How to Learn the Romanian Language Step by Step

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Step 1: Learn the Romanian Alphabet

Mastering the Romanian alphabet is a fundamental step in learning the language, as it lays the foundation for accurate pronunciation and comprehension. The Romanian alphabet consists of 31 letters, including five special characters: Ă (ă), Â (â), Î (î), Ș (ș), and Ț (ț). These special letters represent unique sounds essential for proper pronunciation.

Vowels in the Romanian Alphabet

Romanian has seven vowels: A, E, I, O, U, Ă, and Î/Â. Each vowel has a distinct pronunciation:

• A (a): Pronounced like the ‘a’ in “father.”
• E (e): Similar to the ‘e’ in “bed.”
• I (i): Sounds like the ‘ee’ in “see.”
• O (o): Like the ‘o’ in “more.”
• U (u): Pronounced as the ‘oo’ in “boot.”
• Ă (ă): Known as “a-breve,” it makes a sound similar to the ‘a’ in “sofa.”
• Î (î) and  (â): Both represent the same sound, a unique vowel not found in English. It’s somewhat similar to the ‘i’ in “bird” for some English speakers. “Δ is used at the beginning and end of words, while “” appears in the middle.

Practicing these vowels will help you grasp the basic sounds of Romanian. Listening to native speakers and repeating after them can be particularly beneficial.

Consonants and Their Pronunciations

Most Romanian consonants are pronounced similarly to their English counterparts. However, there are some notable differences and unique sounds you’ll encounter as you learn the Romanian language.

• C (c): Pronounced as ‘k’ in “cat” before ‘a’, ‘o’, ‘u’, or consonants. Before ‘e’ or ‘i’, it sounds like ‘ch’ in “church.”
• G (g): Sounds like ‘g’ in “go” before ‘a’, ‘o’, ‘u’, or consonants. Before ‘e’ or ‘i’, it is pronounced like ‘g’ in “giant.”
• H (h): Typically pronounced as ‘h’ in “hat.” However, in combinations like ‘ch’ and ‘gh’ before ‘e’ or ‘i’, the ‘h’ is silent, and ‘ch’ is pronounced as ‘k’, while ‘gh’ is pronounced as ‘g’ in “get.”
• J (j): Pronounced like the ‘s’ in “measure.”
• Ș (ș): Sounds like ‘sh’ in “shoe.”
• Ț (ț): Pronounced as ‘ts’ in “cats.”

Familiarizing yourself with these consonant sounds will enhance your reading and speaking abilities. Pay special attention to the unique pronunciations to ensure clarity in communication.

Common Letter Combinations

Certain letter combinations in Romanian produce unique sounds:

• Ce, Ci: Pronounced as ‘ch’ in “chess” and “chip,” respectively.
• Ge, Gi: Sound like ‘g’ in “giraffe” and “giant,” respectively.
• Che, Chi: Pronounced as ‘k’ in “kettle” and “key,” respectively.
• Ghe, Ghi: Sound like ‘g’ in “get” and “give,” respectively.

Understanding these combinations will aid in accurate pronunciation and improve your reading skills. Practice by reading Romanian words and noting these patterns.

Tips for Mastery

• Listen and Repeat: Engage with Romanian audio resources to hear proper pronunciations and mimic them.
• Use Phonetic Guides: Leverage phonetic transcriptions to understand sound structures.
• Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to retention and mastery.

By dedicating time to learn the Romanian alphabet and its pronunciations, you’ll build a strong foundation for further language acquisition. Embrace the learning process, and don’t hesitate to seek out advice from one of our native Romanian teachers!

Step 2: Master Basic Romanian Phrases

Building a strong vocabulary is essential, but learning full phrases is even more effective. Instead of memorizing words in isolation, focus on commonly used sentence structures. This approach helps you learn the Romanian language in context and makes speaking more natural.

Here’s how you can learn the Romanian language by breaking it down into different communicational functions:

Start with Essential Greetings

Romanian greetings are fundamental for social interactions. These expressions should be among the first you master:

English	Romanian	Pronunciation
Hello!	Salut!	sah-LOOT
Good morning	Bună dimineața	BOO-nuh dee-mee-NYAH-tsah
Good evening	Bună seara	BOO-nuh SYAH-rah
Goodbye	La revedere	lah reh-veh-DEH-reh
See you soon	Pe curând	peh koo-RUND

Ask and Answer Common Questions

Mastering basic questions allows for easy conversations. Learn how to introduce yourself and ask for simple information:

English	Romanian	Pronunciation
What is your name?	Cum te numești?	koom teh noo-MESHT
My name is…	Mă numesc…	muh noo-MESK…
How are you? (formal)	Ce mai faceți?	cheh my fah-CHETS?
How are you? (informal)	Ce mai faci?	cheh my FAH-ch?
I’m fine, thank you	Mulțumesc, bine	mool-tsoo-MESK BEE-neh

Learn Functional Phrases Based on Your Needs

Once you’re comfortable with greetings, focus on Romanian phrases relevant to your specific situation, whether you are a tourist, student, or professional.

For Travel

If you plan to visit Romania, learning essential travel phrases will help you navigate hotels, restaurants, and public transport.

English	Romanian	Pronunciation
Where is the train station?	Unde este gara?	OON-deh YES-teh GAH-rah?
I need help	Am nevoie de ajutor	ahm neh-VOY-yeh deh ah-zhoo-TOR
How much does it cost?	Cât costă?	KUT KOS-tuh?
I would like to order…	Aș dori să comand…	ash doh-REE suh koh-MAND
Can I pay by card?	Pot plăti cu cardul?	POT pluh-TEE koo KAR-dool?
Do you have a menu in English?	Aveți un meniu în engleză?	ah-VETS oon meh-NEW uhn eng-GLEZ-uh?

For Work or Business

If you’re learning Romanian for professional purposes, these useful Romanian phrases will help you in formal settings:

English	Romanian	Pronunciation
Can we schedule a meeting?	Putem programa o întâlnire?	POO-tem proh-grah-MAH oh uhn-tul-NEE-reh?
I work as a…	Lucrez ca…	LOO-krez kah…
Let’s keep in touch	Să păstrăm legătura	Suh puh-STRUM leh-guh-TOO-rah
Could you send me an email?	Puteți să-mi trimiteți un e-mail?	POO-tets suh-mee tree-MEE-tets oon ee-MAIL?
I would like to discuss a project	Aș vrea să discutăm un proiect	ash VRAH suh dee-SKOO-tum oon proh-YEKT
It was a pleasure meeting you	A fost o plăcere să vă cunosc	ah fost oh pluh-CHER-eh suh vuh koo-NOSK

By grouping expressions into useful categories, you will learn the Romanian language online more efficiently and be able to navigate real-life situations with confidence.

Step 3: Look for Romanian-Language Media

Immersion is one of the most effective ways to learn the Romanian language online and improve your listening skills. Engaging with Romanian movies, TV shows, music, and books exposes you to natural pronunciation, intonation, and slang.

Watch Romanian Movies and TV Shows

Films and series allow you to hear how native speakers use intonation, sentence structure, and expressions in context. Try these strategies to turn entertainment into a learning tool:

• Start with subtitles in your native language to understand the plot.
• Switch to Romanian subtitles once you recognize words and phrases.
• Listen actively and pause to repeat interesting expressions.

For historical and cultural immersion, Moromeții is a must-watch classic. If you prefer comedy, Las Fierbinți is Romania’s most popular sitcom, full of natural speech and humor. Those who enjoy thrillers should check out Umbre, a gripping crime drama showcasing modern Romanian. Aferim! is a historical film that provides insight into Romania’s past, featuring rich language and dialogue.

Listen to Romanian Music

Music helps develop listening comprehension and pronunciation. The repetitive nature of songs reinforces vocabulary naturally.

• Slow Songs: Great for beginners (Andra, Delia).
• Pop and Rock: Modern expressions and slang (Carla’s Dreams, Smiley).
• Traditional Folk: Classic phrases and pronunciation practice (Maria Tănase).

A great way to learn the Romanian language online with music is by reading the lyrics as you listen, then singing along.

Read Romanian Books and Articles

Reading improves vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension. Start with children’s books, which use simple structures. Povestiri pentru copii is a collection of fairy tales that is great for beginners. For an intermediate challenge, Amintiri din copilărie by Ion Creangă is a nostalgic classic about childhood in Romania. Advanced learners should try Maitreyi by Mircea Eliade, a novel that blends Romanian and Indian culture.

For real-world vocabulary, Romanian newspapers such as Adevărul (news) and Dilema Veche (opinion and culture) provide exposure to modern expressions.

These strategies help you learn the Romanian language online in a way that is engaging and practical. Whether through movies, music, or everyday conversations, using Romanian in real-life contexts will build confidence and fluency.

Step 4: Improve Your Fluency Through a Tailored Romanian Course

The best way to learn the Romanian language online effectively is through personalized instruction. At Listen & Learn, we specialize in tailored lesson plans that adapt to your specific needs, whether you want to improve pronunciation, build vocabulary for business, or prepare for a trip to Romania. Our one-to-one Romanian courses ensure that your lessons are entirely focused on you, allowing for constant speaking practice and immediate feedback from an experienced teacher.

→Sign Up Now: Free Trial Romanian Lesson With a Native Teacher!←

We also offer small group lessons, which are ideal if you want to study with a partner or friend before traveling. Unlike traditional classroom settings, where progress is often slow due to large groups, our lessons provide a focused environment where you receive personalized corrections, practical exercises, and real-time guidance. Whether you prefer individual learning or studying with a partner, our courses help you learn the Romanian language online in the most effective and engaging way possible.

How to Learn the Romanian Language: FAQs

1.    How can I learn Romanian for free?

At Listen & Learn, we offer a free online Romanian trial lesson with no strings attached, allowing you to experience a personalized learning session with a native teacher. You can also learn Romanian for free by using online resources such as free language apps such as Duolingo and language-exchange platforms such as HelloTalk. Listening to Romanian music, watching subtitled Romanian films, and reading simple books in Romanian are also effective methods.

2. How hard is it to learn Romanian?

Romanian is considered one of the easier languages for English speakers to learn because it follows Latin-based grammar rules, similar to Spanish and Italian. However, challenges include mastering Romanian pronunciation and understanding cases in noun declension. At Listen & Learn, our native teachers make learning easier by identifying your learning style and selecting the best resources to match your needs, helping you progress faster.

3.    How long does it take to learn Romanian?

It takes approximately 600 hours of study to achieve conversational fluency in Romanian, according to the Foreign Service Institute. With daily practice and immersion, learners can reach a basic level in a few months and gain fluency within a year. Our courses are flexible, allowing you to take as many hours per week as you need to fit your schedule and learning goals. The speed of learning depends on consistency, previous experience with Romance languages, and exposure to native speakers.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact Listen & Learn now and ask for a free trial online lesson to start your journey toward learning Romanian today!