Animals

1. Câine

   Dog

   Usage

   Everywhere, town or village. "Caine rau" is the beware-of-the-dog sign

2. Pisică

   Cat

   Usage

   They fill markets and old-town alleys

3. Pasăre

   Bird

   Usage

   The general word; the Danube Delta is one of Europe great birdwatching spots

4. Pește

   Fish

   Usage

   The animal and the food alike; the fish dishes of the Danube Delta are a speciality

5. Cal

   Horse

   Usage

   Seen at tourist stables, and still working in the countryside

6. Vacă

   Cow

   Usage

   Still pastured in villages and crossing roads in herds at dusk. Milk is "lapte"

7. Porc

   Pig

   Usage

   The live animal; pork dishes are at the centre of Romanian cooking

8. Găină

   Chicken

   Usage

   The hen; the meat on a menu is usually "pui"

9. Rață

   Duck

   Usage

   Seen on park ponds and across the Danube Delta, and also a dish name

10. Capră

    Goat

    Usage

    Goat; goat cheese is "branza de capra"

11. Oaie

    Sheep

    Usage

    Sheep. Carpathian shepherding is a living tradition and its "branza" cheese is famous

12. Vulpe

    Fox

    Usage

    Seen in forests and on town edges

13. Urs brun

    Brown bear

    Usage

    Romania has the largest brown bear population in the EU, and encounters happen on Carpathian trails and roadsides

    Grammar Note

    Never feed them, never approach one at the roadside, and make noise as you walk in the mountains

14. Lup

    Wolf

    Usage

    The wolf, living in the Carpathian forests

15. Râs

    Lynx

    Usage

    The lynx; the Carpathians hold one of Europe largest populations, though it is very hard to see

16. Arici

    Hedgehog

    Usage

    A familiar garden and park animal, and nocturnal

17. Mistreț

    Wild boar

    Usage

    The wild boar, one to watch for on forest hikes

18. Căprioară

    Deer

    Usage

    The roe deer, often seen at forest edges at dusk; the larger red deer is "cerb"

19. Veveriță

    Squirrel

    Usage

    Comes within arm reach in city parks

20. Șoarece

    Mouse

    Usage

    Can come up about lodgings; it is also the computer mouse

21. Liliac

    Bat

    Usage

    The bat — and the same word also means the lilac flower, so context decides

22. Barză

    Stork

    Usage

    Nests on village roofs and poles, and its spring return is local news

23. Porumbel

    Pigeon

    Usage

    Fills every square; feeding them draws a crowd, so mind your bags

24. Pescăruș

    Seagull

    Usage

    On the Black Sea coast and along the Danube, and it goes for food

25. Șarpe

    Snake

    Usage

    The general word; found in forests and grassland

26. Viperă

    Adder (viper)

    Usage

    The viper, venomous and found in the mountains and in Dobrogea — watch the rocks when hiking

27. Țânțar

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Swarms in the Danube Delta and along rivers; repellent is "spray impotriva tantarilor"

28. Căpușă

    Tick

    Usage

    The insect to take most seriously in spring and early summer woods and grass — it carries Lyme disease

    Grammar Note

    Check your body after any walk in the woods, and have a doctor remove one if you are bitten

29. Muscă

    Fly

    Usage

    Lands on food at stalls and markets

30. Albină

    Bee

    Usage

    Beekeeping is a big tradition, and it comes up at the honey — "miere" — stalls

31. Viespe

    Wasp

    Usage

    Drawn to sweet drinks on summer terraces, and a sting can trigger an allergy

32. Păianjen

    Spider

    Usage

    Common indoors, and almost none are dangerous here

33. Gândac

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Turns up in older kitchens, though the word also covers beetles in general

34. Fluture

    Butterfly

    Usage

    Everywhere in summer meadows

35. Meduză

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    The Black Sea gets summer blooms; most do not sting badly, but do not touch them

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