Forma se schimbă.

In this sentence, se is a reflexive marker, but here it is best understood as making the verb mean to change in the sense of to undergo change.

• a schimba = to change something
  
  • Schimb forma. = I change the form.
• a se schimba = to change, to become different
  • Forma se schimbă. = The form changes / is changing.

So se schimbă does not mean changes itself in a literal English sense. It is just the normal Romanian way to say that something changes.

Because forma is the definite form of the noun.

• formă = a form
• forma = the form

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

So:

• o formă = a form
• forma = the form

It is present tense, third person singular.

That means it can translate as:

• changes
• is changing

Romanian present tense often covers both the simple present and the present progressive, depending on context.

So Forma se schimbă can mean either:

• The form changes
• The form is changing

Because the subject forma is singular.

• forma = the form → singular
• therefore se schimbă = it changes / is changing

If the subject were plural, the verb form would change:

• Formele se schimbă. = The forms change / are changing.

Usually not if you mean The form changes.

Without se, a schimba is normally transitive, so it usually needs an object:

• Forma schimbă regulile. = The form changes the rules.

But if you want to say that the form itself undergoes change, Romanian normally uses:

• Forma se schimbă.

So in this sentence, se is necessary.

Not exactly.

Forma se schimbă usually means:

• The form changes
• The form is changing

That is different from a clear passive sentence such as:

• Forma este schimbată. = The form is changed / is being changed

So se schimbă is better understood here as a middle/reflexive-style construction, not the standard passive with este + past participle.

schimbă is pronounced approximately like SKEEM-buh, but not exactly.

A few helpful points:

• schi sounds roughly like ski
• mb is pronounced normally
• ă is the Romanian mid-central vowel, similar to the weak vowel sound in English sofa or about

So the last syllable is not ba like in Spanish or Italian. It is more like buh.

Yes, but Forma se schimbă is the most neutral order.

You may also see:

• Se schimbă forma.

This can sound a bit more like:

• The form is changing
• It is the form that is changing

The meaning is very similar, but the emphasis can shift depending on context. For a learner, Forma se schimbă is the safest neutral version.

Because Romanian often does not need a subject pronoun when the subject is already stated or understood.

Here, the subject is explicitly given:

• Forma = the form

So there is no need to add a separate word for it.

Romanian also often drops subject pronouns entirely when the verb ending already shows the person:

• Se schimbă. = It changes / It is changing
  if the context makes clear what it refers to.

The dictionary form is a se schimba.

That is the infinitive, meaning:

• to change
• to become different

Related forms:

• a schimba = to change something
• a se schimba = to change, to undergo change

So when learning vocabulary, it is useful to remember both versions, because the presence of se changes how the verb is used.