Recunoaștem problema.

Recunoaștem is the 1st person plural, present tense form of a recunoaște.

So it means we recognize.

A quick pattern:

• eu recunosc = I recognize
• tu recunoști = you recognize
• el/ea recunoaște = he/she recognizes
• noi recunoaștem = we recognize
• voi recunoașteți = you all recognize
• ei/ele recunosc = they recognize

Romanian often drops subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb ending.

Because recunoaștem already means we recognize, you do not need to say noi.

So:

• Recunoaștem problema. = We recognize the problem.
• Noi recunoaștem problema. = also correct, but noi adds emphasis, like we recognize the problem.

Because problema means the problem, while problemă means a problem or just problem as a dictionary form.

Romanian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun, not as a separate word before it.

So:

• problemă = a problem
• problema = the problem

This is one of the most important differences from English.

The -a is the definite article attached to a feminine singular noun.

For problemă, the pattern is:

• o problemă = a problem
• problema = the problem

So the sentence uses the definite form, not the indefinite one.

A simple pronunciation guide:

• Recunoaștem ≈ reh-koo-no-AHSH-tem
• problema ≈ pro-BLE-ma

A few helpful points:

• ș is pronounced like sh in shoe
• the oa in recunoaștem is pronounced together, like wa/oah
• stress falls roughly on:
  • recunoaȘTEM
  • proBLEma

It can mean several related things, depending on context:

• to recognize
• to acknowledge
• to admit
• sometimes to identify

So Recunoaștem problema could mean:

• We recognize the problem
• We acknowledge the problem
• even We admit there is a problem, depending on context

Yes. It is in the present indicative.

Literally, it is We recognize the problem.

But just like in English, the present tense can sometimes be used in broader ways depending on context. For example, it might mean:

• we recognize it in general
• we are recognizing it now
• we acknowledge it as a current fact

The basic grammar, though, is simply present tense.

This word order is the most neutral and natural one: verb + object.

• Recunoaștem problema. = neutral
• Noi recunoaștem problema. = emphasizes we
• Problema o recunoaștem. = emphasizes the problem

Romanian word order is more flexible than English, but the basic sentence here is the standard one.

Because Romanian usually uses a suffix for the definite article instead of a separate word.

Compare:

• English: the problem
• Romanian: problema

So in Romanian, the is often built into the noun itself.

No. Problema is a direct object, and here it does not need pe.

The marker pe is mainly used with certain direct objects, especially:

• people
• specific animate beings
• some pronouns

Since problema is an inanimate noun, the normal form is simply:

• Recunoaștem problema.

not Recunoaștem pe problema.

Yes.

The basic sentence Recunoaștem problema. is natural and neutral.

Some variations:

• Noi recunoaștem problema. = more emphatic on we
• Recunoaștem această problemă. = We recognize this problem
• Recunoaștem că există o problemă. = We acknowledge that there is a problem

So the original sentence is short, clear, and completely normal, but Romanian lets you adjust emphasis easily.