Shopping

1. Cât costă asta?

   kut KOS-tuh AS-ta

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of an item

   Grammar Note

   "asta" is a colloquial shortening of "aceasta" (this, feminine). "ăsta" is the masculine form

2. Acceptați cardul?

   ak-chep-TATS KAR-dul

   Do you accept cards?

   Usage

   Used to check if card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "cardul" = "card" + masculine definite article "-ul". Cash: "numerar" or "cash"

3. Caut un suvenir

   kowt un su-ve-NIR

   I'm looking for a souvenir

   Usage

   Used in souvenir shops to tell the staff what you're looking for

   Grammar Note

   "caut" is the 1st person singular of "a căuta" (to search). "suvenir" is Romanian for souvenir

4. Pot să probez?

   pot suh pro-BEZ

   Can I try it on?

   Usage

   Used when you want to try on clothing

   Grammar Note

   "Pot să + subjunctive" expresses ability/possibility. "să" marks the subjunctive mood in Romanian

5. Aveți o mărime mai mare?

   a-VETS o muh-RI-me mai MA-re

   Do you have a larger size?

   Usage

   Used when shopping for clothing or shoes and need a larger size

   Grammar Note

   "mai" is the comparative marker "more". "mai mic" = smaller, "mai lung" = longer

6. Este prea scump

   ES-te pre-a skump

   It's too expensive

   Usage

   Used when the price is too high

   Grammar Note

   "prea" (too) is an adverb indicating excess. "prea mic" = too small, "prea mare" = too big

7. Îl iau pe acesta

   ihl yaw pe a-CHES-ta

   I'll take this one

   Usage

   Used to tell the staff you'll buy a particular item

   Grammar Note

   "pe acesta" uses "pe" before the accusative (required for specific/animate objects). Feminine: "O iau pe aceasta". The masculine accusative clitic is "Îl", spelled with Î (U+00CE).

8. Faceți reduceri?

   FA-chets re-DU-cheri

   Do you offer discounts?

   Usage

   Used to ask if there are any discounts available

   Grammar Note

   "reduceri" is the plural of "reducere" (discount). Romanian feminine nouns often form plural with "-i"

9. Unde este piața?

   UN-de ES-te PIA-tsa

   Where is the market?

   Usage

   Used to find the local market or outdoor market

   Grammar Note

   "piața" = "piață" + definite article "-a". Can mean both market and square. E.g., "Piața Unirii" (Union Square)

10. Îmi dați o chitanță?

    ih-mi DA-tsi o ki-TAN-tsuh

    Can I have a receipt?

    Usage

    Used to request a receipt after a purchase

    Grammar Note

    "Îmi" is the dative clitic "to me". Receipts are important for tourists requesting VAT refunds

11. Nu am nevoie de bon

    nu am ne-VO-ye de bon

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declining a receipt at the till

    Grammar Note

    Same frame as "Nu am nevoie de asta" (I don't need it). The slip a shop till prints is a "bon" ("bon fiscal"); a "chitanță" is a receipt acknowledging money received

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