Learn to read Romanian
A short, active path into reading Romanian: decode real words from a small sound guide, learn why the word for “the” is welded onto the end of the noun, meet the past that fables are told in, and read a whole fable before opening your first book.
Reading
3 sectionsFirst reading with help: a bird loses its tree
- Read the Romanian first, then the pronunciation and the English.
- Every word has appeared earlier on this path.
- Watch the two pasts share the work: a venit moves, era describes.
- Then read it again, English covered.
Tika și Dara
A fost odată ca niciodată o pasăre într-un copac mare.
ah fohst oh-DAH-tuh kah nee-choh-DAH-tuh oh PAH-suh-reh IHN-troon koh-PAHK MAH-reh
Once upon a time, a bird lived in a big tree.
Pasărea se numea Tika.
PAH-suh-ryah seh noo-MYAH TEE-kah
It was called Tika.
Într-o zi a venit vântul și copacul a căzut.
IHN-troh zee ah veh-NEET VIHN-tool shee koh-PAH-kool ah kuh-ZOOT
One day the wind came and the tree fell.
Tika era foarte tristă.
TEE-kah yeh-RAH FWAHR-teh TREES-tuh
Tika was very sad.
„De ce ești tristă?”, a întrebat Dara, vulpea bătrână.
deh CHEH yesht(y) TREES-tuh, ah ihn-treh-BAHT DAH-rah, VOOL-pyah buh-TRIH-nuh
“Why are you sad?” asked Dara the old fox.
„Nu am o casă”, a răspuns Tika.
noo ahm oh KAH-suh, ah ruhs-POONS TEE-kah
“I do not have a house,” answered Tika.
„Vino cu mine”, a spus Dara. „Casa mea este mică, dar este bună.”
VEE-noh koo MEE-neh, ah spoos DAH-rah. KAH-sah MYAH YES-teh MEE-kuh, dahr YES-teh BOO-nuh
“Come with me,” said Dara. “My house is small, but good.”
Pasărea a mers cu vulpea. Acum Tika are un prieten.
PAH-suh-ryah ah mehrs koo VOOL-pyah. ah-KOOM TEE-kah AH-reh oon PRYEH-ten
The bird went with the fox. Now Tika has a friend.
Two delayed recalls
- pădure
Show answer +Hide answer −
pădurepuh-DOO-reh“wood” - șoarece
Show answer +Hide answer −
șoareceSHWAH-reh-cheh“mouse”