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Lessons for English speakers

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.

13 core sections · ≈ 34 min + 3 optional lookups · ≈ 49 min with everything

Verbs and stories

3 sections
11

Have, want, must — and the little word să

≈ 3 min
What you'll learn
  • am, ai, are are I have, you have, he or she has.
  • Being hungry is neither being nor having: Mi-e foame is “to-me is hunger”.
  • Where English says “to”, Romanian says să: vreau să merg.
  • la, în, într-o place a story; acasă is “home” on its own.

One word each, subject included

amahm · aieye · areAH-reh
I have · you have · he or she has
mergmehrg · mergimehrj(y) · mergeMEHR-jeh
I go · you go · he or she goes
The g softens before that i and e — the ce/ci rule, one letter along.
vinveen · vineVEE-neh · vinoVEE-noh
I come · he or she comes · come!
Vino cu mine.VEE-noh koo MEE-neh“Come with me.”
lalah · înihn · într-oIHN-troh · acasăah-KAH-suh
to · in · in a · home
Merg acasă.mehrg ah-KAH-suh“I am going home.” — one word, homeward, and it takes no la. Masculine takes într-unIHN-troon: într-un copac“in a tree”.

I want to see the fox.

Vreau să văd vulpea.

vryow suh vuhd VOOL-pyah

vreau“I want” carries the “I”; să văd is the second verb with săsuh in front. Where English says “to”, Romanian says să.

The three verbs that open a door for another one

vreauvryow
Vreau să merg.vryow suh mehrg“I want to go.”
potpot
Pot să văd copacul.pot suh vuhd koh-PAH-kool“I can see the tree.”
trebuieTREH-boo-yeh
Trebuie să merg.TREH-boo-yeh suh mehrg“I must go.”
The verb after să keeps its familiar shape. Only one shape shifts: vede → să vadăsuh VAH-duh, merge → să meargăsuh MYAHR-guh.

Have, want, or need

  1. Nu am apă.

    nu still comes first.

    Show answer +
    Nu am apă.noo ahm AH-puh“I do not have water”
  2. Am un prieten.
    Show answer +
    Am un prieten.ahm oon PRYEH-ten“I have a friend”
  3. Vreau să văd pădurea.

    The last word has a “the” welded on.

    Show answer +
    Vreau să văd pădurea.vryow suh vuhd puh-DOO-ryah“I want to see the wood”
  4. Mi-e foame.

    Learned whole, not built.

    Show answer +
    Mi-e foame.myeh FWAH-meh“I am hungry”