Directions

1. Unde este Palatul Parlamentului?

   OON-deh YES-teh pah-LAH-tul par-lah-MEN-tu-lui

   Where is the Palace of the Parliament?

   Usage

   Used to ask directions to Bucharest's landmark Parliament building

   Grammar Note

   Romanian genitive uses "-ului/-ei" suffix. Bucharest's Parliament Palace is the world's second-largest admin building

2. Virați la stânga

   vi-RATS la STUHN-guh

   Turn left

   Usage

   Used when giving or receiving directions by taxi or on foot

   Grammar Note

   Key directions: "la stânga" (left), "la dreapta" (right), "înainte" (straight ahead)

3. Mergeți drept înainte

   mer-JETS drept uhn-ah-EEN-teh

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Used when directing a pedestrian or driver to go straight

   Grammar Note

   "drept" means "straight" (adverb). "înainte" means "ahead/forward". Together: "straight ahead"

4. Cât de departe este?

   kut deh de-PAR-teh YES-teh

   How far is it?

   Usage

   Used to ask the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "Cât de + adjective + este" pattern for "how + adjective". Opposite of "departe" (far) is "aproape" (near)

5. La ce stație de metrou cobor?

   lah cheh STAH-tsyeh deh me-TROO KO-bor

   At which metro station should I get off?

   Usage

   Used on the Bucharest metro to find out which station to disembark at

   Grammar Note

   Bucharest has 4 metro lines. "Cobor" is the 1st person singular of "a coborî" (to descend/get off)

6. Există un traseu marcat spre mănăstire?

   EX-is-tuh oon tra-SEU mar-KAT spreh muh-nuh-STEE-reh

   Is there a marked trail to the monastery?

   Usage

   Used when hiking to Moldavian painted monasteries to ask for trail markers

   Grammar Note

   "spre" means "toward". Essential phrase for hiking to Romania's painted monasteries in Moldavia

7. Unde este cel mai apropiat ATM?

   OON-deh YES-teh chel my ah-proh-PYAT ah-teh-EHM

   Where is the nearest ATM?

   Usage

   Used to find the nearest cash machine in Bucharest or tourist areas

   Grammar Note

   Masculine superlative uses "cel mai" (feminine: "cea mai"). "ATM" is used directly in Romanian too

8. Cum ajung la Castelul Bran?

   kum ah-YOONG lah kas-TE-lul bran

   How do I get to Bran Castle?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to reach Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle) in Transylvania

   Grammar Note

   "ajung" is 1st person singular of "a ajunge" (to arrive). Bran Castle is ~30km from Brașov, accessible by bus

9. Lângă semaforul de la colț

   LUHN-guh se-mah-FO-rul deh lah kolts

   Next to the traffic light at the corner

   Usage

   Used to describe a meeting point or landmark when giving directions

   Grammar Note

   Romanian adds definite articles as suffixes: "semafor" + "-ul" = "semaforul" (the traffic light)

10. Puteți scrie adresa?

    pu-TETS skrieh ah-DREH-sah

    Can you write down the address?

    Usage

    Used when verbal directions are unclear and you need them written down

    Grammar Note

    "Puteți + infinitive" is a polite request. Also useful: "Puteți arăta pe hartă?" (Can you show on the map?)

11. Dreapta

    DREAP-tah

    Right

    Usage

    Readable at a glance in a moving taxi; "la dreapta" means "to the right"

    Grammar Note

    A noun from the feminine of "drept"; do not confuse it with "drept" (straight) — the direction word is "dreapta"

12. Stânga

    STUHN-guh

    Left

    Usage

    For taxis and directions; "la stânga" means "to the left"

13. Drept înainte

    drept uhn-ah-EEN-teh

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show this to mean "keep going as you are"

14. Înapoi

    uhn-ah-POY

    Back

    Usage

    Show it when you have gone too far and want to turn back; "Întoarceți-vă" means "turn around"

15. Opriți aici

    oh-PREETS ah-EECH

    Stop here

    Usage

    Show it at the spot where you want to get out of a taxi; the polite imperative form

16. Nord

    NORD

    North

    Usage

    For matching against a map or a station exit sign

17. Sud

    SOOD

    South

    Usage

    For matching against a map or a station exit sign

18. Est

    EST

    East

    Usage

    For matching against a map or a station exit sign

19. Vest

    VEST

    West

    Usage

    For matching against a map or a station exit sign

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