Because umflătura is the definite form: the swelling.
In Romanian, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word like the in English.
So Umflătura este pe gingie literally starts with The swelling...
Here pe means on.
So:
This is the normal preposition for physical position on a surface or area.
A useful note for learners: pe can also have other uses in Romanian, especially as a marker before certain direct objects, but that is not what is happening here. In this sentence, it is simply the preposition on.
This is a very common learner question, because English would usually say on the gum.
Romanian does not always use articles in the same way English does. With body parts and location phrases, Romanian often uses the noun without the definite article when the meaning is already clear from context.
So pe gingie is a natural way to say on the gum in this kind of sentence.
Compare:
If you want to be more explicit, you can add a possessive or other detail, but the shorter pe gingie is perfectly normal.
Gingie is singular. It means gum.
Forms:
So this sentence refers to one gum area, not the gums in general.
If you wanted on the gums, you would normally use pe gingii.
Gingie is pronounced approximately like JEEN-jee-eh, but with Romanian sounds.
A few details:
So gingie is not pronounced like English ginger or gimpy. It has a clear Romanian j sound at the start.
A rough pronunciation guide is:
oom-fluh-TZU-ra ES-te pe JIN-jee-eh
More carefully:
A couple of pronunciation notes:
Yes, but Umflătura este pe gingie is the most neutral order.
Romanian word order is fairly flexible. You may also hear:
These versions shift the focus a little:
Not always. Umflătură can mean things like:
The best English translation depends on context. In a medical or dental sentence like this one, swelling is a very natural choice.
So learners should remember that it is a general word for a raised or swollen area.
Yes, but in everyday speech they might more often say something like:
Your sentence, Umflătura este pe gingie, is grammatically correct and clear, but it sounds a bit more like a statement describing the location of a swelling that has already been mentioned.