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)
The definite article is "le" for masculine nouns that end in "e".
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 |