Thank you.
A: Bun!
B: Bun seara!
A: Cum a fost ziua?
B: A fost bine.
A: Peste jumtate de or vom lua cina.
B: Minunat. Ce avem astzi la cin?
A: Vom avea salat de legume i friptur.
B: Foarte gustos.
A: i vom bea vin de cas.
B: Foarte bine.
Hello!
Good evening!
How was your day?
It was fine.
In half an hour well have dinner.
Wonderful. What do we have for dinner?
Well have vegetable salad and steak.
Very tasty.
And we will drink some home made wine.
Very good.
16
Lesson 18:
Listening Exercises
A: i place cafeaua?
B: Da, foarte mult.
A: i place vinul?
B: Da, mi place.
A: i place brnza?
B: Nu, nu-mi place.
A: i place laptele?
B: Nu, nu-mi place.
17
Listening Exercises
Lesson 19:
imposibil
teatru
agend
inginer
telefon
alfabet
influen
telegram
artist
informaie
teribil
aparent
instituie
umbrel
argument
lac
urgent
bar
list
universitate
balon
jachet
vulgar
banc
jurnalist
volum
biscuit
medicin
vacan
certificat
moment
zebr
ciocolat
monument
zero
cinema
mesaj
a accepta
calendar
muzeu
a afecta
conferin
muzic
a consuma
creativ
nervos
a corecta
criminal
natur
a crea
doctor
onest
a decide
director
opinie
a demonstra
dicionar
problem
a examina
document
parc
a exista
dat
profesor
a exporta
dans
progres
a include
examen
restaurant
a iniia
elefant
rezisten
a oferi
energie
secret
a participa
film
serios
a produce
furios
student
a studia
18