Numbers

1. Unu, doi, trei

   U-nu, doy, trey

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic numbers used for counting and stating quantities

   Grammar Note

   Romanian numbers have gender forms. Feminine: "una" (1f), "două" (2f). Used with feminine nouns

2. Patru, cinci, șase

   PA-tru, chinch, SHA-se

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Used for counting, stating quantities, prices, and times

   Grammar Note

   "cinci" — "c" before "i" is pronounced like "ch" in English "chin". "ș" is always "sh"

3. Șapte, opt, nouă, zece

   SHAP-te, opt, NO-uh, ZE-tche

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Numbers 7–10 used for time, age, room numbers, etc.

   Grammar Note

   "nouă" — "ă" is a central vowel (mid-central schwa). A distinctive Romanian sound

4. Unsprezece, doisprezece

   un-spre-ZE-tche, dois-pre-ZE-tche

   Eleven, twelve

   Usage

   11–12, used for time, room numbers, quantities

   Grammar Note

   Romanian 11–19 = "X-spre-zece" meaning "X upon ten". "spre" means "towards/upon"

5. Douăzeci, treizeci

   do-uh-ZE-tchi, trey-ZE-tchi

   Twenty, thirty

   Usage

   Tens used for ages, prices, distances

   Grammar Note

   Romanian tens = "X + zeci" (X tens). 40=patruzeci, 50=cincizeci, 60=șaizeci, 70=șaptezeci

6. O sută, o mie

   o SU-tuh, o MI-e

   One hundred, one thousand

   Usage

   Large numbers used for prices, populations, distances

   Grammar Note

   "sută" (hundred) and "mie" (thousand) are both feminine nouns, used with "o". Million: "un milion"

7. Cât este ceasul?

   kut ES-te CHE-a-sul

   What time is it?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking the time

   Grammar Note

   "ceasul" = "ceas" (clock) + definite article "-ul". Answer: "Este ora două" (It's two o'clock)

8. Primul, al doilea, al treilea

   PRI-mul, al DOY-le-a, al TRE-i-le-a

   First, second, third

   Usage

   Ordinal numbers used for order, floors, platforms, seat numbers

   Grammar Note

   Male ordinals: "al [num]-lea". Female forms: "prima" (1st f), "a doua" (2nd f), "a treia" (3rd f)

9. Zero

   ZE-ro

   Usage

   Used for zero in phone numbers, temperatures, scores

   Grammar Note

   "Zero" in Romanian comes from Latin/Italian. It is treated as a neuter noun

10. Cincizeci de lei

    chin-tchi-ZE-tchi de ley

    Fifty Romanian lei

    Usage

    Used when stating a price in Romanian lei (RON)

    Grammar Note

    After round numbers (20+), use "de" before the noun: "cincizeci de lei". Singular: "un leu"

11. Am douăzeci și șapte de ani

    am do-uh-ZE-tchi shi SHAP-te de an

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Answering "Câți ani aveți?" (How old are you?)

    Grammar Note

    Romanian states age with "a avea + numeral + ani" (the same frame as "Copilul meu are trei ani"). Numerals of 20 and above insert "de", as in "Cincizeci de lei", giving "douăzeci și șapte de ani"

12. Anul acesta împlinesc douăzeci și opt de ani

    A-nul a-TCHES-ta im-pli-NESK do-uh-ZE-tchi shi opt de an

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying what age you will reach this year

    Grammar Note

    "A împlini" is the verb for reaching a given age. As in "Am douăzeci și șapte de ani", numerals of 20 and above insert "de"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages