Smalțul este sensibil.

The tooth enamel is sensitive.

Breakdown of Smalțul este sensibil.

• a fi: to be
• smalțul: the tooth enamel
• sensibil: sensitive

Questions & Answers about Smalțul este sensibil.

Why is it smalțul and not just smalț?

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

• smalț = enamel
• smalțul = the enamel

Romanian usually puts the definite article after the noun, unlike English, which puts the before it.

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Why does Romanian use smalțul here if English might simply say enamel is sensitive?

Romanian often uses the definite form when speaking about something in a general or class-wide sense, especially in statements like this.

So Smalțul este sensibil can mean:

• The enamel is sensitive
• or more naturally in English, depending on context, Enamel is sensitive

This is one of those places where Romanian and English do not match word-for-word in article use.

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Why is there este in the sentence?

Este is the 3rd person singular of the verb a fi (to be), so it means is.

• smalțul = the enamel
• este = is
• sensibil = sensitive

Romanian normally keeps the verb to be in this kind of sentence, so you cannot simply leave it out.

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Can I say e instead of este?