Frica este puternică.

Fear is strong.

Breakdown of Frica este puternică.

• a fi: to be
• puternic: strong
• frica: fear

Questions & Answers about Frica este puternică.

Why is it frica and not frică?

Because -a at the end is the definite article attached to the noun.

• frică = fear / a fear
• frica = the fear

Romanian usually puts the at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word before it.

So:

• frică = indefinite
• frica = definite

In a sentence like Frica este puternică, Romanian often uses the definite form for general statements about abstract ideas, much like English can say Fear is powerful.

Why doesn’t Romanian use a separate word for the?

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

Examples:

• băiat = boy

• băiatul = the boy

• frică = fear
• frica = the fear

This is a normal feature of Romanian grammar and is one of the things that makes it different from English.

What does este mean here?