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In Romanian, the definite article (English “the”) is not a separate word: it is added to the end of the noun. Its form depends on the gender of the noun, on its last letter and on its number. After a preposition, a noun standing alone usually takes no article.
The definite article at the end of the noun: studentul, casa, studenții, casele#
Formation
In the singular, a masculine or neuter noun takes -ul after a consonant, -l after -u, and -le after -e. A feminine noun in -ă changes -ă to -a; a feminine noun in -e adds -a, and one in -ie becomes -ia; a feminine noun in a stressed -ea or in -i adds -ua. In the plural, the article is added to the plural form: -i for masculine nouns, which then end in -ii, and -le for feminine and neuter nouns.
| Noun | With the article | Plural | With the article |
|---|---|---|---|
| student (m.) | studentul | studenți | studenții |
| frate (m.) | fratele | frați | frații |
| copil (m.) | copilul | copii | copiii |
| tren (n.) | trenul | trenuri | trenurile |
| muzeu (n.) | muzeul | muzee | muzeele |
| casă (f.) | casa | case | casele |
| carte (f.) | cartea | cărți | cărțile |
| familie (f.) | familia | familii | familiile |
| cafea (f.) | cafeaua | cafele | cafelele |
| zi (f.) | ziua | zile | zilele |
Use
Un and o introduce a person or a thing not yet named; the article at the end marks the one already known: Am un câine. Câinele e mic. The definite article is also used where English has none, for a thing in general, as after îmi place (îmi place cafeaua, “I like coffee”), after tot (toată ziua, “all day”), and before a possessive (cartea mea). A masculine noun in -ă, such as tată, adds -l: tatăl; tata is also used, especially in speech. In speech the -l of -ul is often not pronounced, but it is always written: studentul.
- Am un câine. Câinele e mic.I have a dog. The dog is small.
- Copiii dorm deja.The children are already asleep.
- Cafeaua e fierbinte.The coffee is hot.
- Trenul de Brașov e aici.The Brașov train is here.
- Unde sunt cărțile mele?Where are my books?
Difference from English
English “the” comes before the noun and never changes; the Romanian article is the end of the word itself, with a form for each gender and number: “the bus” is autobuzul, “the cars” mașinile. English “I like coffee” has no article, but Romanian îmi place cafeaua has one.
Common mistakes
Casă e mare.→ Casa e mare.The house already known takes the article: -ă becomes -a.Cafea e bună.→ Cafeaua e bună.A feminine noun in a stressed -ea takes -ua.Trenurii sunt noi.→ Trenurile sunt noi.A neuter plural takes -le.
Practise
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No article after a preposition: în parc, but în parcul mare, cu trenul#
Formation
After a preposition such as în, la, pe, sub, din or lângă, a noun standing alone takes no article, where English has “the”: în parc (in the park), pe masă (on the table), la gară (at the station). The article is used when the noun is followed by a word that describes it, an adjective or a possessive: în parcul mare, pe masa din bucătărie, în camera mea.
Use
Cu is followed by the article for a means of transport or a thing used: cu trenul (by train), cu autobuzul, cu mașina, cu pixul (with the pen). For a thing added to a food or a drink, the noun takes none: cafea cu lapte, ceai cu zahăr.
- Mihai lucrează la spital.Mihai works at the hospital.
- Locuim în orașul vechi.We live in the old town.
- Merg la Sibiu cu trenul.I’m going to Sibiu by train.
- Beau ceai cu lapte.I drink tea with milk.
Difference from English
English “in the park” has an article and Romanian în parc none; English “by bus” has none and Romanian cu autobuzul one.
Common mistakes
Sunt în parcul.→ Sunt în parc.After în, a noun standing alone takes no article.Merg la Iași cu tren.→ Merg la Iași cu trenul.After cu, a means of transport takes the article.Locuim în oraș vechi.→ Locuim în orașul vechi.A noun followed by an adjective takes the article after a preposition.
In short
| Point | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| masculine and neuter singular | -ul, -l, -le | trenul, muzeul, fratele |
| feminine singular | -a, -ea, -ia, -ua | casa, cartea, familia, cafeaua |
| masculine plural | -i | studenții, copiii |
| feminine and neuter plural | -le | casele, trenurile |
| a thing in general | the article | îmi place cafeaua |
| after a preposition | no article | în parc, pe masă |
| with an adjective after it | the article | în parcul mare |
| cu for a means | the article | cu trenul |
Practise
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