Spatele scaunului este stricat.

to be

Breakdown of Spatele scaunului este stricat.

• scaunul: the chair
• stricat: broken
• spatele: the back

Questions & Answers about Spatele scaunului este stricat.

What does each word in Spatele scaunului este stricat mean?

Word by word:

• spatele = the back
• scaunului = of the chair
• este = is
• stricat = broken, damaged, or not working properly, depending on context

So the structure is literally:

the-back of-the-chair is broken

Natural English: The back of the chair is broken.

Why is it spatele and not just spate?

Because spate is the basic form of the noun, meaning back.

Romanian usually adds the definite article to the end of the noun instead of putting a separate word like the in front.

So:

• spate = back
• spatele = the back

This is one of the biggest differences from English. Romanian says spatele, where English says the back.

Why is it scaunului? Where did of go?