Candidatul răspunde recrutorului.

Because -ul is the definite article attached to the end of a masculine singular noun in Romanian.

• candidat = candidate
• candidatul = the candidate

Romanian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun, unlike English, which uses a separate word (the).

Because răspunde takes an indirect object in Romanian, and that indirect object is normally put in the dative case.

So:

• recrutorul = the recruiter (subject form / nominative)
• recrutorului = to the recruiter (dative form)

In English, we often show this with to:

• The candidate responds to the recruiter
• The candidate answers the recruiter

Romanian often shows that relationship through the noun ending instead of a separate preposition.

Because Romanian often expresses to someone through the dative ending, not with a separate word.

So recrutorului already means to the recruiter.

This is very common with verbs like:

• a da = to give
• a spune = to say / tell
• a răspunde = to answer / respond

Example:

• Îi spun profesorului. = I tell the teacher.
• Răspund recrutorului. = I answer the recruiter.

It can mean either, depending on context.

• a răspunde = to answer, to respond
• răspunde = answers / responds

In this sentence, both are possible translations in English:

• The candidate answers the recruiter
• The candidate responds to the recruiter

Romanian uses the same verb where English might choose either answer or respond.

It is the 3rd person singular present tense of a răspunde.

So:

• eu răspund = I answer
• tu răspunzi = you answer
• el/ea răspunde = he/she answers
• candidatul răspunde = the candidate answers

The subject candidatul is singular, so the verb is singular too.

The dictionary form is a răspunde, which means to answer / to respond.

In Romanian, verbs are usually listed with a + infinitive:

• a fi = to be
• a merge = to go
• a răspunde = to answer

So if you look this word up in a dictionary, you would search for a răspunde.

This is the most neutral word order, but Romanian is often more flexible than English because endings help show grammatical roles.

Possible variants include:

• Candidatul răspunde recrutorului. = neutral
• Recrutorului îi răspunde candidatul. = more emphasis on to the recruiter
• Îi răspunde recrutorului candidatul. = more marked, context-dependent

Even though word order can change, the original sentence is the most natural basic version for a learner.

Because Romanian can say this sentence without it:

• Candidatul răspunde recrutorului.

But Romanian also very often uses a clitic pronoun together with the noun:

• Candidatul îi răspunde recrutorului.

Here, îi means something like to him / to her, and it reinforces the indirect object.

Both are possible, but in many real contexts Romanian speakers often prefer the version with îi.

Yes, in this sentence both nouns are masculine singular.

• candidat → masculine noun
• recrutor → masculine noun

Their forms here are:

• candidatul = masculine singular definite, nominative
• recrutorului = masculine singular definite, dative

If the nouns were feminine, the endings would be different.

The subject is candidatul because it is in the nominative form and it agrees with the verb răspunde.

Also, the other noun, recrutorului, has the dative ending -ului, which shows it is the indirect object: to the recruiter.

So:

• candidatul = the one doing the action
• recrutorului = the one receiving the answer

A simple approximate pronunciation is:

kan-dee-DA-tul RUS-pun-de re-kroo-to-ROO-luy

A few helpful notes:

• ă is a short central vowel, somewhat like the a in sofa
• â / î is a special Romanian vowel with no exact English equivalent
• u is usually pronounced clearly, like oo
• răspunde has stress on the second syllable: răs-PUN-de
• recrutorului has stress near the end: recrutoRULui in careful speech

Yes. A răspunde can be used in two common patterns:

1. a răspunde cuiva = to answer someone

   • Candidatul răspunde recrutorului.

2. a răspunde la ceva = to answer / respond to something

   • Candidatul răspunde la întrebare. = The candidate answers the question.

So:

• cuiva = to someone → dative
• la ceva = to something → with la

That difference is very useful to learn early.