Map of Romanian speaking areas

Romanian speaking areas:

  • Romania
  • Romanian writing
  • Moldova (Republic of Moldova) - official language

General

România (Romania).

The Romanian language, although derived from Latin is similar to some Slavic languages (the word for 'yes' is 'da' - same as in Russian).

It is most similar to French or Italian.

English and German (German especially in Transilvania) as second languages are spoken well, especially amongst the younger generation.

Romanian language in Moldova

Romanian is an official language in Moldova, known as- limba moldoveneasca (called Moldovan in Moldova).

Written Romanian

Q, W, and Y are not used in the Romanian alphabet, only in loan words and foreign words.

Many words have been borrowed from French and Italian, hence the similarity with the two languages. Slavic languages have had less of an influence.

Difference between Slavic and French/Italian influence on Romanian

Romanian with Slavic words highlighted

Toate fiinţele omeneşti se nasc slobode şi deopotrivă în destoinicie şi în drepturi. Ele sunt înzestrate cu înţelegere şi cuget şi trebuie să se poarte unele faţă de altele în duh de frăţietate.

Romanian with French and Italian words highlighted

Toate fiinţele umane se nasc libere şi egale în demnitate şi în drepturi. Ele sunt înzestrate cu raţiune şi conştiinţă şi trebuie sa se comporte unele faţă de altele în spiritul fraternităţii.

English translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Romanian Latin Alphabet

There are 28 letters in the Romanian alphabet.

It does not use Q, W, and Y:

Full Romanian Alphabet

a
   a      A  

a with breve
   ă      Ă  

a with circumflex
   â      Â  

b
   b      B  

c
   c      C  

d
   d      D  

e
   e      E  

f
   f      F  

g
   g      G  

h
   h      H  

i
   i      I  

i with circumflex
   î      Î  

j
   j      J  

k
   k      K  

l
   l      L  

m
   m      M  

n
   n      N  

o
   o      O  

p
   p      P  

r
   r      R  

s
   s      S  

s with cedilla
   ş      Ş  

t
   t      T  

t with cedilla
   ţ      Ţ  

u
   u      U  

v
   v      V  

x
   x      X  

z
   z      Z  

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Romanian Translation sample:

Toate fiinţele umane se nasc libere şi egale în demnitate şi în drepturi. Ele sunt înzestrate cu raţiune şi conştiinţă şi trebuie să se comporte unele faţă de altele în spiritul fraternităţii.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Romanian Speaking countries

Romania, Moldova.

Indo-European Language group

European language groups

Indo-European > Italic (Latin) > Romance

Difficulty in learning Romanian as a native English speaker

The Defense Language Institute categorizes Romanian as relatively difficult (level 2, of 4 levels)

Business Romanian phrases

  • Letter (formal)
  • Letter (informal)