Spatele scaunului este stricat.

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.

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.

Romanian often expresses of with a genitive form instead of using a separate word.

So:

• scaun = chair
• scaunului = of the chair

In this sentence, scaunului is in the genitive, showing possession:

• spatele scaunului = the back of the chair

So English uses a separate word, of, but Romanian often uses a noun ending instead.

Because the phrase means the back of the chair, not just a back of a chair.

Romanian commonly makes both parts definite in this kind of expression when both are specific:

• spatele = the back
• scaunului = of the chair

Compare:

• spatele scaunului = the back of the chair
• spatele unui scaun = the back of a chair

So if the chair is not specific, Romanian uses unui scaun instead.

Because stricat agrees with spatele, which is a singular neuter noun.

In Romanian, neuter nouns behave:

• like masculine in the singular
• like feminine in the plural

So in the singular:

• un scaun stricat
• spatele este stricat

That is why the adjective is stricat.

If it were plural, the adjective would change:

• scaune stricate = broken chairs

Not always. Stricat is a very common word with a broad meaning. It can mean:

• broken
• damaged
• out of order
• spoiled (for food)

In this sentence, it most naturally means broken or damaged.

Examples:

• Telefonul este stricat. = The phone is broken.
• Laptele este stricat. = The milk is spoiled.

So the exact English translation depends on context.

Yes. Este and e both mean is.

• este is the full form
• e is the shorter, very common form

So these both work:

• Spatele scaunului este stricat.
• Spatele scaunului e stricat.

The meaning is the same. The shorter form is very common in everyday speech.

It is understandable and correct, but in many situations a Romanian speaker might prefer spătarul scaunului if they specifically mean the backrest of the chair.

So:

• spatele scaunului = literally the back of the chair
• spătarul scaunului = the chair back / backrest

Your sentence is fine, but spătarul scaunului is often more precise for furniture.

A little, yes, but Spatele scaunului este stricat is the normal, neutral order.

Romanian usually keeps:

• subject
  • este/e
    • adjective

So this sentence sounds natural and standard.

You may hear variations for emphasis, but for a learner, the best pattern to remember is:

Spatele scaunului este stricat.

A simple approximate pronunciation is:

SPA-te-le ska-U-nu-luy YES-te stri-KAT

A few helpful notes:

• sc before a sounds like sk
• ă is a short central vowel, like a relaxed uh
• ui in -ului is pronounced together, roughly like ooy/luy depending on accent
• c in stricat sounds like k

If you say it slowly as Spa-te-le scau-nu-lui es-te stri-cat, you will be very close.