Secretul este ascuns.

to be

Breakdown of Secretul este ascuns.

• secretul: the secret
• ascuns: hidden

Questions & Answers about Secretul este ascuns.

Why is it secretul and not just secret?

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

• secret = a secret
• secretul = the secret

Romanian usually puts the at the end of the noun, unlike English, where it comes before the noun.

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What does este mean here?

Este means is. It is the 3rd person singular form of the verb a fi (to be).

So:

• eu sunt = I am
• tu ești = you are
• el/ea este = he/she/it is

In this sentence, este links the subject secretul with ascuns.

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Can este be left out?

Usually, in standard Romanian, no. In a full sentence like this, este is normally expressed:

• Secretul este ascuns. = correct

In casual speech, people may sometimes shorten or simplify things in certain contexts, but learners should keep este.

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