Română
Romanian
Romance
Romanian (Română) is the easternmost Romance language with ~24M speakers — sole official language of Romania and (as "Moldovan" until 2023, now officially "Romanian") in Moldova; recognized minorities in Serbia (Vlach), Ukraine (Bukovina), and Hungary. The only major standardized Eastern (Balkan-Romance) language — alongside the smaller Aromanian, Megleno-Romanian, and Istro-Romanian — it preserves features lost elsewhere: case system (5 cases including dative), neuter gender (separate from masculine/feminine), and definite-article suffix (-ul, -a). Heavy Slavic substrate/superstrate (~10% of vocabulary) plus Greek, Turkish, Hungarian loanwords. Latin orthography post-1860 (replacing Cyrillic).
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Romanian
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Romance
| Meaning | Romanian | Aromanian | Megleno-Romanian | Interlingua | Interlingue | Sardinian | Ido |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | apă /apə/ | apã /ˈapə/ | apâ /ˈapɨ/ | aqua /akwa/ | aqua /ˈakwa/ | abba /abba/ | aquo /ˈakwo/ |
| Fire | foc /fok/ | foc /fok/ | foc /fok/ | foco /fɔko/ | foy /foj/ | fogu /foɣu/ | fairo /faˈiro/ |
| Sun | soare /so̯are/ | soare /ˈso̯are/ | soari /ˈsoari/ | sol /sɔl/ | sole /ˈsole/ | sole /sole/ | suno /ˈsuno/ |
| Moon | lună /lunə/ | lunã /ˈlunə/ | lunâ /ˈlunɨ/ | luna /luna/ | lune /ˈlune/ | luna /luna/ | luno /ˈluno/ |
| Star | stea /ste̯a/ | steauã /ˈste̯awə/ | steauã /ˈste̯awə/ | stella /ˈstɛla/ | stelle /ˈstele/ | isteddu /isˈteɖɖu/ | stelo /ˈstelo/ |
| Night | noapte /ˈno̯apte/ | noapti /ˈnwapti/ | noapti /ˈnwapti/ | nocte /ˈnokte/ | nocte /ˈnokte/ | notte /ˈnɔtːe/ | nokto /ˈnokto/ |
| Rain | ploaie /ˈploaje/ | ploai /ˈplo̯ai/ | ploai /ploaj/ | pluvia /ˈpluvia/ | pluvie /ˈpluvie/ | proja /ˈproja/ | pluvo /ˈpluvo/ |
| Snow | zăpadă /zəpadə/ | neauã /ˈne̯awə/ | neauă /ˈne̯awə/ | nive /nive/ | nive /ˈnive/ | nie /nie/ | nivo /ˈnivo/ |
| Wind | vânt /vɨnt/ | vimtu /ˈvimtu/ | vint /vint/ | vento /ˈvento/ | vent /vent/ | bentu /ˈbɛntu/ | vento /ˈvento/ |
| Earth | pământ /pəˈmɨnt/ | pãmãntu /pəˈmɨntu/ | pãmãntu /pəˈmɨntu/ | terra /ˈtɛra/ | terre /ˈtere/ | terra /ˈtɛrra/ | tero /ˈtero/ |
| Stone | piatră /ˈpjatrə/ | cheatrã /ˈce̯atrə/ | cheatră /ˈca̯atrə/ | petra /ˈpetra/ | petre /ˈpetre/ | pedra /ˈpedra/ | petro /ˈpetro/ |
| Mountain | munte /ˈmunte/ | munti /ˈmunti/ | munti /ˈmunti/ | montania /monˈtania/ | monte /ˈmonte/ | monte /ˈmɔnte/ | monto /ˈmonto/ |
| Sea | mare /ˈmare/ | amari /aˈmari/ | mari /ˈmari/ | mar /mar/ | mar /mar/ | mare /ˈmaɾe/ | maro /ˈmaro/ |
| Mother | mamă /mamə/ | mumã /ˈmumə/ | mumâ /ˈmumɨ/ | matre /matre/ | matre /ˈmatre/ | mama /mama/ | matro /ˈmatro/ |
| Father | tată /tatə/ | tatã /ˈtatə/ | tatâ /ˈtatɨ/ | patre /patre/ | patre /ˈpatre/ | babbu /babbu/ | patro /ˈpatro/ |
| Daughter | fiică /ˈfijkə/ | hilje /ˈhiʎe/ | il'ă /ˈiʎə/ | filia /ˈfilia/ | filia /ˈfilia/ | fiza /ˈfidza/ | filiino /filiˈino/ |
| I | eu /jew/ | io /jo/ | io /jo/ | io /ˈio/ | yo /jo/ | deo /ˈdɛo/ | me /me/ |
| You | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tue /ˈtue/ | tu /tu/ |
| We | noi /noj/ | noi /noj/ | noi /noj/ | nos /nos/ | noi /noi/ | nois /ˈnois/ | ni /ni/ |
| Name | nume /ˈnume/ | numã /ˈnumə/ | numi /ˈnumi/ | nomine /ˈnomine/ | nómine /ˈnomine/ | nòmine /ˈnɔmine/ | nomo /ˈnomo/ |
| Person | persoană /persoˈanə/ | om /om/ | uom /wom/ | persona /perˈsona/ | person /perˈson/ | persone /perˈsɔne/ | persono /perˈsono/ |
| Head | cap /kap/ | cap /kap/ | cap /kap/ | capite /ˈkapite/ | cap /kap/ | conca /ˈkoŋka/ | kapo /ˈkapo/ |
| Eye | ochi /okʲ/ | oclju /ˈokʎu/ | ocl /okl/ | oculo /okulo/ | ocul /ˈokul/ | ogru /ˈoɣru/ | okulo /oˈkulo/ |
| Ear | ureche /uˈreke/ | ureaclji /uˈrjakʎi/ | ureaclji /uˈrjakʎi/ | aure /ˈawre/ | orel /oˈrel/ | origa /ɔˈɾiɡa/ | orelo /oˈrelo/ |
| Nose | nas /nas/ | nari /ˈnari/ | nas /nas/ | naso /ˈnazo/ | nase /ˈnaze/ | nasu /ˈnazu/ | nazo /ˈnazo/ |
| Mouth | gură /ˈɡurə/ | gurã /ˈɡurə/ | gură /ˈɡurə/ | bucca /ˈbuka/ | bocca /ˈbokka/ | bucca /ˈbukka/ | boko /ˈboko/ |
| Tooth | dinte /ˈdinte/ | dinti /ˈdinti/ | dinti /ˈdinti/ | dente /ˈdente/ | dent /dent/ | dente /ˈdente/ | dento /ˈdento/ |
| Tongue | limbă /ˈlimbə/ | limbã /ˈlimbə/ | limbă /ˈlimbə/ | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ | lingue /ˈliŋɡue/ | limba /ˈlimba/ | lango /ˈlaŋɡo/ |
| Hand | mână /mɨnə/ | mãnã /ˈmənə/ | mǫnă /mɔnə/ | mano /mano/ | manu /ˈmanu/ | manu /manu/ | manuo /ˈmanuo/ |
| Foot | picior /piˈtʃor/ | cicior /tʃiˈtʃor/ | picior /pitʃor/ | pede /pede/ | pede /ˈpede/ | pei /pei/ | pedo /ˈpedo/ |
| Heart | inimă /inimə/ | inimã /ˈinimə/ | inima /ˈinima/ | corde /kɔrde/ | cordie /ˈkordie/ | core /kore/ | kordio /ˈkordio/ |
| Bone | os /os/ | os /os/ | uos /wos/ | osso /ˈosso/ | osse /ˈosse/ | ossu /ˈossu/ | osto /ˈosto/ |
| Blood | sânge /ˈsɨndʒe/ | sãndzi /ˈsɨndzi/ | sănzi /ˈsɨnzi/ | sanguine /sanˈɡwine/ | sangue /ˈsaŋɡue/ | sàmbene /ˈsambene/ | sango /ˈsaŋɡo/ |
| Poop | caca /ˈkaka/ | cãcat /kəˈkat/ | — | caca /ˈkaka/ | — | cacca /ˈkakka/ | feko /ˈfeko/ |
| Love | iubire /jubire/ | vreari /ˈvreari/ | ublami /ˈublami/ | amor /amor/ | amore /aˈmore/ | amore /amore/ | amoro /aˈmoro/ |
| Tree | copac /kopak/ | arbur /ˈarbur/ | lemnu /lemnu/ | arbore /arbore/ | árbor /ˈarbor/ | àrbure /ˈarbure/ | arboro /arˈboro/ |
| Dog | câine /kɨine/ | cãni /ˈkɨni/ | câni /ˈkɨni/ | can /kan/ | cane /ˈkane/ | cane /kane/ | hundo /ˈhundo/ |
| Cat | pisică /pisikə/ | cãtushi /kəˈtuʃi/ | mâța /ˈmɨtsa/ | catto /katto/ | cat /kat/ | gattu /ɡattu/ | kato /ˈkato/ |
| Fish | pește /ˈpeʃte/ | pescu /ˈpesku/ | peaști /ˈpe̯aʃti/ | pisce /ˈpiʃe/ | pisc /pisk/ | pische /ˈpiske/ | fisho /ˈfiʃo/ |
| Bird | pasăre /ˈpasəre/ | pulju /ˈpuʎu/ | pul' /pulʲ/ | ave /ˈave/ | avie /ˈavie/ | puzone /puˈdzone/ | ucelo /uˈtselo/ |
| Butterfly | fluture /ˈfluture/ | flituru /ˈflituru/ | pipirugă /pipiˈruɡə/ | papilion /papiliˈon/ | papilion /papiliˈon/ | cabagasu /kaβaˈɣazu/ | papiliono /papiliˈono/ |
| Egg | ou /ow/ | ou /ow/ | ou /ow/ | ovo /ˈovo/ | ove /ˈove/ | ou /ˈou/ | ovo /ˈovo/ |
| Bear | urs /urs/ | ursã /ˈursə/ | — | urso /ˈurso/ | urso /ˈurso/ | ursu /ˈursu/ | urso /ˈurso/ |
| Horse | cal /kal/ | cal /kal/ | cal /kal/ | cavallo /kaˈvalo/ | cavalle /kaˈvale/ | cabaddu /kaˈbaɖɖu/ | kavalo /kaˈvalo/ |
| House | casă /kasə/ | casã /ˈkasə/ | casa /ˈkasa/ | casa /kasa/ | dom /dom/ | domo /domo/ | domo /ˈdomo/ |
| Milk | lapte /ˈlapte/ | lapti /ˈlapti/ | lapti /ˈlapti/ | lacte /ˈlakte/ | lacte /ˈlakte/ | latte /ˈlatte/ | lakto /ˈlakto/ |
| Honey | miere /ˈmjere/ | njari /ˈɲari/ | m'ari /mʲari/ | melle /ˈmɛle/ | miel /miˈel/ | mele /ˈmɛle/ | mielo /ˈmi̯elo/ |
| Salt | sare /ˈsare/ | sare /ˈsare/ | sari /ˈsari/ | sal /sal/ | sale /ˈsale/ | sale /ˈsale/ | salo /ˈsalo/ |
| Wine | vin /vin/ | yin /jin/ | vin /vin/ | vino /ˈvino/ | vin /vin/ | binu /ˈbinu/ | vino /ˈvino/ |
| Rice | orez /oˈrez/ | urizu /uˈrizu/ | uriz /uˈriz/ | ris /ris/ | ris /ris/ | risu /ˈrizu/ | rizo /ˈrizo/ |
| Chocolate | ciocolată /tʃokoˈlatə/ | ciuculatã /tʃukuˈlatə/ | — | chocolate /tʃokoˈlate/ | chocolate /ʃokoˈlate/ | ciculata /tʃikuˈlata/ | chokolado /tʃokoˈlado/ |
| Iron | fier /fjer/ | her /her/ | ier /jer/ | ferro /ˈfɛrro/ | ferre /ˈfere/ | ferru /ˈferru/ | fero /ˈfero/ |
| Wheel | roată /ˈroatə/ | aroatã /aˈro̯atə/ | roată /ˈroatə/ | rota /ˈrɔta/ | rote /ˈrote/ | roda /ˈroda/ | roto /ˈroto/ |
| Silk | mătase /məˈtase/ | mãtasi /məˈtasi/ | mătasi /məˈtasi/ | seta /ˈseta/ | seta /ˈseta/ | seda /ˈsɛða/ | silko /ˈsilko/ |
| Book | carte /ˈkarte/ | carti /ˈkarti/ | — | libro /ˈlibro/ | libre /ˈlibre/ | libru /ˈliβɾu/ | libro /ˈlibro/ |
| Eat | a mânca /a mɨnka/ | mâcari /mɨˈkari/ | mâcari /mɨˈkari/ | manducar /mandukar/ | manjar /manˈʒar/ | mandigare /mandiɡare/ | manjar /manˈʒar/ |
| Drink | a bea /a be̯a/ | beari /ˈbeari/ | beari /ˈbeari/ | biber /biber/ | trincar /trinˈkar/ | bìere /ˈbiere/ | drinkar /drinˈkar/ |
| Sleep | a dormi /a dorˈmi/ | dormu /ˈdormu/ | durmiri /durˈmiri/ | dormir /dorˈmir/ | dormir /dorˈmir/ | dormire /dorˈmire/ | dormar /dorˈmar/ |
| One | unu /unu/ | unu /ˈunu/ | unu /ˈunu/ | un /un/ | un /un/ | unu /unu/ | un /un/ |
| Two | doi /doj/ | doi /doj/ | doi /doj/ | duo /ˈduo/ | du /du/ | duos /ˈduɔs/ | du /du/ |
| Three | trei /trej/ | trei /trej/ | trei /trej/ | tres /tres/ | tri /tri/ | tres /tres/ | tri /tri/ |
| Four | patru /ˈpatru/ | patru /ˈpatru/ | patru /ˈpatru/ | quatro /ˈkwatro/ | quar /kwar/ | bator /ˈbattor/ | quar /kwar/ |
| Five | cinci /tʃintʃʲ/ | tsintsi /ˈtsintsi/ | ținț /tsints/ | cinque /ˈtʃiŋkwe/ | quin /kwin/ | chimbe /ˈkimbe/ | kin /kin/ |
| Hundred | sută /ˈsutə/ | sutã /ˈsutə/ | sută /ˈsutə/ | cento /ˈtʃento/ | cent /tsent/ | chentu /ˈkentu/ | cent /tsent/ |
| Hello | salut /salut/ | bunâ-vã ziuâ /ˈbunɨ vɨ ˈziwɨ/ | ubavu /uˈbavu/ | salute /salute/ | salute /saˈlute/ | salude /salude/ | saluto /saˈluto/ |
| Thank you | mulțumesc /multsumesk/ | haristo /hariˈsto/ | hăirau /hɨiˈrau/ | gratias /ɡratias/ | mersí /merˈsi/ | gràtzias /ˈɡrattsjas/ | danko /ˈdanko/ |
| Good | bun /bun/ | bun /bun/ | bunu /ˈbunu/ | bon /bon/ | bon /bon/ | bonu /bonu/ | bona /ˈbona/ |
| New | nou /now/ | nou /now/ | nou /now/ | nove /ˈnove/ | nov /nov/ | nou /ˈnou/ | nova /ˈnova/ |
| Red | roșu /ˈroʃu/ | arosh /aˈroʃ/ | roș /roʃ/ | rubie /ˈrubie/ | rubi /ˈrubi/ | ruju /ˈruːju/ | reda /ˈreda/ |
| White | alb /alb/ | albu /ˈalbu/ | alb /alb/ | blanc /blaŋk/ | blanc /blaŋk/ | biancu /ˈbjaŋku/ | blanka /ˈblanka/ |
| Black | negru /ˈneɡru/ | negru /ˈneɡru/ | negru /ˈneɡru/ | nigre /ˈniɡre/ | nigri /ˈniɡri/ | nieddu /ˈnieddu/ | nigra /ˈniɡra/ |
| Green | verde /ˈverde/ | veardi /ˈve̯ardi/ | veardi /ˈve̯ardi/ | verde /ˈverde/ | verd /verd/ | birde /ˈbirde/ | verda /ˈverda/ |
| Blue | albastru /alˈbastru/ | albastru /alˈbastru/ | — | blau /blau/ | blu /blu/ | biaittu /bjaˈittu/ | blua /ˈblua/ |
| Cuckoo | cuc /kuk/ | cuc /kuk/ | cuc /kuk/ | cucu /ˈkuku/ | cucú /kuˈku/ | cucu /ˈkuku/ | kukulo /kuˈkulo/ |
| Woof | ham ham /ham ham/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cock-a-doodle-doo | cucurigu /kukuˈriɡu/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Computer | calculator /kalkulaˈtor/ | computer | — | computator /komputaˈtor/ | computator /komputaˈtor/ | computer /komˈpjuter/ | komputero /kompuˈtero/ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi /ˈwifi/ | — | — | — | — | Wi-Fi | wifio /ˈwifio/ |
| Sushi | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | — | — | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | — | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ |
| Tea | ceai /tʃe̯aj/ | ceai /tʃaj/ | — | the /te/ | té /te/ | te /te/ | teo /ˈteo/ |
| Coffee | cafea /kaˈfe̯a/ | cafe /kaˈfe/ | — | caffe /ˈkafe/ | café /kaˈfe/ | cafè /kaˈfɛ/ | kafeo /kaˈfeo/ |
| Sugar | zahăr /ˈzahər/ | zahari /ˈzahari/ | — | sucro /ˈsukro/ | sucre /ˈsukre/ | tzùcaru /ˈtsukaru/ | sukro /ˈsukro/ |
| Orange | portocală /portoˈkalə/ | purtucalã /purtuˈkalə/ | — | orange /oˈrandʒe/ | orange /oˈranʒe/ | aranzu /aˈrandzu/ | oranjo /oˈranʒo/ |
| Ninety-nine | nouăzeci și nouă /nowəˈzetʃʲ ʃi ˈnowə/ | noauãdzãts shi noauã /noawədzəts ʃi noawə/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dopamine | dopamină /dopaˈminə/ | — | — | dopamina /dopaˈmina/ | — | dopamina /dopaˈmina/ | dopamino /dopaˈmino/ |
| At sign | coadă de maimuță /ˈko̯adə de majˈmutsə/ | — | — | — | — | — | arobo /aˈrobo/ |
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