Vorbesc cu domnul.

Vorbesc is the 1st person singular present tense of a vorbi (to speak / to talk).

So vorbesc means:

• I speak
• I am speaking
• sometimes I’m talking

Romanian present tense often covers both the simple present and the present continuous, so the exact English translation depends on context.

Romanian often leaves out the subject pronoun when it is clear from the verb ending.

In vorbesc, the ending -esc already tells you the subject is I.

So:

• Vorbesc cu domnul. = I speak / I am speaking with the gentleman.
• Eu vorbesc cu domnul. = also correct, but eu adds emphasis, like I’m the one speaking with him.

This is similar to other Romance languages such as Spanish or Italian.

Cu usually means with.

In this sentence, Vorbesc cu domnul, it means:

• I am speaking with the gentleman
• or naturally in English, I am speaking to the gentleman

Romanian uses cu where English may use either with or to, depending on how natural the translation is.

Domn means gentleman / sir / Mr. in a more basic or dictionary form.

Domnul is the definite form, meaning:

• the gentleman
• or, in some contexts, the sir / the man
• and sometimes it can function like Mr.

Romanian often adds the definite article to the end of the noun instead of putting a separate word like the before it.

So:

• domn = gentleman / a gentleman
• domnul = the gentleman

This attached ending -ul is the masculine singular definite article here.

Romanian has a postposed definite article, which means the is usually added to the end of the noun.

Examples:

• băiat = boy

• băiatul = the boy

• domn = gentleman / sir
• domnul = the gentleman / the sir

This is one of the features that makes Romanian different from English and also from many other Romance languages.

Because after cu, Romanian normally uses the accusative form, and for this noun the accusative looks like domnul.

Domnului is usually the dative/genitive form, used for meanings like:

• to the gentleman
• of the gentleman

So:

• cu domnul = with the gentleman
• domnului = to/of the gentleman

That is why Vorbesc cu domnul is correct here.

It can be both, depending on context.

Domnul can mean:

• the gentleman
• Mr.
• sir

For example:

• Vorbesc cu domnul. could mean I’m speaking with the gentleman.
• Vorbesc cu domnul Popescu. = I’m speaking with Mr. Popescu.

So domnul is also an important polite word in Romanian.

A simple pronunciation guide would be:

VOR-besk koo DOM-nul

A few notes:

• v sounds like English v
• o is a clear o, not a diphthong
• sc in vorbesc sounds like sk
• cu sounds like koo
• domnul is roughly DOM-nul

The stress is usually:

• VOR-besc
• DOM-nul

Yes. Romanian word order is fairly flexible, though some orders are more neutral than others.

The neutral sentence is:

• Vorbesc cu domnul.

You can also say:

• Eu vorbesc cu domnul. — adds emphasis to I
• Cu domnul vorbesc. — emphasizes with the gentleman
• Cu domnul eu vorbesc. — stronger contrast or emphasis

So the original sentence is the most straightforward, but other versions are possible depending on what you want to stress.

It sounds neutral to somewhat formal, mainly because of domnul.

Using domnul is polite and respectful. It is common in:

• formal conversation
• business situations
• speaking respectfully about a man
• using surnames, as in domnul Ionescu

So the sentence feels more polite than something casual like speaking about un tip (a guy).

Yes. In many contexts, a vorbi can be translated as both to speak and to talk.

So Vorbesc cu domnul could be understood as:

• I speak with the gentleman
• I’m talking with the gentleman
• I’m speaking to the gentleman

English chooses the most natural option based on context, but the Romanian verb itself covers that range quite naturally.