Definite and indefinite article in Romanian

Definite article

The definite article in Romanian is attached to the end of a word.

Definite article in the singular

For a masculine noun ending in a consonant, the definite article is "l". This letter is attached to the end of the noun and it is preceded by the vowel "u".

Play: article

Băiatul = băiat + u + l (engl. the boy)

Studentul = student + u + l (engl. the boy)

Bărbatul = bărbat + u + l (engl. the man)

Fratele = frate + le (engl. the brother)

Câinele = câine + le (engl. the dog)

For a feminine word, the definite article is "a".

If the last letter of the feminine word is "ă", "ă" becomes "a" (fată → fata)

Fata = fată + a (engl. the girl, fr. la fille)

If the last letter of the feminine word is "e" and "e" is preceded by a consonant, the definite article "a" is added to the end of the word:

Cartea = carte + a (engl. the book)

Dragostea = dragoste + a (engl. the love)

If the last letter of the feminine word is "e" and "e" is preceded by a vowel, the last vowel "e" becomes "a":

Femeia = femeie + a (engl. the women)

Lămâia = lămâie + a (engl. the lemon)

For some words ending in "ea" or "a" the definite article "a" is preceded by the vowel "u":

Cafeaua = cafea + u + a (engl. the coffee)

Canapeaua = canapea + u + a (engl. coffee shop)

For a neuter noun, the definite article has the same forms and obeys the same rules and restrictions as for masculine word:

-l (preceded by "u" if the nouns ends in a consonant)

-le (if the noun ends in "e").

Telefonul = telefon + u + l (engl. the phone)

Obiectul = obiect + u + l (engl. the object)

Spatele = spate + le (engl. the back)

Definite article in the plural

For a masculine noun, the definite article is "i", which is added to the end of the word and is preceded by the plural ending.

Băieții = băieți + i (engl. the boys)

Frații = frați + i (engl. the brothers)

For a feminine word, the definite article "le" is added to the end of the word, after the plural ending.

Fetele = fete + le (engl. the girls)

Mamele = mame + le (engl. the mothers)

The definite article for a neuter word is the same as for a feminine word - "le". The article is attached to the plural ending.

Obiectele = obiecte + le (engl. the objects,)

Computerele = computere + le (engl. the computers)

Indefinite article in the singular

The indefinite article is attached in front of the noun. For a masculine and a neuter noun the article is "un" and for a feminine word the article is "o".

un băiat (engl. a boy)

o fată (engl. a girl)

un loc (engl. a place)

Indefinite article in the plural

The indefinite article in the plural is the same for all the genders - "niște" and it is placed in front of the noun. The noun has to be in the plural form.

niște băieți (engl. some boys)

niște fete (engl. some girls)

niște obiecte (engl. some objects)

Mona Moldoveanu Pologea, Ph.D. Linguist

ROLANG School Managing Director