Romanian Made Nice & Easy! 2001087401, 0878914013

Citation preview

Research & Education

Asseciation

Based on Language Courses developed by the U.S. Government for Foreign Service Personnel

Learn 10 speak Romanian LL mwiTh:

y/ Useful words and phrases with pronunciations

V/Popular greetings and expressions

o Directions, Numbers,

Money, Time V/ Vocabulary List |

Jet Ny

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2022 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/romanianmadenice0000unse »

ROMANIAN Made Nice & Easy!" Staff of Research & Education Association Carl Fuchs, Language Program Director

Based on Language Courses developed by the U.S. Government for Foreign Service Personnel

a

aA / y

Research & Education Association

Visit our website at www.rea.com

Research & Education Association 61 Ethel Road West Piscataway, New Jersey 08854 E-mail: [email protected]

ROMANIAN MADE NICE & EASY®

Year 2007 Printing Copyright © 2001 by Research & Education Association, Inc. This copyright does not apply to the information included from U.S. Government publications which was edited by Research & Education Association, Inc.

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number 2001087401 International Standard Book Number 0-87891-401-3

sats

j

n

LANGUAGES MADE NICE & EASY * and REA® are registered trademarks of Research & Education Association, Inc. 106

What This Guide Will Do For You Whether travelling to a foreign country or to your favorite

international

restaurant,

this Nice e% Easy

guide gives you just enough of the language to get around and be understood. Much of the material in this book was developed for government personnel

who are often assigned to a foreign country on a moment's notice and need a quick introduction to the language.

In this handy and compact guide, you will find useful words and phrases, popular expressions, common

greetings, and the words for numbers,

money,

and time: Every word or phrase is accompanied with the correct pronunciation and spelling. There is a vocabulary list for finding words quickly. Generous margins on the pages allow you to make notes and remarks that you may find helpful. If you expect to travel to Romania, the section on the country’s history and relevant up-to-date facts will make your trip more informative and enjoyable. By keeping this guide with you, you'll be well prepared to understand as well as converse in Romanian. Carl Fuchs Language Program Director

lil

Contents Romanian Pactstand distory ti... Vv ints OP

ro nun ciatloniarss.d-c 4

SPCC IASC OLIN Se e

pe

ie

Meee 5

Greetings and General Phrases ........ ds HOCatiON Asante

ier

a CY

Dine ctio ms bca, 90 397, ELE 800), 11

ÎN ua pps

00 PRRREZII, reeaten rei 12

AA atesled A e teze erp ta Pc Marcea 15 IAsuDoralCove Dag Sa VOIE DETAR

ARII

ee

Mare, MARA ori, OF

ee

16

ta ronan eats ie, E

NI IRI, 20

© themUsetul-Rh rages ses 0 acea

22

PL

24

Gees DC Can OU

Billelip sentences: ..i.cc

e

29

Im portantS (orice. Ate. eee es 44

Alphabetical iv

LSD

a e

47

ROMANIA FACTS & HISTORY Official Name: Romania

Geography Area: 237,499 sq. km. (91,699 sq. mi.); somewhat smaller than New York and Pennsylvania combined. Cities: Capital-Bucharest (pop. 2.02 million). Other citieslasi (350,000), Constanta (344,000), Timisoara (327,000), Cluj-Napoca (334,000), Galati (331,000), Brasov (316,000).

Terrain: Consists mainly of rolling, fertile plains; hilly in the eastern regions of the middle Danube basin; and major mountain ranges running north and west in the center of the country, which collectively are known as the Carpathians. Climate: Moderate.

People Nationality: Noun and adjective-Romanian(s). Population: 21.7 million (est.). Annual population growth rate: -0.3%. Ethnic

groups:

Romanians

Germans 0.5%, Ukrainians, Turks, and Roma 2.5%.

89%,

Hungarians

7.1%,

Serbs, Croats, Russians,

Religions: Orthodox 86.8%, Roman Catholic 5%, Reformed Protestant, Baptist, and Pentecostal 5%, Greek Catholic (Uniate) 1-3%, Muslim 0.2%, Jewish less than 0.1%. Languages: Romanian (official). Other languages— Hungarian, German.

Education:

Years compulsory-10.

Attendance-98%.

Literacy-98%.

Health: [Infant mortality rate (2001 est.)—-18.7/1,000.

Life expectancy—men 67.61 yrs., women 74.9 yrs. Work force (9.2 million): Agriculture—2.75

million.

Industry and commerce—3.34 million. Services—2.89 million. Government

Type: Republic. i Constitution: November 21, 1991 (amended by referendum in 2003). Branches: Executive—president (head of state), prime minister (head ofgovernment), Council of Ministers. Legislative— bicameral Parliament. /udicial—Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and lower courts.

Subdivisions: 40 counties plus the city of Bucharest. Economy GDP: $34.0 billion. Annual GDP growth rate: 8.3%.

Per Capita GDP: $3,389. Natural resources: Oil, timber, natural gas, coal, salt, iron

ore. Agriculture

(1998):

16.4%

of GDP.

Products—corn, *

vi

wheat, potatoes, oilseeds, vegetables, livestock, fish, and

forestry. Industry: 27.0%.

Types—machine building, mining, con-

struction materials, metal production and processing, chemicals, food processing, textiles, clothing. Services: 44.1%. Trade:

Exports-$10.4

billion: textiles, chemicals,

light

manufactures, wood products, fuels, processed metals, machinery and equipment. Major markets-ttaly, Germany, France, Turkey, and U.K. Jmports—$15.5 billion: machinery and equipment, fuel, cooking, coal, iron ore, and mineral products. Major suppliers—

Italy, Germany, Russia, France, and U.K. Geography Extending inland halfway across the Balkan Peninsula and covering a large elliptical area of 237,499 square kilometers (91,699 sq. mi.), Romania occupies the greater

part of the lower basin of the Danube River system and the hilly eastern regions of the middle Danube basin. It lies on

either side of the mountain systems collectively known as the Carpathians, which form the natural barrier between the two Danube basins. Romania's location gives it a con-

tinental climate, particularly in the Old Kingdom (east of the Carpathians and south of the Transylvanian Alps) and to a lesser extent in Transylvania, where the climate is more moderate. A long and at times severe winter (December-

March), ahot summer (April-July), anda prolonged autumn (August-November) are the principal seasons, with a rapid transition from spring to summer. In Bucharest, the daily minimum temperature in January averages 7°C (20°F), Vii

and the daily maximum 29008598).

temperature in July averages

People & Culture About 89% of the people are ethnic Romanians, a group that — in contrast to its Slav or Hungarian neighbors — traces itself to Latin-speaking Romans, who in the second and third centuries C.E. conquered and settled among the ancient Dacians, a Thracian people. As a result, the Romanian language, although containing elements of Slavic, Turkish, and other languages, is a romance language

related to French and Italian. Hungarians and Romaare the principal minorities, with a declining German population and smaller numbers of Serbs, Croats, Ukrainians, Greeks, Turks, Armenians, Great Russians, and others. Minority populations are greatest in Transylvania and the Banat, areas in the north and west, which belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire until World War I. Even before union with Romania, ethnic

Romanians comprised the overall majority in Transylvania. However, ethnic Hungarians and Germans were the dominant urban population until relatively recently, and still are the majority in a few districts. Before World War II, minorities represented more than 28% of the total population. During the war, that percen-

tage was halved, largely by the loss of the border areas of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina (to the former Soviet Union — now Moldova and Ukraine) and southern

Vili

Dobrudja (to Bulgaria), as well as by the postwar flight or

deportation of ethnic Germans. Though Romanian troops participated in the destruction of the Jewish coramunities of Bessarabia and Bukovina, many Jews from Romania survived the Holocaust. Mass emigration, mostly to Israel, has reduced the surviving Jewish community from more than 300,000 to fewer than 10,000. In recent years, more than two-thirds of the ethnic Germans in Romania have immigrated to Germany. Religious affiliation tends to follow ethnic lines, with

most ethnic Romanians identifying with the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Greek Catholic or Uniate church, reunified with the Orthodox Church by fiat in 1948, was restored after the 1989 revolution. The 2002 census indicates that less than 1% of the population is Greek Catholic, as

opposed to about 10% prior to 1948. Roman Catholics, largely ethnic Hungarians and Germans, constitute about 5% of the population; Calvinists, Baptists, Pentecostals,

and Lutherans make up another 5%. There are smaller numbers of Unitarians, Muslims, and other religions. Romania's rich cultural traditions have been nourished

by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. The traditional folk arts, including dance, wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes and household decorations, and fascinating folk music,

still flourish in many parts of the country. Despite strong Austrian, German, and especially French influence, many

of Romania's great artists, such as the painter Nicolae Grigorescu,

the poet Mihai

Eminescu,

the composer 1x

George Enescu, and the sculptor Constantin

Brancusi,

drew their inspiration from Romanian folk traditions. The country’s many Orthodox monasteries, as well as the Transylvanian Catholic and Evangelical churches, some of which date back to the 13th century, are repositories of artistic treasures. The famous painted monasteries of Bukovina make an important contribution to European architecture. Poetry and the theater play an important role in contemporary Romanian life. Classic Romanian

plays, such as those of Ion Luca Caragiale,

as well as works by modern or avant-garde Romanian and international playwrights, find sophisticated and enthusiastic audiences in the many theaters of the capital and of the smaller cities.

History of Romania From about 200 B.c.E., when it was settled by the Dacians, a Thracian tribe, Romania has been on the path of a series of migrations and conquests. Under the emperor Trajan early in the second century C.E., Dacia was incorporated into the Roman Empire, but was abandoned by a declining Rome less than two centuries later. Romania disappeared from recorded history for hundreds of years,

to reemerge in the medieval period as the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. Heavily taxed and badly administered under the Ottoman Empire, the two principalities were unified under a single native prince in 1859, and had their full independence ratified in the 1878 Treaty of Berlin. A German prince, Carol of Hohenzollern, was crowned first

King of Romania in 1881. Xx

The new state, squeezed between the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian empires, looked to the West, particularly France, for its cultural, educational, and

administrative models. Romania was an ally of the Entente and the U.S. in World War I, and was granted substantial territories with Romanian populations, notably Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina, after the war.

Most of Romanias pre-World War II governments maintained the forms, but not always the substance, of a liberal constitutional monarchy. The fascist Iron Guard movement,

exploiting nationalism, fear of communism,

and resentment of alleged foreign and Jewish domination of the economy, was a key factor in the creation of a dictatorship in 1938. In 1940-41, the authoritarian General

Antonescu took control. Romania entered World War II on the side of the Axis Powers in June 1941, invading the Soviet Union to recover Bessarabia and Bukovina, which

had been annexed in 1940. In August 1944, a coup led by King Michael, with support from opposition politicians and the army, deposed the Antonescu dictatorship and put Romania’s battered armies on the side of the Allies. Romania incurred additional heavy casualties fighting the Germans in Transylvania, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. The peace treaty, signed at Paris on February 10, 1947, confirmed the Soviet annexation of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina,

but restored the part of northern Transylvania granted to Hungary in 1940 by Hitler. The treaty required massive war reparations by Romania to the Soviet Union, whose occupying forces left in 1958. The Soviets pressed for inclusion of Romania’ heretofore negligible Communist

xi

Party in the post-war government, while non-communist political leaders were steadily eliminated from political life. King Michael abdicated under pressure in December 1947, when the Romanian People’s Republic was declared, and went into exile. In the early 1960s, Romania's communist government began to assert some independence from the Soviet Union. Nicolae Ceausescu became head of the Communist Party in 1965 and head of state in 1967. Ceausescu’s denunciation of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and a brief relaxation in internal repression helped give him a positive image both at home and in the West. Seduced by Ceausescu’s “independent” foreign policy, Western leaders were slow to turn against a regime that, by the late 1970s, had become increasingly harsh, arbitrary, and capricious. Rapid economic growth fueled by foreign credits gradually gave way‘to wrenching austerity and severe political repression. After the collapse of communism in the rest of Eastern Europe in the late summer and fall of 1989, a midDecember protest in Timisoara against the forced reloca-

tion of a Hungarian minister grew into a countrywide protest against the Ceausescu regime, sweeping the dictator from power. Ceausescu and his wife were executed on

December 25, 1989, after a cursory military trial. About 1,500 people were killed in confused street fighting. An impromptu governing coalition, the National Salvation Front (FSN), installed itself and proclaimed the restoration

of democracy and freedom. The Communist Party was outlawed, and Ceausescu’s most unpopular measures, such as bans on abortion and contraception, were repealed. XII

Over 200 new political parties sprang up after 1989, gravitating around personalities rather than programs. All major parties espoused democracy and market reforms, but the governing National Salvation Front proposed slower, more cautious economic reforms. In contrast, the opposition's main parties, the National Liberal Party (PNL), and the National Peasant-Christian Democrat Party (PNTCD)

favored quick, sweeping reforms, immediate privatization, and reducing the role of the ex-communist elite. The 1992 elections revealed a continuing political cleavage between major urban centers and the countryside. Rural voters, who were grateful for the restoration of most agricultural land to farmers but fearful of change, strongly favored President Ion Iliescu and the FDSN, while the urban electorate favored the CDR (a coalition

made up by several parties and civic organizations) and quicker reform. Iliescu easily won reelection over a field of five other candidates. In elections in November 2000, the electorate pun-

ished the coalition parties for their corruption and failure to improve the standard of living. The PDSR (renamed

PSD-Social Democratic Party at June 16, 2001 Congress) came back into power, albeit as a minority government. In the concurrent presidential elections, former President Ion

Iliescu decisively defeated the extreme nationalist Greater Romania Party (PRM) leader Corneliu Vadim Tudor. The PSD government, led by Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, forged a de facto governing coalition with the

xiii

ethnic Hungarian UDMR, ushering in four years of rela-

tively stable government. The PSD guided Romania toward greater macro-economic stability, although endemic corruption remained a major problem. In September 2003, the center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) and

centrist national national political

Democratic Party (PD) formed an alliance at a and local level, in anticipation of 2004 local and elections. Romania then moved closer toward a system dominated by two large political blocs.

In October 2003 citizens voted in favor of major amendments to the constitution in a nationwide referendum to bring Romania's organic law into compliance with European Union standards. Romania has since made great progress in consolidating democratic institutions. The press is free and outspoken. Independent radio networks have proliferated, and a private television network now operates nationwide. The reorganized security services have a much reduced role in civil society, but still maintain sole control over the secret police files of the former Communist regime.

S,eynoeiq.,, [Sed ,,

co UPA [,

EIUEAŢĂSUEA

Peles Castle, Sinaia, Transylvania

Hints on Pronunciation

All the words and phrases are written in a spelling which you read like English. Each letter or combination of letters is used for the sound it normally represents in English and it always stands for the same sound. Thus, oo is always to be read as in foo, boot, tooth, roost. Say these words and then pronounce

the vowel sound by itself. That is the sound you must use every time you see oo in the Pronunciation column. If you should use some other sound—for example, the one in blood or the one in door—you might be misunderstood. Syllables that are accented, that is, pronounced louder

than

others,

are

written

in capital letters.

Curved lines (_) are used to show sounds that are pro-

Babele, or "Old Woman"

Rock, Carpathian Mountains

nounced together without any break. Example: ‘‘BOOng S_YA-ra’’ meaning ''good evening.”’ SPECIAL

POINTS

AY

as in day, play, may but cut short. It may therefore sound something like the e in Jet. Example: ‘‘PESH-tay’’ meaning “fish.”

U or UH

as in cut, but, hub. Example: ‘‘KUT’’ meaning “how much.”’

Aor AH

as in father, ab, pa. Examples: ‘“‘DA’’ meaning 'yes,''““SHAHP-tay "meaning 'seven.""

“&

as in sofa, vanilla, china. "NO-wg'' meaning ‘“‘nine.”

sthetoa £

acinar

es

el

=

Church of the Three Hierarchs, Iasi

Example:

J

for the sound in measure, usual, diviston. Since we have no single letter for this sound in English, we write it in your Language Guide as j. Remember that it is like the sound in measure and not like the sound in judge. Example: ‘‘JOY’’ meaning “Thursday.”

y

In a word like ‘‘kar-TOAF,”’ the “‘f’’ is followed by a slight ‘‘y’’ sound.

il

|

|

i.

i

Detail, Patriarchate Church, B ucharest

Vlad Tepes’ House, Sighişoara

GREETINGS English

AND

GENERAL

Pronunciation

PHRASES Romanian

—~Hello_—_—_—_____pe ROA Neror Good day

BOO-ng

ZEE-wa

Buna ziua

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Good morning

BOO-ng deemeen-Y A-tsa

Buna dimineata

Good evening

BOO-ng

Buna seara

Sir

DOAM-noo-lay

Domnule

Mr.

DOAM-nool

Domnul

Mrs.

DWAHM-na

Doamna

Miss

doam-nee-SHWAra

Domnişoara

How are you?

chay MA-ee FA-chets?

Ce mai faceţi?

I’m well, thanks

mool-tsoo-MESK,

Mulţumesc, bine

S_YA-ra

BEE-nay

Atheneum, Bucharest

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Thank you

mool-tsoo-MESK

Multumesc

You’re welcome

PEN-troo TSEEN

Pentru putin

Please

vg

Excuse me

yayr-TA-tsee-mg¢

lertati-ma

Yes

DA

Da

No

NOO

Nu

Do you understand me?

mun-tsay-LEDjets?

Mae are Iege fi

I understand

un-tsay-LEG

Inteleg

I don’t understand

NOO

Please speak

vg

ROAG BEETS CHET

vg

ROAG raypay-TAHTS,

ROAG

Va rog

un-tsay-

Nu inteleg

LEG

slowly

Please repeat

poo-

vorun-

Va rog vorbiti incet

Va rog repetati

LOCATION

When you need directions to get somewhere you use the phrase ‘‘where is’’ and then add the words you need. 9

ae

BO teme

> DED 85505500

Calimanesti, on the Olt River

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Where is ___?

OON-day Avy

Unde este ___?

a restaurant

Where is a restaurant?

oon

YEST-

un restaurant

rest-ow-

RAHNT

OON-day ay

YEST-

oon.

rest-

Unde este un restaurant?

ow-RAHNT? a hotel Where is a hotel? the railroad station

Where is the railroad station?

10

oon

ho-TEL

OON-day ay oon TEL?

YESTho-

Unde este un hotel?

gara

GA-ra

OON-day

un hotel

YEST-

ay GA-ra?

Unde este gara?

English

the toilet

Where is the toilet?

Pronunciation

Romanian

tePREE-na -

latsina

OON-day YESTay la-TREE-na?

Unde este latrina?

DIRECTIONS

The answer to your question ‘‘Where is such and such?’’ may be ‘‘To the right’’ or “To the left” or “Straight ahead,’’ so you need to know these phrases. To the right

la

dree-AHP-ta

La dreapta

To the left

la

STUNG-ga

La stanga

Straight ahead

DREPT

un-ah-

Drept înainte

EEN-tay

It is sometimes useful to say “Please point” or “Take me there.”’ Please point

va

ROAG ahrg-T A-tseemy

Vă rog arătaţi-mi

2 Palace of Mogosoaia, Bucharest

English

Pronunciation

Take me there

koan-doo-CHETSee-mg

KO-lo

ah-

Romanian

Conduceţi-mă acolo

If you ate driving and ask the distance to another town it will be given you in kilometers, not miles. Kilometers

keel-o-MET-ree

Kilometri

One kilometer equals 54 of a mile. NUMBERS

You need to know the numbers. One

OO-noo

unu

Two

DOY

doi’

Three

TRAY

trei

Four

PA-troo

patru

Five

CHEENCH

cinci

Six

SHA-say

şase

Seven

SHAHP-tay

şapte

Eight

OAPT

opt

Nine

NO-w¢

noua

Ten

ZECH-ay

zece

12

Culture Palace, Targu Mures, Transylvania

13

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Eleven

OON-sprayZECH-ay

unsprezece

Twelve

DOY-spray-

doisprezece

Thirteen

TRAY-spray-

treisprezece

ZECH-ay

ZECH-ay PA-ee-spray-

paisprezece

Fifteen

CHEENCH-sprayZECH-ay

cincisprezece

Sixteen

SHA-ee-sprayZECH-ay

şaisprezece A

Seventeen

SHAHP-tay- prayZECH-ay

şa ptesprezece

Eighteen

OAPT-spray-

optsprezece

Fourteen

ZECH-ay

ZECH-ay

Nineteen

NO-wq-sprayZECH-ay

nouăsprezece

Twenty

DO-wq-ZECH

douăzeci

Twenty-one

do-wq-ZECH shee OO-noo

douăzeci şi unu

Twenty-two

do-wq-ZECH shee DOY

douăzeci şi doi

14

Pronunciation

Romanian

Thirty

tray-ZECH

treizeci

Forty

PA-troo-ZECH

patruzeci

Fifty

cheench-ZECH

cincizeci

Sixty

SHA-ee-ZECH

şaizeci

Seventy

SHAHP-tayZECH

şaptezeci

Eighty

oapt-ZECH

optzeci

Ninety

NO-wgq-ZECH

nouăzeci

One hundred

o

SOO-tg

o sută

One thousand

o

MEE-yay

o mie

WHAT'S

THIS?

When you want to know the name of something you can say ''What is it?’’ or “What's this?’’ and point to the thing you mean. What is ___?

CHAY

YEST-

Ce este _—?

ay i this

What’s this?

AH-sta

asta

CHAY YESTay AH-sta?

Ce este asta?

15

ASKING

FOR

THINGS

When you want something, you can say “I'd like” and add the name of the thing wanted. I'd like _— cigarettes I'd like cigarettes

to eat

I'd like to eat

ahsh

a match Give mea

match

Aş vrea ——

tsee-ga-RET-ay

tigarete

ahsh vree-AH tsee-ga-RET-ay

Aş vrea tigarete

sg

să mănânc

mg-NUNK

ahsh sg

Give me _—

vree-AH

vree-AH

Aş vrea să mănânc

mg-NUNK

DA-tseemy ——

Dati-mi ——

oon

un chibrit

kee-BREET

DA-tseemy

oon

kee-BREET

Dati-mi

chibrit

un

Always add the word for ''please''—''vz ROAG.”’ I'd like to buy ——

ahsh vree-AH sg KOOMpur

Aş vrea să cumpăr ——

Here are the words for some of the things you may require. 16

pa mezi

St. Apostles’ Church, Bucharest

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

food

day

de mâncare

bread

PWEE-nay

pâine

butter

OONT

unt

mun-KA-ray

17

Pronunciation

Romanian

water

AH-pe

apă

soup

SOO-p¢@

supa

fish

PESH-tay

peste

meat

KAR-nay

carne

chicken

poo-EE

pui

vegetables

lay-GOO-may

legume

eggs

O-wa

oua

salt

SA-ray

sare

sugar

ZA-hur

zahar

pepper

pee-PAYR

potatoes

kar-TOAFy

English

“piper

A 4] Say

cartofi

Tt

FREREREEEE Îi

Sa

a ER

n

Constanta, on the Black Sea

18

25)

Notice the last sound in the word for ‘potatoes.’ Listen and repeat: ‘‘kar-TOAF,, kar-TOAF,.” It is written in your Guide as f with a small y following it. It is pronounced like f and y run together in one sound; it is the same sound we have in the words

““few’’

and

Og fae

“future.”

Try just the sound

beans

fa-SO-lay

fasole

milk

LAHP-tay

lapte

chocolate

cho-ko-LA-tg

ciocolată

tea

CHA-ee

ceaiu

wine

VEEN

vin

cup of coffee

CHA-shkg kahf-YA

glass of

pa-HAR

beer

day

day

again:

ceasca de cafea

pahar de bere

BAY-ray

MONEY

To find out how much things cost you say “How much costs?” how much

KUT

cat

costs

KO-st¢

costa

this

AH-sta

asta

19

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

How much does this cost?

KUT KO-st¢ AH-sta?

Cât costă asta?

Notice the sound written with a 4 in the word “KUT, KUT."' It sounds something like # in “cut. " Try just the sound again: ‘‘u, u.”’ TIME

To find out what time it is you say really ““‘What is the hour?”’ What time is it?

KUT YEST-ay CHA-sool?

Gat este ceasul?

It’s one o’clock

YEST-ay CHAsool OO-noo

Este ceasul unu

“Half past four’’ is ‘‘four and a half.” Half past four

WHAT

20

PA-troo shee joo-mg-TA-tay

TIME

Patru si jumatate

IS IT IN ROMANIAN?

Cluj, Transylvania

If you want to know when a movie starts or when a train leaves you say: when

KUND

cand

starts

un-CHEP-ay

incepe

the movie

FEEL-mool

filmul

KUND

Când începe filmul?

When does the movie start?

un-

CHEP-ay FEEL-mool?

leaves

plee-AH-kg¢

pleacă

the train

TREN-ool

trenul

When does the train leave?

KUND kg

plee-AHTREN-ool?

Când pleacă trenul?

21

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Yesterday

YAYRy

Ieri

Today

AHZy

Azi

Tomorrow

MWEE-nay

Mâine

The days of the week are: Monday

LOONy

Luni

Tuesday

MARTS,

Marti

Wednesday

M_Y AY R-koory

Miercuri

Thursday

JOY

Joi

Notice the sound written with a j in the word “JOY, JOY." It is the same as the sound in ‘‘measure,’ ‘‘pleasure.’’ Try just the sound again: *‘j, j.”’ Friday

VEE-nayry

Vineri

Saturday

SUM-but-¢

Sambata

Sunday

doo-MEE-nay-kg

Duminecă

OTHER

USEFUL

PHRASES

The following phrases will be useful: What is your

name?

22

koom

vg

MEETS?

noo-

Cum vă numiţi?

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

How do you say “table”

KOOM say SPOO-nay

Cum se spune

(or anything

.4 table’ ,

pay

else) in

ro-mg-NESH-

Romanian?

tay?

“table”

pe

româneşte?

I am American

SOONT ah-mayree-KAHN

Sunt american

Good-by

LA rev-ay-DAYray

La revedere

Notes: For ''cigarettes”” you will often hear the word ‘‘tsee-GUR”’ as well as “‘tsee-ga-RET-ay.”’ You can shorten the expression for “'It's one o'clock” (and so forth) by leaving out the word for ‘‘hour’’ and saying simply “YEST-ay OO-noo."’

ADDITIONAL

EXPRESSIONS

Come in!

EEN-trg!

Intra!

Have a seat!

LWAHTS LOAK!

Luati loc!

Glad to meet you!

UM PA-ra BEE-nay!

Îmi pare bine!

I don’t know

NOO

Nu

I think so

KRED

I don’t think so

NOO

Maybe

PWA-tay

Stop!

STA-ee!

Come here!

vay-NEETS ah-CHEE!

Veniti aci!

Right away! or Quickly!

REP-ed-ay!

Repede!

Come quickly!

vay-NEETS

Veniţi repede!

Go quickly!

doo-CHETS-ee-vg¢ REP-ed-ay!

Duceţi-vă repede!

I am hungry

MEE-yay may

Mi-e foame

sht_yoo

Cred

KRED

Nu cred Poate

Stai!

REP-ed-ay!

24

ştiu

FWA-

Sucevita Monastery

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

I am thirsty

MEE-yay

Mi-e sete

I am tired

SOONT SEET

o-bo-

I am lost

MAHM

rut-g¢-

Help!

ah-joo-TOR!

Ajutor!

Help me

ah-joo-TA-tsee-mg

Ajutati-ma

Bring help

ah-DOO-chets ah-joo-TOR

Aduceti ajutor

I will pay you

vg

Va voiu plati

SET-

ay

CHEET

VOY TEE

plg-

Sunt obosit

M’am ratacit

25

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Where isa . town or city?

OON-day YESTay oon SAHT or o-RAHSH?

Unde este un sat ori oraş?

Where is it?

OON-day ay?

Unde este?

How far is the

KUT day dayPAR-tay yestay o-RA-shool?

Cât de departe este oraşul?

YEST-ay

Este departe?

city? Is it far?

YEST-

day-

PAR-tay? Is it near?

YEST-ay ahPRWA-pay?

Este aproape?

How

KUT

Cât de departe este?

far is it?

day

PAR-tay YEST-ay?

day-

Which way is north?

un

Which is the road to __?

KA-ray YESTay DROO-mool spray tae

26

CHAY deeREKTS-yay yest-ay NORdool?

În ce direcţie este nordul?

Care este drumul

spre ——?

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Draw mea map

FA-chets o SKEE-ts¢

Faceti o schita

Take me there

koan-doo-CHETS-

Conduceti-ma acolo

ee-mg

ah-

KO-lo Take me toa doctor

koan-doo-CHETSee-mg la oon DOAK-tor

Conduceti-ma la

Take me to the

doo-CHETS-ee-m¢ la spee-TAHL

Duceti-ma la spital

Danger!

pay-REE-koal!

Pericol!

Watch out!

ah-TENTS-yay!

Atentie!

hospital

un doctor

Court of Arges, Bucharest

27

The Russian Church, Bucharest

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Wait a minute!

ahsh-tep-TAHTS poo-TSEEN!

Asteptati putin!

Good luck!

no-ROAK!

Noroc!

28

FILL-IN SENTENCES In this section you will find a number of sentences, each containing a blank space which can be filled in with any one of the words in the list that follows. For example, if you want to say "Where can I find soap?”’ look for the sentence for ‘‘Where can I find __?*’ and,

in the list following the sentence, the word for “‘soap.’’ You then combine the words as shown here: Where can I find ___?

OON-day poat ggSEE

Unde pot pt) eed

soap

sg-POON

sapun

Where can I

OON-day

find soap?

gq-SEE

poat

Unde pot gasi săpun?

sg-POON? I want _—

ahsh

vree-AH ___

Aş vrea _—

We want _—

ahm

vree-AH _—

Am vrea _—

Give me __

DA-tseem ——

Dati-mi ——

Bring me ——

ah-doo-CHETSeem —_

Aduceti-mi ——

Where can I find _—?

OON-day poat gg-SEE __?

Unde pot găsi _?

29

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

I have __

AHM

Am

We have __

ah-VEM

We don’t have ___

noo ah-VEM

Have you __?

ah-VETS —?

_—

__

Avem

_—

_—

——

Nu avem

_—

Aveţi —?

EXAMPLE

I want _—

food

vree-AH __

Aş vrea _—

day mun-KA-ray

de mâncare

ahsh vree-AH day mun-KA-ray

Aş vrea de

apples

MAY-ray

mere

boiled water

AH-pg

cabbage

VAR-zg

varză

carrots

MOR-koav

morcovi

cornmeal mush

mum-g-LEE-gg

mămăligă

drinking water

AH-pg OOT

fruit

FROOK-tay

fructe

onions

CHA-p¢

ceapă

I want food

30

ahsh

F_YAR-tg

day

bg-

mâncare

apă fiartă

apă de băut

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

pears

PAY-ray

pere

spinach

spa-NAHK

spanac

a cup

o

o ceaşcă

a fork

o

a glass

oon

pa-HAR

un pahar

a knife

oon

koo-TSEET

un cuţit

a plate

o

far-foo-REEyay

o farfurie

a spoon

o

LEEN-goo-rg

o lingură

a bed

oon

blankets

PUTT-oo-ree

pături

mattress

sahlt-YA

saltea

a mosquito

o

o reţea contra ţânţarilor

net

CHA-shkg foor-koo-LEEts¢

PAHT

rets-YA koantra tsun-TSAree-lor

o furculiţă

un pat

a pillow

o

PAYR-ng

o pernă

a room

o

KA-may-r¢

o cameră

sheets

chayr-CHA-foor

cerceafuri

31

Pronunciation

Romanian

cigars

tsee-GUR FOY

ţigări de foi

a pipe

o

tobacco

too-TOON

tutun

ink

chayrn-Y A-lg

cerneală

paper

hur-TEE-yay

hârtie

a pen

oon

koan-DAY

un condeiu

a pencil

oon

kray-YOAN

un creion

English

day

o pipă

PEE-pg

A

a comb

oon P_YEP-ten-ay

un pieptene

hot water

AH-pg f_yayrBEEN-tay

apa fierbinte

a razor

o

o maşină de ras

ma-SHEE-ng

day

RAHSS

LA-may day RAHSS

lame de ras

a shaving

oon pum-g-TOOF day RAHSS

un pămătuf de ras

soap

sg-POON

săpun

shaving soap

sg-POON RAHSS

razor

blades

brush

day

săpun de ras

English a tooth-

brush

Pronunciation

Romanian

o

o periuta de dinţi

payr-YOO-ts¢ day DEENTS

toothpaste

PA-stg day DEENTS

pastă de dinţi

a towel

oon

un prosop

a handkerchief

o

a raincoat

o

a shirt

o

shoes

GET-ay

ghete

shoe laces

shee-RET-oor day GET-ay

şireturi de ghete

shoe

KREM-g

cremă de ghete

polish

pro-SOAP

o batistă

ba-TEE-stg

mahn-TA PLW A-yay

day

kg-MA-shg

day

o manta de ploaie o cămaşă

GET-ay

an undershirt

o

undershorts

een-dee-spen-SA-

buttons

N A-stoor

nasturi

a needle

oon

un ac

safety pins

AH-chay day see-goo-RAHNtsg

fla-NEL-¢

o flanelă

indispensabili

beel

AHK

ace de siguranţă

33

WHICH IS WHICH?

;

oa TOOTHBRUSH

SOAP

sa-POON oon pro-SOAP

o ma-SHEE-na day RAHSS

o payr-YOO-tsa day DEENTS

Ina

iv

TOWEL

RAZOR 34

(Answers in Word List)

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

thread

AH-tsg

aţă

adhesive

PL A-stroo

plastru

an antiseptic

oon

un antiseptic

aspirin

ah-spee-REE-ng

aspirină

a bandage

oon

un bandaj

cotton

VA-tg

vată

a disinfectant

oon day-zeen-fekTAHNT

un desinfectant

iodine

YOAD

iod

a laxative

oon lahk-saTEEV

un laxativ

a bicycle

o

o bicicletă

gasoline

ben-ZEE-ng

benzină

ahsh vree-AH anes

Aş vrea să _—

tape

I want to __

ahn-tee-sep-

TEEK

bahn-DAHJ

bee-cheeKLET-g

EXAMPLE

I want to ——

ahsh vree-AH BO So

Aş vrea să _—

35

English

eat I want to eat

Romanian

mg-NUNK

mănânc

ahsh sg

Aş vrea să mănânc

vree-AH mg-NUNK

mă rad

be shaved

mg

drink

B_YOW

beau

have my

DOW ay

dau hainele la spălat

clothes washed

RAHD

HAc-ee-nella spg-

LAHT

have my

mg

pay

plg-TESK

rest

mg

sleep

DORM

take a bath

FAHK

wash up

mg

hair cut

Where is __?

36

Pronunctation

TOOND

mă tund

plătesc

o-deeh-NESK

dorm

o

BA-ay

SPUL

OON-day ay 229

“mă odihnesc

fac o bae

mă spăl

YEST-

Unde este __?

EXAMPLE

Where can I find __?

OON-day poat gg-SEE __?

Unde pot găsi _—

Where is___?

OON-day

Unde este —?

YEST-

ay 2?

a barber Where is a barber?

oon

burb-YAYR

OON-day ay oon YAYR?

YESTburb-

un bărbier Unde este un bărbier?

a dentist

oon

den-TEEST

un dentist

a doctor

oon

DOAK-tor

un doctor

a mechanic

oon

may-KA-

un mecanic

a policeman

oon

gar-DEEST

un gardist

a porter

oon

ha-MAHL

un hamal

cheez-MAR

un cizmar

neek

a shoemaker

- kroy-TOR

a tailor

a workman

oon

a church

o

a clothing store

oon ma-gaZEEN day HA-ee-nay

loo-krg-TOR bee-SAY-ree-k¢

un croitor

un lucrător o biserică

un magazin de haine

37

Pronunciation

Romanian

a drugstore or pharmacy

o

o farmacie

a filling station

o

a garage

oon

a grocery store

o

a house

o

a laundry

o

English

far-ma-CHEEyay

STAHTS-yay day benZEE-ng

buk-g-NEEyay

KA-sg¢

spul-ut-oREE-ay

o

38

ga-RAHJ

o statie de benzina

un garaj o băcănie o casă

o spălătorie

cheesh-M_YA

o cişmea

eez-VOR

un izvor

a spring

oon

a well

o

the bus

out-o-BOO-zool

autobusul

the camp

TA-bur-ah

tabăra

the city

o-RA-shool

oraşul

fun-TUN-g

o fântână

Pronunciation

Romanian

DROO-mool reen-cheeAHL

drumul principal

spee-T A-lool

spitalul

the main street

STRA-da preenchee-PA-lg

strada principala

the market

pee-Y A-tsa

piata

the nearest town or city

chel

the police station

po-LEETS-ya

politia

the post

PO-shta

posta

hospital

MA-ee

ah-

proap-YAHT SAHT or oRAHSH

office the railroad

KAHL-ya RA-tg

the river

RUH-ool

raul

the road

DROO-mool

drumul

the streetcar

trahm-VA-yool

tramvaiul

the rele:

o-FEECH-ool

oficiul telegrafic

grap

fay-

cel mai apropiat sat ori oras

calea ferata

tel-eg-RA-feek

office

39

Pronunciation

Romanian

the tele-

tel-ay-FO-nool

telefonul

the town

SA-tool

satul

English

phone

Iam

__—

He is __

SOON

T=

Sint

YEST-ay ——

Este _—

EXAMPLE

I am

—— an American

I am an

American

SOON

Tyas

ah-may-ree-KAHN SOONT ah-mayree-KAHN

Sint. îi american 1

.

“Sunt american

sick

boal-NAHV

bolnav

tired

o-bo-SEET

obosit

wounded

rg-NEET

rănit

We are __

soon-TEM

They are __

NA X SOONT =

Ei sunt _—

Are you __?

soon-TETS ___?

Sunteţi __?

40

___

Suntem —_

WHICH IS WHICH?

Wits |

ft

pisat

=

BANDAGE BRIDGE

POAD

KAHL-ya fay-RA-ta tel-ay-FOAN bahn-DAHJ

RAILROAD

TELEPHONE (Answers in Word List)

4]

EXAMPLE

We are ___

Americans We are Americans

soon-TEM

__—

Suntem ——

ah-may-ree-KAHN

americani

soon-TEM

Suntem americani

ah-

may-ree-KAHN

sick

boal-NAHV

tired

o-bo-SEETS

wounded

ra-NEETS

Is it __?

YEST-ay —?

Este __?

It is _—

YEST-ay —

Este _—

It is not __

NOO YESTBV enna

Nu este _—

This is ___ or That is __

AH-sta YESTaver

Asta este _—

It is too __

YEST-ay AH

Este prea —_

It is very __

YEST-ay

pree-

FWAR-tay —

42

Este foarte __

EXAMPLE

NOO YESTNS sien

Nu este __

FREEG

frig

NOO YEST-ay FREEG

Nu este frig

warm

KAHLD

cald

clean

koo-RAHT

curat

dirty

moor-DAR

murdar

cheap

YEF-teen

eftin

expensive

SKOOMP

scump

large

MA-ray

mare

small

MEEK

mic

much

MOOLT

mult

enough

dess-TOOL

destul

bad

PROAST

prost

good

BOON

bun

here

ah-CHEE

aci

there

ah-KO-lo

acolo

near

ah-PRWA-pay

aproape

far

day-PAR-tay

departe

It is not __

cold It is not cold

43

IMPORTANT

44

SIGNS

Stop

Stop

La pas

Go Slow

Circulatie pe varianta

Detour

Atentie

Caution

Pericol

Danger

Hunedoara Castle, Transylvania

Romanian

English

Sens unic

One Way Street

Trecerea oprită

No Thoroughfare

Fundătură

Dead End

Ţine dreapta

Keep to the Right

Atenţie la cotitură

Dangerous Curve

Cale ferată

Railroad

Pod

Bridge

Incrucişare

Crossroad

Pericol de moarte

Danger of Death (High Tension Lines)

Bărbaţi

Men

Femei

Women

Latrină

Lavatory

Fumatul oprit

No Smoking

Stationarea interzisă

No Parking

Intrerea oprită

Keep Out

Deschis

Open

Închis

Closed

45

# ek Pe:

‘il

ef,

Wooden church, Bucegi Mountains, Transylvania

46

ALPHABETICAL WORD LIST English

Pronunciation

Pomanian

A a or an

o OT on

adhesive tape

PLA-stroo

am lam __

SOONT

_—

American

I am an American

SOONT ah-mayree-KAHN

Weare

wxn-TEM

Americans

ah-

may-ree-KAHN

antiseptic

ahn-tee-ep-TEEK

apples

MAY -ray

are

Are you?

wson-TETS _—?

They are...

YAY SOONT

—

47

English We are __

aspirin

Pronunciation

Romanian

soon-TEM _—

Suntem _—

ah-spee-REE-ng

aspirină

B bad

PROAST

prost

bandage

bahn-DAH]

bandaj

barber

burb-YAYR

bărbier

bath

BA-ay

bae

ahsh vree-AH sg FAHK o BA-ay

Aş vrea să fac „o bae

beans

fa-SO-lay

fasole

bed

PAHT

pat

beer

BAY-ray

bere

I want to

Dark

glass of beer bicycle

pa-HAR

day

BAY-ray

pahar de bere

bee-chee-KLET-g

bicicletă

LA-may day RAHSS

lame de ras

blades

razor blades

48

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

blankets

PUTT-o00-ree

paturi

boiled water

AH-pg

apa fiarta

F_YAR-

tg

bread

PWEE-nay

pâine

bridge

POAD

pod

PO-dool

podul

Bring help

ah-DOO-chets ah-joo-TOR

Aduceţi ajutor

Bring

ah-doo-CHETS-

Aduceti-mi __

the bridge

bring

me.

CCI

brush shavin brus

pum-g-TOOF

toothbrush

payr-YOO-ts¢

day day

bus

pamatuf de ras

RAHSS periuta de dinti

DEENTS

out-o-BOOZ

autobus

out-o- BOO-zool

autobusul

butter

OONT

unt

buttons

NA-stoor

nasturi

the bus

49

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

ahsh

As vrea sa

buy I'd like to buy.

sg

vree-AH

cumpăr ——

KOOM-

DUE a

Cc cabbage

VAR-zg

varză

camp

TA-bur-g

tabără

TA-bur-ah

tabăra

carrots

MOR-koav

morcovi

cheap

YEF-teen

eftin

chicken

poo-EE

pui

the camp

A

Royal Summer residence, Bucharest

50

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

chocolate

cho-ko-LA-tg

ciocolata

church

bee-SA Y-ree-kg

biserică

tsee-ga-RET-ay or tsee-GUR

țigarete ţigări

cigarettes

cigars

tsee-GUR FOY

city

o-RAHSH

oraş

o-RA-shool

oraşul

koo-RAHT

curat

the city clean

ţigări de foi

day

clothes I want to

have my clothes washed

ahsh

spg-LAHT

clothing store

ma-ga-ZEEN HA-ee-nay

coffee

kahf-YA

cup of coffee

Aş vrea să dau

vree-AH

sg DOW ee-nel-ay

CHA-shkg kahf-YA

HAla

day

hainele la spălat

magazin de haine cafea

day

ceaşcă de cafea

cold (weather)

FREEG

frig

comb

P_YEP-ten-ay

pieptene

51

if if

ou Wt

[iîi (= ifbd x

fe

ii

a

of Palace The from Parliament Bucharest Unirii, B-dul

52

i Ei Ea

Ei = 8

53

Belg ‘aie “NIQIS L

EIUEAŢASUEI

English

Romanian

Pronunciation

come Come

here!

vay-NEETS CHEE!

ah-

Veniti aci!

Come in!

EEN-trg!

Intra!

Come quickly!

vay-NEETS REP-ed-ay!

Veniti repede!

mum-g-LEE-gg

mămăligă

KUT KO-stg AH-sta?

Cât costă asta?

cornmeal mush

cost How much does this cost?

cotton cup

VA-tg

A

CHA-shkg

cup of coffee

Danger!

CHA-shkg kahf-YA

vată

ceaşcă

day

ceaşcă de cafea

pay-REE-koal!

Pericol!

BOO-ng

Bună ziua

day Good day

54

ZEE-wa

Pronunciation

Romanian

dentist

den-TEEST

dentist

dirty

moor-DAR

murdar

disinfectant

day-zeen-fekTAHNT

desinfectant

doctor

DOAK-tor

doctor

koan-doo-CHETSee-mg la oon DOAK-tor

Conduceti-ma la

FA-chets o SKEE-tsg

Faceţi o schiţă

ahsh

vree-AH

Aş vrea să beau

sg

B_YOW

drinking water

AH-pg OOT

day

drug store

far-ma-CHEE-yay

Take me toa doctor Draw mea map

un doctor

drink I want to drink

bg-

apă de băut farmacie

E eat

I want to eat

eggs

ahsh vree-AH sg mg-NUNK O-wg

Aş vrea să mănânc ouă

55

WHICH IS WHICH?

COFFEE

56

(Answers in Word List)

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

eight

OAPT

opt

eighteen

OAPT-spray-

optsprezece

eighty

oapt-ZECH

optzeci

eleven

OON-sprayZECH-ay

unsprezece

enough

dess-TOOL

destul

ZECH-ay

evening Good evening

BOO-ng

S_YA-ra

Buna seara

Excuse me

yayr-TA-tsee-mg

Iertati-ma

expensive

SKOOMP

scump

F departe

day-PAR-tay

far

How far is the city?

KUT day PAR-tay ay

How far is it?

dayyest-

Cât de departe este oraşul?

o-RA-shool?

KUT day dayPAR-tay YEST-ay?

Cât de departe este?

57

Pronunciation

Romanian

YEST-ay dayPAR-tay?

Este departe?

fifteen

CHEENCH-sprayZECH-ay

cincisprezece

fifty

cheench-ZECH

cincizeci

filling station

STAHTS-yay day benZEE-ng

statie de benzina

OON-day poat gqg-SEE _—?

Unde pot găsi __?

fish

PESH-tay

peste

five

CHEENCH

cinci

food

day

de mâncare

fork

foor-koo-LEE-ts¢

furculita

forty

PA-troo-ZECH

patruzeci

four

PA-troo

patru

fourteen

PA-ee-sprayZECH-ay

paisprezece

Friday

VEE-nayry

Vineri

fruit

FROOK-tay

fructe

English Is it far?

find

Where can I

find __?

58

mun-KA-ray

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

G garage

ga-RAHJ

garaj

gasoline

ben-ZEE-ng

benzină

Give me _—

DA-tseem __

Dati-mi -—

Glad to meet

UM

Îmi pare bine!

you!

PaA-ra

BEE-nay!

glass

glass of r

good

pa-HAR

pahar

pa-HAR day BAY-ray

pahar de bere

BOON

bun

Good day

BOO-ng

ZEE-wa

Bună ziua

Good

BOO-ng

S_YA-ra

Bună seara

evening Good luck

no-ROAK!

Noroc!

Good morning

BOO-ng deemeenY A-tsa

Bună dimineaţa

Good-by

LA rev-ay-DAYray

La revedere

Go quickly!

doo-CHETS-ee-vg REP-ed-ay!

Duceţi-vă repede!

grocery

buk-g-NEE-yay

băcănie

store

59

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

ahsh

Aş vrea să mă tund

hair I want to

have my hair cut half

half past four

handkerchief

Sg

vree-AH mg

TOOND joo-mg-TA-tay

jumătate

PA-troo shee joo-mg-TA-tay

patru şi jumătate

ba-TEE-stg

batista

AHM

Am —

have

__

ah-VEM noo

he

60

Avem ——

__

ah-VEM

__

Nu avem ——

LWAHTS LOAK

Luaţi loc

ah-VETS __?

Aveţi —?

ab

el

YEST-ay _—

Este __

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Hello or Good luck

no-ROAK

Noroc

Help!

ah-joo-TOR!

Ajutor!

Bring help

ah-DOO-chets ah-joo-TOR

Aduceti ajutor

Help me

ah-joo-TA-tsee-mg

Ajutati-ma

here

ah-CHEE

aci

highway

DROOM

preen-

chee-PAHL the highway

drum principal

DROO-mool preen-cheePAHL

drumul principal

spee-TAHL

spital

the hospital

spee-TA-lool

spitalul

Take me to the

doo-CHETS-ee-mg

Duceti-ma la spital

hospital

hospital

hot water

la

spee-TAHL

AH-pg

f_yayr-

apa fierbinte

BEE N-tay

hotel Where isa hotel?

ho-TEL OON-day ay oon TEL:

hotel

YESTho-

Unde este un hotel?

61

English

Pronunctation

Romanian

house

KA-s¢

casă

chay MA-ee F A-chets?

Ce mai faceţi?

KOOM say SPOO-nay ——?

Cum se spune ——?

How far is it?

KUT day dayPAR-tay YEST-ay?

Cât de departe

how much

KUT

cât

How much does this cost?

KUT KO-st¢ AH-sta?

Cât costă asta?

SOO-tg

sută

how How

are

you? How

do you say __?

hundred

MEE-yay may

FWA-

este?

Mi-e foame

eu

Sunt .....

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

ahsh

vree-AH ___

Aş vrea _

ING

ee

A

I'd like __

ahsh vree-AH sa

Aş vrea să ——

ink

chayrn-Y A-lg

cerneală

iodine

YOAD

iod

is

YEST-ay

este

YES? -ay 2

Este __

NOO YESTay

Nu este _—

YEST-ay AH

Este prea ——

it

ify

ee

It is not!

It is too

_—

pree-

Este foarte _—

It is very _—

kilometers

keel-o-MET-ree

kilometri

knife

koo-TSEET

cuţit

63

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

NOO

Nu ştiu

know

1 don’t

sht_yoo

know

laces shoelaces

şireturi de ghete

shee-RET-oor

day

GET-ay

large

MA-ray

mare

laundry

spul-ut-o-REE-ay

spălătorie

laxative

lahk-sa-TEEV

laxativ 1

leave KUND plee-AHkg TREN-ool?

Când pleacă

To the left

la

La stânga

I'd like __

ahsh

I am lost

MAHM_ rut-qCHEET

When does the train

trenul?

leave?

left STUNG-ga

like vree-AH ___

Aş vrea —

lost

64

M'am rătăcit

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

no-ROAK!

Noroc!

luck

Good luck!

M main street

STRA-dg _ preen-

stradă principală

chee-PA-lg

the main street

map

STRA-da

preen-

stradă principală

chee-PA-lg SKEE-ts¢

schiţă

FA-chets o SKEE-ts¢

Faceţi o schiţă

pee-Y A-tsg

piaţă

pee-Y A-tsa

piaţa

match

kee-BREET

chibrit

mattress

sahlt-YA

saltea

maybe

PW A-tay

poate

meat

KAR-nay

carne

mechanic

may-KA-neek

mecanic

UM PA-ra BEE-nay!

Imi pare bine!

Draw me a map

market the market

meet Glad to meet you!

65

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

milk

LAHP-tay

lapte

ahsh-tep-TAHTS

Asteptati putin!

minute

Wait a minute!

poo-TSEEN!

Miss

doam-neeSHWA-ra

Domnişoara

Monday

LOON,

Luni

BOO-ng deemeen-Y A-tsa

Bună dimineaţa

FEELM

film

FEEL-mool

filmul

morning

Good morning

movie the movie

66

Statue of Hercules, Herculane

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

KUND unCHEP-ay FEEL-mool?

Cand incepe filmul?

DOAM-nool

Domnul

Mrs.

DWAHM-na

Doamna

much

MOOLT

mult

KUT?

Cât?

When does the movie start? Mr.

How much?

name What is your name?

koom

vg

noo-

Cum vă numiţi?

MEETS,?

ah-PRWA-pay

aproape

Is it near?

YEST-ay ahPRWA-pay?

Este aproape?

the nearest town or city

chel

near

MA-ee

proap-YAHT

ah-

cel mai apropiat sat ori oraş

SAHT or o-RAHSH

needle

AHK

ac

nine

NO-w¢

nouă

67

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

nineteen

NO-we-sprayZECH-ay

nouăsprezece

ninety

NO-wg-ZECH

nouăzeci

No

NOO

Nu

north

NORD

nord

un

În ce direcţie este nordul?

Which way is north?

CHAY deeREKTS-yay yest-ay NORdool?

O o’clock 1

It’s one

o’clock

YEST-ay CHAsool OO-noo or YEST-ay OO-noo

Este ceasul unu Este unu

one

OO-noo

unu

onions

CHA-p¢

ceapă

P

paper

hur-TEE-yay

hârtie

PA-troo

patru şi jumătate

past half past four

68

shee

joo-mg-TA-tay

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

I will pay you

vg

Vă voiu plăti

I want to pay

ahsh

pay VOY

is sg

plg-

vree-AH

Aş vrea să plătesc

plg-TESK

pears

PAY -ray

pere

pen

koan-DAY

condeiu

pencil

kray-YOAN

creion

pepper

pee-PAYR

piper

pillow

PAY R-ng

pernă

pins

safety pins

AH-chay

day

see-goo-RAHN-

ace de siguranţă

tsq

pipe

PEE-pg

pipă

plate

far-foo-REE-yay

farfurie

Please

va

Vă rog

Please

ROAG

vg

ROAG ahrg-TA-tseemy

Vă rog arătaţi-mi

vg

ROAG ahrg-T A-tseemy

Vă rog arătaţi-mi

point

point Please

point

69

WHICH IS WHICH?

ae

FRUIT

Ea PENCIL

la-TREEN-na kray-YOAN O-wa

i

FROOK-tay

TOILET

EGGS

70

(Answers in Word List)

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

policeman

gar-DEEST

gardist

police station

po-LEETS-yay

poliţie

po-LEETS-ya

poliţia

KREM-g

cremă de ghete

the police station

polish shoe

polish

day

GET-ay

porter

ha-MAHL

hamal

post office

PO-shtg

poştă

PO-shta

poşta

potatoes

kar-TOAFy

cartofi

pump (for

cheesh-M_YA

cişmea

the post office

water)

Q

quickly

REP-ed-ay

repede

Come

vay-NEETS REP-ed-ay!

Veniti repede!

Go quickly!

doo-CHETS-ee-vg

Duceţi-vă repede!

quickly!

REP-ed-ay!

71

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

railroad

KA-lay RA-tg

cale ferată

the railroad railroad station the railroad

fay-

KAHL-ya

fay-

calea ferată

RA-tg GA-rg

gară

GA-ra

gara

station

Where is the railroad station?

OON-day ay

YEST-

1

raincoat

mahn-TA day PLW A-yay

razor

ma-SHEE-ng

RAHSS

razor blades

Unde este gara?

GA-ra?

manta de ploaie day

maşină de ras

LA-may day RAHSS

lame de ras

Please repeat

vg

Vă rog repetati

I want to rest

ahsh vree-AH sq mg odeeh-NESK

repeat ROAG raypay-TAHTS,

rest

72

Aş vrea să mă odihnesc

Hurez Monastery, Tirgu Jiu

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

restaurant

rest-ow-RAHNT

restaurant

OON-day

Unde este un restaurant?

Where is a restaurant?

ay

oon.

YESTrest-

ow-RAHNT?

right 'To the

right

la

dree-AHP-ta

La dreapta

Right away!

REP-ed-ay!

Repede!

river

RUH-oo

râu

RUH-ool

râul

the river

73

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

road

DROOM

drum

the road

DROO-mool

drumul

Which is the road to a

KA-ray YEST-ay DROO-mool spray ——?

Care este drumul spre __?

pay ro-mgNESH-tay

pe româneşte

KA-may-rg

camera

Romanian in Romanian room

Ss 1

safety pins

AH-chay day see-goo- RAHN-

ace de siguranţă

tsg salt

SA-ray

sare

Saturday

SUM -but-¢

Sâmbătă

seat Have a seat

LWAHTS

LOAK

Luaţi loc

seven

SHAHP-tay

şapte

seventeen

SHAHP-tay-spray-

şaptesprezece

ZECH-ay

seventy 74

SHAHP-tay-ZECH

şaptezeci

Pronunciation

Romanian

ahsh sg

Aş vrea să mă rad

vree-AH mg RAHD

shaving brush

pum-g-TOOF RAHSS

sheets

chayr-CHA-foor

cerceafuri

shirt

kg-M A-shg

cămaşă

shoemaker

cheez-MAR

cizmar

shoes

GET-ay

ghete

shoelaces

shee-RET-oor day GET-ay

şireturi de ghete

shoe polish

KREM-¢ GET-ay

cremă de ghete

I am sick

SOONT boalNAHV soon-TEM boalNAHV

day

day

pămătuf de ras

sick

We are sick

Sunt bolnav Suntem bolnavi

sir

DOAM-noo-lay

domule

six

SHA-say

şase 75

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

sixteen

SHA-ee-sprayZECH-ay

şaisprezece

sixty

SHA-ee-ZECH

şaizeci

ahsh sg

Aş vrea să dorm

sleep I want to

sleep

vrea-AH DORM

slowly Please

va

speak slowly

ROAG BEETS LSpik

vorun-

Vă rog vorbiti încet

small

MEEK

mic

soap

sg-POON

săpun

shaving soap

d

sg-POON RAHSS

soup

SOO-p¢

—

iA

iN

day

săpun de ras supă

.

The Olt River, Carpathian Mountains

76

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

vg

Vă rog vorbiti încet

speak Please speak

slowly

ROAG BEETS CHET

vorun-

spinach

spa-NAHK

spanac

spoon

LEEN-goo-r¢

lingură

spring

eez-VOR

izvor

KUND unCHEP-ay FEEL-mool?

Când începe filmul?

STA-ee!

Stai!

grocery store

buk-g-NEE-yay

băcănie

clothing store

ma-ga-ZEEN

magazin de haine

start

When does the movie

start?

Stop!

store

day

HA-ee-nay

Straight ahead

DREPT un-ahEEN-tay

Drept înainte

street

STRA-dg

stradă

STRA-da preenchee-PA-lg

strada principală

the main street

77

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

streetcar

trahm-VA_ee

tramvaiu

trahm-VA-yool

tramvaiul

sugar

ZA-hur

zahar

Sunday

doo-MEE-nay-kg

Dumineca

the streetcar

T tailor

kroy-TOR

croitor

ah-dg-po-STEE-

Adapostiti-va

take Take cover

tsee-vg

Take me there

koan-doo-CHETS-

Take me toa doctor

koan-doo-CHETSee-mg la oon

Take me to the hospital

doo-CHETS-ee-mg la spee-TAHL

Duceţi-mă la spital

tea

CHA-ee

ceaiu

telegraph office

o-FEECH-oo | teleg-RA-feek

oficiu telegrafic

78

ee-mg KO-lo

ah-

DOAK-tor

Conduceti-ma acolo Conduceti-ma la un doctor

English

Pronunciation

the elec grap

office

telephone

o-FEECH-ool eg-RA-feek

Romanian

tel-

oficiul telegrafic

tel-ay-FOAN

telefon

tel-ay-FO-nool

telefonul

ten

ZECH-ay

zece

Thank you

mool-tsoo-MESK

Multumesc

there

ah-KO-lo

acolo

koan-doo-CHETSee-mg ah-KO-

Conduceti-ma

the tele-

phone

Take me

there

acolo

lo

they

ei

yay YAY

SOONT —

Ei sunt —_

I don’t think so

NOO

KRED

Nu

I think so

KRED

They

ate —

think cred

Cred

thirsty

I am thirsty

MEE-yay

SET-

Mi-e sete

ay

79

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

thirteen

TRAY-sprayZECH-ay

treisprezece

thirty

tray-ZECH

treizeci

this or that

AH-sta

asta

This is _— or That is What is this?

AH-sta AV

YEST-

Asta este _—

CHAY

YEST-ay

Ce este asta?

AH-sta?

thousand

MEE-yay

thread

AH-tsg

three

TRAY

Thursday

JOY

time What time is it?

KUT YEST-ay CH A-sool?

Cât este ceasul?

I am tired

SOONT SEET

Sunt obosit

We are

soon-TEM SEETS

tired

tired

80

o-boo-bo-

Suntem obosiţi

English

Pronunctation

Romanian

tobacco

too-TOON

tutun

today

AZ

azi

toilet

la-TREE-ng

latrină

the toilet

la-TREE-na

latrina

Where is the toilet?

OON-day

YEST-

ae la-TREE-

Unde este latrina?

tomorrow

MWEE-nay

mâine

toothbrush

payr-YOO-ts¢ day DEENTS

periuta de dinţi

toothpaste

PA-stg day DEENTS

pastă de dinţi

town

SAHT

sat

SA-tool

satul

towel

pro-SOAP

prosop

train

TREN

tren

the train

TREN-ool

trenul

When does the train

KUND plee-AHkg TREN-ool?

Când pleacă

MARTS,

Marţi

the town

trenul?

leave?

Tuesday

81

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

twelve

DOY-sprayZECH-ay

doisprezece

twenty

DO-wq-ZECH

douăzeci

twenty-one

do-wq-ZECH O-noo

twenty-two

do-wg-ZECH DOY

two

DOY

shee shee

douăzeci şi unu

douăzeci şi doi doi

U undershirt

fia-NEL-g

flanela

undershorts

een-dee-spen-SAbeel

indispensabili

Do you understand me?

mun-tsay-LEDjets?

Mă'nţelegeţi?

I understand

un-tsay-LEG

Înţeleg

I don’t understand

NOO _un-tsayLEG

Nu

understand

82

înţeleg

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

Vv vegetables

lay-GOO-may

legume

W Wait a minute!

ahsh-tep-TAHTS poo-TSEEN!

Asteptati putin!

I want __

ahsh

Aş vrea._—

I want tay wa

ahsh vree-AH sp

We want ___

ahm

want

warm

vree-

Aş vrea să __

vree-AH

___

Am vrea ——

KAHLD

cald

ahsh sg

Aş vrea să mă spăl

wash up

I want to

wash up

vree-AH mg SPUL

Watch out!

ah-TENTS-yay!

Atenţie!

water

AH-p¢

apă

boiled water

AH-pg F_YAR-ta

apă fiartă

drinking water

AH-pg

apă de băut

day

bq-

OOT

83

WHICH IS WHICH?

SPOON LEEN-goo-ra CHA-ee : SA-ray GET-ay

SALT TEA

84

(Answers in Word List)

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

hot water

AH-pg

apa fierbinte

We are __

soon-TEM

We don’t have __

noo

We have

ah-VEM ——

We want __—

ahm

Wednesday

f_yayr-

BEEN-tay

__

ah-VEM

Suntem _— __

Nu avem -— Avem

vree-AH

___

_—

Am vrea _—

M_YAY-R-koory

Miercuri

PEN-troo TSEEN

Pentru putin

welcome You're welcome

poo-

fun-TUN-g

fantana

I am well, thanks

mool-tsoo-MESK, BEE-nay

Multumesc, bine

What is your name?

koom v@ nooMEETSy?

Cum va numiti?

well (for water)

well

what

85

English

Pronunciation

Romanian

What’s this?

CHAY YEST-ay AH-sta?

Ce este asta?

What time is it?

KUT yest-ay CHA-sool?

Cât este ceasul?

KUND

când

When does the movie start?

KUND _ un-

Când începe filmul?

When does the train leave?

KUND plee-AHkg TREN-ool?

when

CHEP-ay FEEL-mool?

Când pleacă trenul? A

OON-day

unde

Where are ___?

OON-day

Unde sunt ___?

Where can I find __?

ae cee poat gg-SEE _—?

Where is =e

OON-day ay 7

where

soont ___?

YEST-

Unde pot găsi 2 Unde este ___?

which

Which is the road to +?

86

KA-ray YEST-ay DROO-mool SDIa Şi

Care este drumul

spre ——?

English

Pronunciation

Which way

is north?

un

CHAY

Romanian

REKTS-yay yest-ay dool?

dee-

In ce directie este nordul?

NOR-

wine

VEEN

vin

workman

loo-krg-TOR

lucrator

wounded

I am wounded

SOONT

We

soon-TEM NEETS

are

wounded

rg-NEET rg-

Sunt rănit

Suntem răniţi

Patriarchate Church, Bucharest

87

Yes

DA

Da

yesterday

YAYR,

ieri

Are VOUS

soon-TETS _—?

Sunteţi ——?

Have

ah-VETS __?

Aveţi ——?

you

Arch of Triumph, Bucharest

88

Sibiu, Transylvania

89

ae

Heres

Prefecture, Târgu Mureş, Transylvania

90

Vitae

$69

Research & Education Association

NE

REA's LANGUAGE SERIES3 Made

Vice & Easy!”

Whether travelling to a foreign country or to your favorite international restaurant, these Nice & Easy guides give you just enough of the language to get around and be understood. If you expect to travel to Romania, the compact overview on the country’s history and relevant up-to-date facts will make your trip more informative and enjoyable. Photos of many sites are included.

The book contains useful words and phrases, popular expressions, common greetings, and words for numbers, money, and time with accompanying pronunciations. This guide is based on the language course developed by the U.S. Government for foreign service personnel assigned abroad often on short notice and requiring quick orientation. By keeping this handy and compact guide with you, you’ll be well prepared to understand as well as converse in Romanian.

Choose from 18 Nice & Easy Titles For students, tourists, business travelers

Cantonese

Greek

Portuquese

Chinese Danish Dutch

/Talian prese Korean

Romanian Russian Spanish

French

Norwegian

Tagalog (Pilipino) > :

German

Persian

manea] ii ui i

isit our Website at:

SBN 0-8789

506

|