10 essential Romanian phrases for beginners

Since we have already gone through the Romanian alphabet, it’s natural to move on to some essential phrases. Instead of overwhelming you with too many at once, we’ll start with ten of the most important ones. Learning a language step by step is the best way to progress efficiently.

Basic Romanian greetings and polite expressions

1. Bună! – Hi!
2. Bună dimineața! – Good morning!
3. Bună ziua! – Good day!
4. Bună seara! – Good evening!
5. Noapte bună! – Good night!
6. Pa! – Bye!
7. La revedere! – Goodbye!
8. Vă rog – Please (formal)
9. Te rog – Please (informal)
10. Mulțumesc – Thank you

This short, simple list is a great starting point for learning Romanian. At the beginning, you don’t need to memorize a lot of vocabulary. Instead, focus on practicing these phrases to understand how they sound, how they are used, and when to choose between formal and informal versions.

Understanding the phrases

• "Bună" also means "good" or "fine." If someone asks, "Cum ți-a fost ziua?" (How was your day?), you can reply "Bună" (Good). The word also serves as an adjective, meaning "good" or "fine". Also, in certain contexts, bună can also mean "tasty," as in "Am mâncat o prăjitură bună ieri" (I ate a tasty cake yesterday). But keep in mind that adjectives in Romanian have to agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they accompany. For example, bun is the masculine form, and bună is the feminine. Keep this in mind for future grammar lessons;
• "Bună dimineața!" combines bună (good) with dimineața (morning), forming "Good morning." It is used until noon and is the formal way to greet someone in public places like train stations, airports, stores, etc.;
• "Bună ziua!" means "Good afternoon!" and is used from noon until around 6 PM. The word ziua comes from zi (day) and is in its articulated form;
• "Bună seara!" translates to "Good evening" and is used after 6 PM;
• "Noapte bună!" of course, doesn't need any explanation.
• "Pa" is an informal farewell, similar to "Bye!" It doesn’t have a literal meaning in Romanian and is mostly used in casual conversations. You can use it like this, or say it twice, like "pa-pa." Although it is considered more childish, it is frequently used by adults as well in informal contexts. As for the etymology, the Romanian Explanatory Dictionary suggests that it may have originated from German or Hungarian.
• "La revedere!" translates to "Until we meet again" or "Until we see each other again." It comes from the verb a revedea (to see again).
• "Vă rog" is the polite way to say "please" when speaking formally, such as with strangers, elders, your superiors, etc.
• "Te rog" is the informal equivalent, used with friends or family, people you know and you're close to, or of the same age as you;
• "Mulțumesc" is a neutral way to say "thank you" and works in any situation, whether you are speaking to acquaintances, strangers, or authority figures.

Practice exercises

Now that you've learned these essential phrases, try applying them in different scenarios. Write your answers in the comments below, and I’ll check them for you.

Find the right phrase for each situation:

1. You meet a friend at a café. How do you greet them?
2. You go downstairs in the morning and see your mother cooking. What do you say to her first?
3. It’s past 2 PM, and your teacher walks past you in the hallway. How do you greet her respectfully?
4. In the evening, after classes, you enter a pharmacy to get some headache medication. What do you say before asking the pharmacist for help?
5. You’re getting ready for bed. What do you wish your partner?
6. You finish a conversation with a university friend. How do you say goodbye?
7. You need the exam subject from a classmate. How do you politely ask for it?
8. A kind gentleman lets you go ahead in line. How do you thank him?

What did you think about it? Easy, right? Don't be afraid to use these expressions as often as possible!