La rândul lui, Andrei folosește zarul.

It is an idiomatic expression meaning for his part, in his turn, or more naturally in context, then it’s Andrei’s turn.

Literally:

• la = at / to
• rândul = the turn
• lui = his / to him

So the whole phrase is not translated word-for-word in natural English. It functions as a set expression meaning that now it is Andrei’s turn to do something.

Here lui means his and refers to Andrei.

Romanian often uses this structure:

• la rândul meu = in my turn
• la rândul tău = in your turn
• la rândul lui/ei = in his/her turn
• la rândul nostru = in our turn

So lui is part of the pattern. It shows whose turn it is.

You may also see la rândul său, which means almost the same thing and is a bit more formal or neutral in style.

Because La rândul lui is an introductory phrase.

Romanian often sets off this kind of fronted expression with a comma, especially in writing. The comma helps separate:

• the introductory context: La rândul lui
• the main statement: Andrei folosește zarul

So the comma is natural and stylistically correct here.

Yes, Romanian often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the person:

• folosesc = I use
• folosești = you use
• folosește = he/she uses

But here Andrei is not a pronoun; it is the actual subject noun, and it is included to make clear who is acting.

If the context already made it obvious, Romanian could say:

• La rândul lui, folosește zarul.

That would mean In his turn, he uses the die, but it depends more on context.

Folosește is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb a folosi = to use.

So:

• eu folosesc = I use
• tu folosești = you use
• el/ea folosește = he/she uses

In this sentence, Andrei folosește means Andrei uses.

Because zarul is the definite form: the die.

Romanian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like English the.

So:

• zar = a die
• zarul = the die

That -ul is the definite article attached to the noun.

Zar means die, meaning one small cube used in games.

Forms:

• un zar = a die
• două zaruri = two dice
• zarul = the die
• zarurile = the dice

So in the sentence, zarul is singular.

A folosi means to use, so the sentence is saying that Andrei is using the die, not necessarily throwing it.

Depending on context, that may be perfectly correct, especially in a game explanation where someone uses a die as part of their turn.

If the meaning were specifically throws the die, Romanian would more likely use:

• aruncă zarul

So:

• folosește zarul = uses the die
• aruncă zarul = throws the die

Yes, Romanian word order is somewhat flexible.

The sentence:

• La rândul lui, Andrei folosește zarul.

could also appear as:

• Andrei folosește zarul la rândul lui.

That version can sound slightly different in emphasis. The original puts focus first on the idea that it is now his turn.

So the fronted phrase helps frame the action.

A simple English-friendly guide:

• La rândul lui ≈ la RIN-duhl loo-ee
• Andrei ≈ ahn-DRAY
• folosește ≈ fo-lo-SESH-te
• zarul ≈ ZA-rul

A few useful notes:

• â in rândul is a central vowel that does not exist exactly in English.
• ș sounds like sh in ship.
• ei in Andrei sounds like ay.

Yes, very common.

It is often used when listing actions done by different people one after another, especially in narration or explanations.

For example:

• Maria citește. La rândul ei, Andrei scrie. = Maria reads. In his turn / for his part, Andrei writes.

It is a useful phrase to recognize because it appears often in both spoken and written Romanian.