Aplauzele încep.

Because Romanian often uses aplauze as a plural noun for what English calls applause or clapping.

So:

• aplauze = applause / claps
• aplauzele = the applause

Literally, it may look like the applauses, but the natural English translation is usually just the applause.

-le is the definite article attached to the end of the noun.

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

So:

• aplauze = applause / claps
• aplauzele = the applause

This is a very common Romanian pattern.

The basic form is:

• singular: aplauz
• plural: aplauze

So aplauzele is the definite plural form of aplauze.

You may also see:

• un aplauz = an applause burst / a clap of applause
• aplauze = applause
• aplauzele = the applause

Because the subject aplauzele is grammatically plural.

The verb comes from a începe = to begin / to start.

In the present tense:

• începe = he/she/it begins
• încep = they begin

Since aplauzele is plural, Romanian uses încep.

So:

• Aplauzele încep. = The applause begins.
• Spectacolul începe. = The show begins.

Yes. Încep can mean either:

• I begin
• they begin

Romanian often has the same form for I and they in some verbs.

Context tells you which meaning is intended. In this sentence, there is no confusion because the subject aplauzele is clearly stated, so încep must mean begin with a plural subject.

Because Romanian often uses the definite form when the situation is already clear from context.

Here, aplauzele suggests a specific, identifiable applause event: the applause that now starts in the scene.

Using aplauze without the article is possible in some contexts, but aplauzele încep sounds more natural for the applause begins.

So the definite form helps make it sound like a concrete event happening now.

Yes. Romanian word order is fairly flexible.

Both are possible:

• Aplauzele încep.
• Încep aplauzele.

The difference is mostly about focus or style:

• Aplauzele încep = neutral, subject first
• Încep aplauzele = slightly more emphasis on the action beginning

Both are natural Romanian.

Roughly, încep sounds like uhn-chep, but that is only an approximation.

A few useful points:

• î is a Romanian vowel that does not have an exact English equivalent
• ce is pronounced like che in check
• so încep is approximately uhn-CHEP

The whole sentence is roughly:

ah-PLAU-ze-le uhn-CHEP

Again, that is only a guide for an English speaker, not an exact pronunciation.