Urcușul este abrupt.

The ascent is steep.

Breakdown of Urcușul este abrupt.

• a fi: to be
• urcușul: the ascent; uphill section
• abrupt: steep

Questions & Answers about Urcușul este abrupt.

Why does urcuș become urcușul here?

Romanian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun, not before it like English the.

• urcuș = ascent / climb / uphill stretch
• urcușul = the ascent / the climb

For a masculine or neuter noun in the singular, the definite article is often -ul:

• băiat → băiatul = the boy
• munte → muntele = the mountain
• urcuș → urcușul = the ascent

So Urcușul este abrupt literally has the built into urcușul.

What part of speech is urcușul?

Urcușul is a noun. It refers to an upward slope, climb, or ascent.

It comes from urcuș, which is a masculine/neuter noun. In this sentence, it is the subject:

• Urcușul = the ascent
• este abrupt = is steep

So the whole structure is very similar to English:

• The ascent is steep.

Why is este used? Can it be left out?