Prietenul rotește mecanismul.

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

• prieten = friend

• prietenul = the friend

• mecanism = mechanism
• mecanismul = the mechanism

So -ul here is the masculine/neuter singular definite article.

In this sentence, the normal Romanian word order tells you:

• Prietenul = the subject
• rotește = the verb
• mecanismul = the direct object

So the sentence follows the common subject–verb–object pattern:

Prietenul rotește mecanismul.
= The friend turns the mechanism.

Romanian does not always mark the direct object differently when it is inanimate, so word order and context are very important here.

Rotește is the 3rd person singular present tense form of the verb a roti.

That means it goes with:

• el rotește = he turns / he is turning
• ea rotește = she turns / she is turning

In your sentence, it matches prietenul, which is singular.

A few present-tense forms of a roti are:

• eu rotesc
• tu rotești
• el/ea rotește
• noi rotim
• voi rotiți
• ei/ele rotesc

It can mean either one, depending on context.

Romanian present tense often covers both:

• The friend turns the mechanism.
• The friend is turning the mechanism.

English makes a stronger distinction between simple present and present progressive. Romanian often does not.

Romanian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb ending already tells you the person and number, and here the noun prietenul already names the subject.

So Romanian naturally says:

• Prietenul rotește mecanismul.

It would be unnecessary to add a pronoun like el unless you want emphasis:

• El rotește mecanismul. = He is the one turning the mechanism.

Ș is pronounced like English sh in ship.

So rotește contains a sh sound:

• ro-teș-te

Very roughly, you can think of it as something like ro-TEH-shteh.

The comma-like mark under ș is important. Without it, the spelling is wrong in modern Romanian.

The verb here is a roti, which means to rotate, to turn, or to cause something to rotate.

It is related in meaning to other Romanian verbs, but not identical:

• a roti = to rotate / turn something, often in a mechanical or circular sense
• a învârti = to spin / whirl / twirl
• a întoarce = to turn, turn over, return, or turn back, depending on context

So a roti fits very naturally with mecanismul, because a mechanism is something that can be rotated or turned.

Yes, Romanian word order is somewhat flexible, but Prietenul rotește mecanismul is the most neutral and straightforward version.

This order is best for a learner because it is clear:

• subject first
• verb second
• object last

Other orders are possible for emphasis, but they are less basic and may require extra pronouns in natural Romanian. So for now, this sentence is the standard pattern to learn from.

Because mecanismul is an inanimate direct object.

In Romanian, pe is commonly used before specific animate direct objects, especially people:

• Văd prietenul is less standard in many contexts
• Îl văd pe prietenul meu = I see my friend

But with an inanimate object like mecanismul, you normally do not use pe:

• rotește mecanismul = correct

So this sentence has no pe because the mechanism is a thing, not a person.

• prietenul is masculine singular
• mecanismul is neuter singular

Romanian neuter nouns act like:

• masculine in the singular
• feminine in the plural

So in the singular, mecanismul takes the same definite ending pattern you often see with masculine nouns.

For example:

• un mecanism = a mechanism
• mecanismul = the mechanism
• două mecanisme = two mechanisms

Because prietenul means the friend, while un prieten means a friend.

So the sentence is specific:

• Prietenul rotește mecanismul. = The friend turns the mechanism.

If you wanted an indefinite subject, you would say:

• Un prieten rotește mecanismul. = A friend turns the mechanism.

This is an important Romanian difference: definiteness is built directly into the noun form.