Learn to Speak Romanian

Learn About the Language and its History 

Romanian is a Romance language, and belongs to the Italic part of the Indo-European language family. It was probably one of the first of the Romance languages to split from Latin.This language has a lot of interesting aspects and an incredible history. Learn more about this beautiful language and it's history with following links.

• The Romanian Language (Wikipedia) - Wikipedia offers the most incredible amount of information about the Romanian language. It covers the geographical distribution, dialects, connection to other languages and a lot more.
• The History of the Romanian Language - This is an article from the linguistics department of the Brigham Young University offering a very good overview of the development of the language.
• Romanian Language (Wapedia) - A great source of information about the history, classification, geographic distribution, writing system and much more.

Practice the Pronunciation 

Learn to speak like a pro...

• Romanian pronunciation guide - A plain list of all alphabet letters and their correct pronunciation. This is a good link for beginners since the list is kept very simple and understandable.
• Online Romanian pronunciation dictionary (Forvo) - This is a quite young website where you can learn and listen to several words and phrases pronounced by native speakers. All you have to do is browse the words you want to hear and then click on the play icon next to them to listen how they are pronounced correctly.
• Romanian pronunciation and alphabet (Wikibooks) - A possibility to listen to the correct pronunciation of the alphabet. Further you can find out about the pronunciation of common phrases, numbers, colors, months and days of the week.
• Romanian phonology (Wikipedia) - This article on Wikipedia shows a very comprehensive analysis of the pronunciation as well as common rules concerning the right intonation and rhythm.

Basic Romanian Phrases 

Learn to speak step by step...

Being able to communicate with people of a different country and culture opens doors to a new way of thinking and to personal growth. People will let you in more easily if you show interest for their language and this will show you a whole new world.

Start with the most basic Romanian phrases.

• Romanian survival phrases (Transparent Language) - A very short list of the most useful and important Romanian phrases and the possibility to hear their pronunciation by a native speaker.
• Useful Romanian phrases (Omniglot) - A small collection of some random useful Romanian phrases. If you follow the link on the bottom of the page you can download the audio files for free.
• Romanian Phrase Book & Dictionary (Berlitz Phrase Book) - This is a very nice and easy to use booklet with a lot of colorful images, covering all the basic Romanian phrases for different situations. In addition you will find a pronunciation guide, a dictionary, a grammar section, cultural tips and advice for delicate situations.
• Teach Yourself Romanian - A language course comprising a book and a CD introducing both the colloquial and the written Romanian. As the title already says, it is suited for people who want to practice self-study.
• Useful Romanian Phrases for Adopting Families - These are the first and most important phrases you will need to use if you adopt a Romanian child. You can listen to their pronunciation by clicking on the phrases.
• Romantic Romanian Phrases - I created this lens after I found out how many of you are actually interested in learning the language because you love someone from Romania. Leave a message and let me know what you think.

Learn the Basic Grammar 

Because Romanian is a Romance language, a lot of words will seem familiar to English speakers. However, there are several grammatical differences that learners need to watch out for.

One particular thing about the Romanian language is that definite articles are attached to the end of the noun instead of the front. The following links will help you find out more specific features of the Romanian language.

Note that the links in this list only lead you to basic grammar resources. The more advanced grammar will be covered later separately.

• Basic grammar (Wikibooks) - Covers in short the most important grammar rules connected to gender, pronouns, article and nouns.
• Romanian conjugation tool (Verbix) - A great tool you can use to conjugate Romanian verbs. Just type in the verb and you will get a table with all conjugations of it.
• Romanian - An Essential Grammar - A very comprehensive eBook on the basics of the Romanian grammar. You can download the document for free if you follow the link. You can also buy it on Amazon if you click here.

Learn the Advanced Grammar 

If you want to speak error free...

If you are serious about learning Romanian you have to do more than just get the basics. Here is where it gets hard: you have to be steadily motivated and disciplined and find a way to stay focused. You need to practice regularly and learn the grammar rules.

• Romanian Grammar (SEELRC) - A very comprehensive eBook about the Romanian grammar offered for free by the Slavic and East European Language Research Center.
• Discover Romanian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture - This book offers very detailed explanation of the grammar and is something for the readers who are serious about learning Romanian. It is very practical if you decide to learn Romanian by yourself, since it explains a lot of rules very clearly and understandable.
• Proiectul "Limba-mijloc de integrare sociala" - This is an incredibly comprehensive Romanian language course offered by the UNDP Moldova. It is composed of three blocks: beginners, intermediate and advanced. You can download the learning material for free. The only problem is that the manuals are uniquely in Romanian (so no explanations in English available).

Use an English Romanian Online Dictionary 

• English Romanian Online Dictionary (LingvoSoft) -A very comprehensive English Romanian online dictionary.
• English Romanian Technical Dictionary (Scribd) - Very substantial technical dictionary, a free eBook that can be used online.
• Transylvania.info Dictionary - Not as comprehensive as other online dictionaries, but has some useful features and enables you to change settings.
• English Romanian Dictionary of Equivalent Proverbs - If you want to know the Romanian equivalent of an English proverb you will most definitely find it here. Click on the letter equivalent to the initial of your proverb and you'll get a list.
• English Romanian Mathematical Dictionary - Comprehensive list of mathematical terms translated from English to Romanian in alphabetical order.

Romanian Online Lessons 

• Easy Romanian Online Course - This is a course for absolute beginners starting from scratch with the alphabet and the right pronunciation. Particularly suitable for people who would like to surprise their Romanian partner with nice romantic phrases in their language.
• Free Romanian Online Lessons (Internet Polyglot) - This is a website dedicated to helping people learn to speak foreign languages by giving them the possibility to easily memorize words and expressions. It should be used additionally to your favorite language course or while actively reading a Romanian book.
• Romanian Lessons - Ten lessons provided for free by two American guys who lived in Romania for some time. They also offer some useful tips and info about the people in Romania as well as a list of Transylvanian dialect words.
• Travlang Course - Online lesson for travelers where you can learn the meaning and the pronunciation of basic phrases you will need during a trip.

Romanian Language Courses 

Learn to Speak Romanian Using the Best Learning Software

• Romanian, Comprehensive (Pimsleur) - This course is recommended for people who want to learn the basics in a very quick and uncomplicated way. A very good investment prior to a trip to Romania since it helps you a lot with the correct pronunciation. According to the website, the CDs have been sequenced scientifically to immediately attach the learned material to your brain with the minimum effort (just one listening).
• Romanian BYKI 3.6 - The focus of this program is clearly on quick learning by using all sorts of games and activities. It includes a type of audio flash card lists as a special bonus - that you can load on your iPod or MP3 player.
• Linguata Romanian - This course focuses on teaching you the most useful vocabulary rapidly with entertaining games and tests. You can also download a free trial and see how it works.
• Romanian Talk Now (Languagesource) - Language learning software for beginners containing lessons to basic words and phrases, food, colors, numbers, body parts, time, shopping and countries. The disc includes games and quizzes that help you have fun while learning the fundamentals.
• MLS Easy Immersion Romanian Pro - A very comprehensive multimedia learning system. One strong point of this program is its internationalized language-learning software, allowing you to choose from 21 languages to set the instruction and presentation language for the lessons.
• Romanian - Languages Of The World - The strength of this program is that, by using advanced pronunciation analysis, it helps you work on your Romanian accent.
• TeachMe! Romanian - This software combination includes an Audio CD, a CDrom and a book of stories. The shop also offers a few other interesting products to help you learn to speak Romanian.
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Find a Language Pal 

Learn to speak Romanian with help of a native speaker

Practicing Romanian with help of a native speaker has the advantage of allowing you to be dynamic. You can also more easily get access to slang and informal expressions that you usually don't find in any textbooks. Language exchange networks are the easiest way to find the right person for this purpose.

• Polyglot - This is a free language exchange community that enables you to find the right match for language exchanges. You can pick the right language learning partners according to location, age, gender, hobbies. You decide whether you'll meet up, email each other, use the phone or chat with your language pal.
• My Language Exchange - Another free language exchange platform where you can get connected with native speakers via email, text chat and voice chat.
• Shared Talk - This is a language exchange community with people from all over the world (over 600 native Romanian speakers). You can practice with your language pals through email or chat using the tools provided by the platform.
• Conversation Exchange - There are three possibilities to do your language exchange with natives through this platform: face to face, by e-mail and chatting.

Go to Language Forums 

Learn to speak Romanian with like-minded people

• Unilang - This is a huge forum dedicated to languages with a main language forum and numerous sub-forums, one of which is made exclusively for Romanian learners. Have a look as well at their substantial collection of free language resources.

Language Schools in Romania 

Going to a language school is my absolute favorite way of learning to speak a language. Here's why (and these are by far not all reasons):

1. You get lessons every day for as long as your course takes which makes the learning very efficient.
2. You are right there among people who speak the language all the time, which can be extremely helpful.
3. You usually meet people from all over the world who share the same interest as you.
4. You'll have a great time while exploring the country and the people there in a non-touristic way.

• Tasca Tours Language Trips - This small family business organizes private and group courses in Iasi. They offer accommodation with host families and help you find the best and most favorable way to get there.
• Bridge Language Study House - Offers Romanian language courses in several formats depending on your needs: individual, group or tandem.
• ABC Languages - This is a language school in Bucharest offering various kinds of Romanian language courses for foreigners. You can choose between accommodation in a hotel, guesthouse or apartment.
• Romanian Cultural Institute - The Romanian Cultural Institute organizes summer courses for all levels as well as culture and civilization courses in Brasov. A very comprehensive program is offered including sightseeing, accommodation, workshops.
• Echo - This Centre of Foreign Languages has its headquarters in Bucharest and teaches several languages. Romanian lessons are delivered on an individual basis or small in groups of 3-4 persons.

Take a Trip to Romania 

Learn and speak on the road...

Traveling to Romania can be very useful if you want to learn to speak Romanian. Due to the fact that a lot of natives do not speak English, you will find yourself in situations where you have to try to speak their language. This way you'll be "forced" into the opportunity to use the learned phrases.

• The Rough Guide to Romania 5 - Probably the best existing guide on Romania, containing information on all the best accommodation, transportation, restaurants, shops, bars and clubs. It catches all details on the history, literature, politics and cultural life. Highly recommended.
• Romanian Map - A very useful folded road and travel map with legend in five languages (including English). Scale 1:800,000.
• Romanian Casette With Phrase Book - From ordering food in a restaurant to asking for directions to the Dracula castle in Transylvania, this popular series teaches you the basic words and phrases easily and quickly. Practice the pronunciation and listening comprehension before you leave on your trip and take the book along as a useful travel assistant.
• Romania Hotels - This hotel finder service will provide you with discount accommodation in Romania for any budget. They offer a 100% low rate guarantee.
• Colloquial Romanian: A Complete Language Course - This book is an excellent self-study guide that teaches you the basic vocabulary and grammar. As the title says, the focus is on the real spoken, daily-life Romanian.

Read Bilingual Books & Stories 

Now, before you start laughing about what comes next, let me explain first. This is not a joke...

I've discovered that the best way to actively read in a new language - at least at the beginning - is with bilingual children stories.

And it's so much fun!

They usually come with nice pictures and show the English translation of the text right next to the Romanian one (typically on the same or opposite page).

I picked out some popular ones:

• The Bear and the Travelers - A story that is part of the big Aesop's fables collection teaching a lesson about friendship - read online for free.
• The Lion and the Mouse - Another Aesop fable with the moral that "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted" - read online for free.
• The Bear and the Travelers - This story is made of very basic sentences with simple syntax and is therefore particularly suitable for beginners - read online for free.
• Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves - The great well-known tale about the adventures of Ali Baba on 32 pages made with very nice illustrations.
• The Crow King - This is a folktale from Korea about man who wants to rescue his beautiful bride from the evil Crow King.
• Hansel and Gretel - Remake of the classic fairy tale originally written by the brothers Grimm.
  
  You can find more bilingual Romanian books if you follow this link -> Language Lizard and select "Language" -> "Romanian". One thing you should pay attention to: they have 4 level categories and I would recommend the last two - " Early Elementary & Novice-Mid Level Readers" and "Later Elementary & Mid-Level Readers".
  
  

Learn by Watching Romanian Movies 

• 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days - This movie was nominated for Golden Globe and had other 20 wins and 14 nominations. It's a story about two college friends who have to make the ultimate choice within 24 hours while trying to meet a black market doctor for an illegal abortion. Watch the trailer on YouTube.
• Children Underground - This astonishing and profoundly intimate drama won an Oscar, was nominated for the Academy Award - Best Documentary Feature in 2001 and had other four wins and two nominations .
• The Way I Spent the End of the World (2006) - The young girl Eva is expelled from her school and put in a reformatory establishment because she accidentally broke a bust of Ceausescu. There she meets Andrei with whom she decides to escape Romania. Her little brother Lalalilu is believes that Ceausescu is the main reason for Eva's decision to leave and so he makes a plan with his friends to kill the dictator.
• The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005) - A sad and at the same time funny film telling the story of an old man whom nobody really knows or cares about. One day the man gets ill and has to be treated by a team of concerned doctors who only worry because they have to and not because they really care.
• 12:08 East of Bucharest (2006) - A black comedy about three men who try to answer the question whether or not the revolution took place in their home town 16 years earlier.

Learn More About the People and Traditions 

• Romania.org - The most comprehensive web spot about Romania founded by a group of Romanians and Romania-fans who live all over the world. You can find almost every information related to Romania and tons of resources on this portal. The main website language is English.
• Romania - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette - A very informative book on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in Romania. You can learn about the basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues of the nationals.
• Taste of Romania: Its Cookery and Glimpses of Its History, Folklore, Art, Literature, and Poetry - A very well written and comprehensive book where more than 130 classic Romanian recipes are combined with traditional fables, humor, proverbs, poetry, and much more special and unique material.

Other Useful Links 

• Romanian Newspapers Online - This is a very long list of national and local Romanian newspapers covering every existing category. Some of them are in English or German. Have fun exploring.
• Romanian Online Radio and TV Channels - This is a large collection of Romanian TV programs and radio station links. Just click on the link in the last column to watch or listen online.
• Romanian Online Keyboard - While using this tool you can type a text with your keyboard and click on the special Romanian letters whenever you need them.
• Learning FlashCards English Romanian (LingvoSoft) - By using flash cards you can memorize effectively a number of words and phrases and still feel like you play a game. If you're not sure you'll like the game, you can download free trials for desktop, pocket and mobile.
• Learn to Speak Romanian - Amazon Store - You'll find most of the Products (Books, Software, Music, DVDs...) available on Amazon that are helping you learn to speak Romanian or that are somheow related to the country - all collected in one place and easy to find.
• How to Learn Any Language - This is an e-book that shares some of the most helpful techniques of learning a new language. It gives tips on how to find cheap and effective learning resources and how to even learn more languages at the same time.