Tartrul apare pe măsea.

Because -ul is the Romanian definite article attached to the end of a masculine/neuter singular noun. So:

• tartru = tartar
• tartrul = the tartar

Romanian usually puts the at the end of the noun instead of before it.

Apare comes from the verb a apărea, meaning to appear, to show up, or to form/become visible depending on context.

Here, apare is:

• present tense
• 3rd person singular
• used for he/she/it appears

So Tartrul apare literally means The tartar appears.

Because the subject is tartrul, which is singular: the tartar.

The present tense goes like this:

• eu apar = I appear
• tu apari = you appear
• el/ea apare = he/she/it appears
• noi apărem = we appear
• voi apăreți = you all appear
• ei/ele apar = they appear

Since tartrul is a singular thing, Romanian uses apare.

Here pe means on.

So pe măsea means on the molar / on a molar.

This is a normal spatial use of pe. Romanian pe can also have other uses, but in this sentence it simply shows location.

Because măsea is more specific.

• dinte = tooth
• măsea = molar, back tooth

So the sentence is not just saying the tartar appears on any tooth, but specifically on a molar.

Măsea without the article is the indefinite form: a molar or sometimes a general tooth surface idea depending on context.

• pe măsea = on a molar / on the tooth
• pe măseaua = on the molar

Romanian often leaves a noun indefinite when speaking more generally. If you wanted to point to one specific molar, pe măseaua... would be more specific.

It can feel a bit flexible in English.

Because măsea is not marked as definite, the most literal reading is on a molar. But depending on context, English might naturally translate it as on the molar if a specific tooth is already understood.

That kind of definiteness is often decided by context when translating from Romanian.

Yes. Romanian word order is fairly flexible.

The neutral order here is:

• Tartrul apare pe măsea.

But you could also say:

• Pe măsea apare tartrul.

That version puts more focus on pe măsea. The original sentence is the most straightforward, neutral way to say it.

A simple guide:

• mă: the ă is a central vowel, something like a very reduced uh
• sea: sounds roughly like seh-a, with the vowels flowing together

So măsea is approximately muh-SEA-ah, but with Romanian sounds, not English ones.

The stress is on the second syllable: mă-SEA.

A rough English-style guide is:

TAR-trul a-PA-re pe muh-SEA

A few notes:

• r in Romanian is usually tapped or lightly rolled
• ă in măsea is not a normal English a
• e in pe is like eh

So the rhythm is:

TAR-trul a-PA-re pe mă-SEA.

It can do either, depending on context.

In Romanian, the present tense often covers both:

• a general truth or tendency: Tartar appears on the molar
• a current situation: The tartar is appearing on the molar

Without more context, this sentence most naturally sounds like a simple present statement of fact.