Copiii învață dansul.

Because copiii means the children.

Here is the pattern:

• copil = child
• copii = children
• copiii = the children

Romanian often adds the definite article to the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like the. So the form looks unusual to English speakers, but it is completely normal in Romanian.

The ending -ul is the definite article, so:

• dans = dance
• dansul = the dance

In Romanian, the is usually attached to the noun rather than written as a separate word.

In Romanian, the 3rd person singular and 3rd person plural are sometimes identical. That is what happens with a învăța:

• eu învăț = I learn
• tu înveți = you learn
• el/ea învață = he/she learns
• noi învățăm = we learn
• voi învățați = you all learn
• ei/ele învață = they learn

So învață can mean both he/she learns and they learn. The subject tells you which one it is.

No. Romanian often leaves subject pronouns out when they are not needed.

So Copiii învață dansul is perfectly natural by itself. Adding ei would usually only be done for emphasis or contrast, something like The children, they are learning the dance.

Yes. Romanian present tense often covers both the English simple present and present progressive.

So Copiii învață dansul can mean:

• The children learn the dance
• The children are learning the dance

The exact meaning depends on context.

It can be either, depending on context.

Most directly, dansul means the dance, so it can refer to a specific dance. But Romanian also uses the definite form more often than English does, especially with subjects, arts, or general activities.

So in context, dansul may mean:

• a particular dance
• dance as a discipline or activity

This is one reason Romanian articles can feel different from English ones.

No, but it is the most neutral and beginner-friendly order.

Copiii învață dansul follows the basic subject + verb + object pattern:

• Copiii = subject
• învață = verb
• dansul = object

Romanian word order is more flexible than English word order, and other arrangements are possible for emphasis. But if you are learning the language, this standard order is the safest one to use first.

Roughly, it sounds like uhn-VA-tsuh, but that is only an approximation.

Two important letters here are:

• î = a sound English does not really have; it is a close central vowel
• ț = ts, like the end of cats

So învață is pronounced approximately /ɨnˈvat͡sə/.

The dictionary form is a învăța, which means to learn.

In dictionaries, Romanian verbs are normally listed with a + the infinitive:

• a învăța = to learn
• învață = learns / are learning

So when you look up the verb, search for a învăța, not învață.