Romanian Personal Pronouns: Subject Forms Explained for English Speakers

Understanding Romanian Personal Pronouns: Subject Forms

Personal pronouns are essential in any language as they replace nouns and help avoid repetition. In Romanian, subject personal pronouns are used to indicate who is performing the action of the verb. This article will guide English speakers through the Romanian subject pronouns, their forms, and usage.

What Are Subject Personal Pronouns in Romanian?

Subject personal pronouns in Romanian correspond to the English pronouns I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. They are used as the subject of a sentence, meaning they perform the action of the verb. Unlike English, Romanian subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb conjugation usually indicates the subject, but they are used for emphasis or clarity.

List of Romanian Subject Personal Pronouns

• Eu – I
• Tu – You (singular, informal)
• El – He
• Ea – She
• Noi – We
• Voi – You (plural or formal)
• Ei – They (masculine or mixed group)
• Ele – They (feminine)

Pronunciation Tips for Romanian Subject Pronouns

Here are some pronunciation tips to help you say Romanian subject pronouns correctly:

• Eu: Pronounced as [e̯u], similar to the English 'you' but starting with an 'e' sound.
• Tu: Pronounced [tu], like the English word 'too'.
• El: Pronounced [el], similar to the English word 'L'.
• Ea: Pronounced [ja], like 'ya' in 'yard'.
• Noi: Pronounced [noj], rhymes with 'boy'.
• Voi: Pronounced [voj], rhymes with 'boy' but starts with a 'v' sound.
• Ei: Pronounced [ej], like 'ay' in 'say'.
• Ele: Pronounced [ˈele], with emphasis on the first syllable.

Usage Examples of Romanian Subject Pronouns

Let's look at some simple sentences using Romanian subject pronouns:

• Eu citesc o carte. – I am reading a book.
• Tu vorbești românește. – You speak Romanian.
• El merge la școală. – He goes to school.
• Ea este profesoară. – She is a teacher.
• Noi mergem la piață. – We are going to the market.
• Voi ascultați muzică. – You (plural) are listening to music.
• Ei joacă fotbal. – They (masculine) play football.
• Ele cântă la pian. – They (feminine) play the piano.

When to Use Romanian Subject Pronouns

Romanian verbs are conjugated to reflect the subject, so subject pronouns are often omitted in everyday speech. However, pronouns are used:

• To emphasize the subject: Eu merg la magazin. (I am going to the store.)
• To avoid ambiguity when verb forms are similar.
• In formal or written Romanian for clarity.