Capitalization Rules in Romanian for English Speakers
Understanding Capitalization in Romanian
Capitalization in Romanian follows specific rules that differ in some ways from English. Knowing when to use capital letters is essential for writing correctly and respectfully in Romanian.
Capitalizing the First Word of a Sentence
Just like in English, the first word of every sentence in Romanian is capitalized. This rule is straightforward and applies universally.
Capitalization of Proper Nouns
Proper nouns, such as names of people, places, and organizations, are capitalized in Romanian. For example, Maria, București, and Universitatea București all start with capital letters.
Days of the Week and Months
Unlike English, Romanian does not capitalize the names of days of the week or months of the year unless they begin a sentence. For example, luni (Monday) and ianuarie (January) are written in lowercase.
Languages and Nationalities
In Romanian, names of languages and nationalities are not capitalized unless they start a sentence. For example, română (Romanian language) and american (American) are lowercase.
Titles and Headings
In titles and headings, only the first word and any proper nouns are capitalized. This differs from English title case. For example, Istoria României (The History of Romania) capitalizes only the first word and the proper noun.
Religious Terms and Holidays
Names of religions and religious holidays are capitalized in Romanian. For example, Creștinism (Christianity) and Paște (Easter) are capitalized.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviations and acronyms are usually written in uppercase letters, similar to English. For example, ONU (United Nations) and UE (European Union).
Summary of Key Capitalization Differences
- Days of the week and months are lowercase unless at the start of a sentence.
- Languages and nationalities are lowercase unless at the start of a sentence.
- Religious terms and holidays are capitalized.
- Titles capitalize only the first word and proper nouns.
Further Reading
- Romanian Alphabet - Wikipedia
An overview of the Romanian alphabet and its unique characters.
- Romanian Capitalization Rules
Detailed guide on capitalization rules in Romanian language.
- Romanian Capitalization Guide
Tips and examples for using capital letters correctly in Romanian.