Greetings and Meeting People in Romanian
When visiting a new country, one of the first things you’ll want to know is how to greet people in their language. In Romanian, greetings vary depending on the time of day:
☀️ Bună dimineața (boo-nuh dee-mee-NEH-tsa) – “Good morning” (bună = good, dimineața = morning). Note: the “ț” is pronounced like ts in “cats.”
🌤️ Bună ziua (boo-nuh ZEE-wah) – “Good day” (used from around 11 AM onwards).
🌙 Bună seara (boo-nuh SEH-rah) – “Good evening.”
🌤️ Bună ziua (boo-nuh ZEE-wah) – “Good day” (used from around 11 AM onwards).
🌙 Bună seara (boo-nuh SEH-rah) – “Good evening.”
For a more casual “Hello” or “Hey,” you can use: Salut! (sah-LOOT)
And when it’s bedtime: Noapte bună! (NOAH-pteh boo-nuh) – “Good night.”
Try these:
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How do you greet a shop assistant at 9 AM? → Bună dimineața!
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What about a taxi driver at 2 PM? → Bună ziua!
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And a Romanian friend? → Salut!
Saying goodbye is just as simple:
👋 La revedere! (formal, “Goodbye”)
👋 Pa! (informal, “Bye”)
👋 La revedere! (formal, “Goodbye”)
👋 Pa! (informal, “Bye”)
Introducing Yourself in Romanian
There are a few easy ways:
Sunt… (soont) – “I am…” (e.g., Sunt Paula.)
Numele meu este… – “My name is…” (Numele meu este Albert.)
Mă numesc… or Mă cheamă… (muh noo-MESK / muh KYAH-muh) – Both mean “I am called.” (e.g., Mă numesc Paula. / Mă cheamă Albert.)
Sunt… (soont) – “I am…” (e.g., Sunt Paula.)
Numele meu este… – “My name is…” (Numele meu este Albert.)
Mă numesc… or Mă cheamă… (muh noo-MESK / muh KYAH-muh) – Both mean “I am called.” (e.g., Mă numesc Paula. / Mă cheamă Albert.)
Negation:
Nu sunt… – “I am not.”
(e.g., Nu sunt din România. – “I am not from Romania.”)
Sunt din… – “I am from…”
(e.g., Sunt din Italia.)
Nu sunt… – “I am not.”
(e.g., Nu sunt din România. – “I am not from Romania.”)
Sunt din… – “I am from…”
(e.g., Sunt din Italia.)
To say “Nice to meet you”:
😊 Mă bucur! (muh BOO-koor) – Literally: “I am glad.”
😊 Mă bucur! (muh BOO-koor) – Literally: “I am glad.”
Learn more about Romanian here: Britannica – Romanian Language
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