Stomatologul atinge măseaua.

Because Romanian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like the.

• stomatolog = dentist / a dentist
• stomatologul = the dentist

This attached ending is called the enclitic definite article. For a masculine singular noun like stomatolog, the definite form is often made with -ul.

So:

• un stomatolog = a dentist
• stomatologul = the dentist

For the same general reason: Romanian adds the definite article to the end of the noun.

• măsea = molar / a molar
• măseaua = the molar

With feminine nouns, the definite form often ends in -a, but the exact spelling can change depending on how the noun ends. In this case, the definite form is măseaua, and it is best learned as the normal definite singular form of măsea.

Atinge is the 3rd person singular present form of the verb a atinge = to touch.

So it matches a singular subject such as:

• el atinge = he touches
• ea atinge = she touches
• stomatologul atinge = the dentist touches

In the sentence, atinge means touches.

Romanian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed, because the verb form already gives information about the subject.

Here, atinge is a singular he/she/it form, and the noun stomatologul already tells us who is doing the action. So there is no need to add el.

Romanian prefers:

• Stomatologul atinge măseaua.

rather than:

• El atinge măseaua.
  if the subject is already clearly stated.

This is the most neutral Romanian word order here: subject + verb + object.

• Stomatologul = subject
• atinge = verb
• măseaua = direct object

This is very similar to normal English word order, so the sentence feels straightforward.

Romanian word order can be changed for emphasis, but this version is the most basic and natural one.

Yes. It is the direct object of the verb atinge, so functionally it is in the accusative.

In Romanian, though, for many nouns the nominative and accusative forms look the same. So although măseaua is the direct object, its form does not change in any obvious extra way here.

That means:

• măseaua is definite
• it functions as the object of atinge
• but it looks the same as the nominative/accusative definite singular form

Because pe is not normally used before an ordinary inanimate direct object like măseaua.

Romanian often uses pe before specific human direct objects, and sometimes in other special situations, but not usually before things such as a tooth or molar.

So:

• Stomatologul atinge măseaua. = normal
• pe măseaua would sound wrong here

Dinte means tooth in general.

Măsea means molar, so it is more specific.

So if the sentence uses măseaua, it is talking specifically about a molar, not just any tooth.

Compare:

• dinte = tooth
• măsea = molar

Romanian commonly uses stomatolog for dentist, especially in formal or standard language.

You may also hear other expressions in real life, but stomatolog is a normal and correct Romanian word.

So for a learner, it is a useful standard word to know.

• stomatolog is masculine
• măsea is feminine

You can see this in their definite forms:

• masculine singular definite: stomatologul
• feminine singular definite: măseaua

Gender matters in Romanian because it affects articles, adjectives, and sometimes other parts of the sentence.

The letter ă is a very common Romanian vowel. It is pronounced like a short, relaxed central vowel, somewhat similar to the a in English sofa.

So:

• măsea starts with that relaxed ă sound
• stomatologul also contains ă in the first syllable

An English speaker should avoid pronouncing ă like a strong a in cat or father. It is weaker and more neutral.

A useful approximation is a-TEEN-jeh, with the stress on the second syllable.

A few helpful points:

• ti here does not sound like English tie
• ge before e sounds like the j in judge
• so atinge sounds roughly like a-TEEN-jeh

This is only an approximation, but it helps English speakers get close.

Yes, depending on context.

Romanian simple present can often correspond to English:

• touches
• is touching

So Stomatologul atinge măseaua could describe:

• a habitual action, or
• something happening right now

Context usually tells you which meaning is intended.

Yes.

If you want the sentence to mean a dentist touches a molar, you would typically use:

• Un stomatolog atinge o măsea.

Compare:

• Stomatologul atinge măseaua. = the dentist touches the molar
• Un stomatolog atinge o măsea. = a dentist touches a molar

This is a very useful contrast for learning Romanian articles.

The dictionary form is a atinge = to touch.

Romanian verbs are usually listed with a plus the infinitive:

• a atinge = to touch
• atinge = he/she/it touches

So if you want to look the verb up, search for a atinge, not just atinge.