Cooking & Markets

1. Tăiați legumele mărunt

   tuh-YATS le-GU-me-le muh-RUNT

   Chop the vegetables finely

   Usage

   Instruction to finely chop vegetables while cooking

   Grammar Note

   Plural definite article for "legume" (vegetable) is "legumele" (+ "-le"). Plural nouns use "-le" as definite suffix.

2. Fierbeți apa

   fier-BETS A-pa

   Boil the water

   Usage

   Instruction to boil water for cooking or beverages

   Grammar Note

   "apa" = "apă" + definite "-a". "fierbe" derives from Latin "fervere" (to boil) — same root as English "fervent".

3. Adăugați sare după gust

   a-duh-u-GATS SA-re DU-puh gust

   Add salt to taste

   Usage

   Instructing to add salt according to personal taste preference

   Grammar Note

   "după gust" = "according to taste". "gust" means both "flavor" and "preference" in Romanian.

4. Frământați aluatul bine

   fruh-mun-TATS a-lu-A-tul BI-ne

   Knead the dough well

   Usage

   Instruction to knead dough thoroughly when making bread or pastry

   Grammar Note

   "frământa" means both "to knead" and "to worry/agonize". Possibly related to Latin "fermentare".

5. Lăsați să fiarbă la foc mic

   luh-SATS suh fi-AR-buh la fok mik

   Let it simmer on low heat

   Usage

   Instruction to let a dish simmer on low heat

   Grammar Note

   "Lăsați să fiarbă" uses the causative + subjunctive. "foc mic" literally means "small fire".

6. Rețeta necesită smântână

   re-TSE-ta ne-che-SI-tuh smun-TUH-nuh

   The recipe requires sour cream

   Usage

   Mentioning that sour cream (smântână) is essential for the recipe

   Grammar Note

   "smântână" is a staple of Romanian cuisine. Native Romanian word, possibly of Slavic origin.

7. Amestecați bine ingredientele

   a-mes-te-CATS BI-ne in-gre-di-EN-te-le

   Mix the ingredients well

   Usage

   Instruction to mix ingredients thoroughly in cooking or baking

   Grammar Note

   "ingredientele" = "ingredient" + plural definite "-ele". Neuter nouns use "-ele" as plural definite article.

8. Coaceți tortul timp de o oră

   ko-a-CHETS TOR-tul timp de o O-ruh

   Bake the cake for one hour

   Usage

   Giving baking time instructions for a cake

   Grammar Note

   "tort" means "cake" in Romanian. From Latin "torta" — same root as French "tarte" and German "Torte".

9. Condimentele sunt în dulap

   con-di-MEN-te-le sunt în du-LAP

   The condiments/spices are in the cupboard

   Usage

   Informing someone where the spices or condiments are stored

   Grammar Note

   "dulap" (cupboard/wardrobe) is from Turkish/Slavic. Shows the diverse origins of Romanian vocabulary.

10. Tocana este gata

    to-CA-na ES-te GA-ta

    The stew is ready

    Usage

    Announcing that a dish is ready to be served

    Grammar Note

    "gata" (ready/done) is an invariable adjective that does not change for gender or number.

11. Sare

    SA-re

    Salt

    Usage

    For asking for salt at a table or in a kitchen; "fără sare" means no salt

12. Zahăr

    ZA-huhr

    Sugar

    Usage

    For asking for sugar or for checking when avoiding it; "fără zahăr" means unsweetened

13. Piper

    PEE-per

    Pepper

    Usage

    Peppercorn pepper; bell peppers and paprika are a different word, "ardei"

14. Ulei

    oo-LAY

    Oil

    Usage

    Cooking oil; olive oil is "ulei de măsline" and peanut oil is "ulei de arahide" — the latter matters for allergies

15. Oțet

    o-TSET

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Vinegar — widely used in Romania for salads and pickles ("murături")

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