Mingea atinge fileul.

Because mingea means the ball, while minge means a ball or just ball.

Romanian usually adds the definite article to the end of the noun instead of putting a separate word like the in front.

• minge = ball
• mingea = the ball

So Mingea atinge fileul is literally The-ball touches the-net.

For the same reason: fileul is the definite form, meaning the net.

• fileu = a net / net
• fileul = the net

The noun fileu is neuter, and in the singular definite form it becomes fileul.

So the sentence is talking about a specific net, not just any net.

Atinge is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb a atinge, which means to touch, to reach, or sometimes to make contact with, depending on context.

Here it means touches:

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

Since mingea is singular, the verb is also singular:

• mingea atinge = the ball touches

Because Romanian usually uses a postposed definite article. That means the article is attached to the end of the noun.

Compare:

• English: the ball

• Romanian: mingea

• English: the net
• Romanian: fileul

This is one of the big differences between Romanian and English grammar.

In this sentence:

• Mingea = the subject
• atinge = the verb
• fileul = the direct object

So:

• The ball = does the action
• touches = the action
• the net = receives the action

Romanian often uses the same basic order as English here: Subject + Verb + Object.

Because a atinge normally takes a direct object in Romanian, just like to touch in English.

So you say:

• atinge fileul = touches the net

You do not need a preposition like to or on here.

The most neutral word order is:

• Mingea atinge fileul.

That is the standard Subject + Verb + Object pattern.

Romanian word order is more flexible than English, so other orders are possible for emphasis, but this version is the most natural and straightforward for a learner.

For example, changing the order could emphasize a different part of the sentence, but in ordinary usage, Mingea atinge fileul is the safest form to use.

A rough English-friendly pronunciation is:

MEEN-ja ah-TEEN-jee fee-LEH-ool

A few notes:

• mingea: the ge sounds like the j in job
• atinge: the final ge also has that j sound
• fileul: the eu sequence may feel unusual; say it smoothly, roughly fee-LEH-ool

Romanian pronunciation is usually more consistent than English spelling, so once you learn the sound rules, it gets easier.

Romanian can also use indefinite nouns, but this sentence uses definite ones because it refers to specific things in context:

• mingea = the ball
• fileul = the net

If you wanted a more indefinite meaning, you could say:

• O minge atinge fileul. = A ball touches the net.

So the original sentence is more like describing a specific ball and a specific net, perhaps in a sports situation.

Yes, it matters in Romanian.

• minge is feminine
• fileu is neuter

This affects how the definite article is added:

• feminine singular: minge → mingea
• neuter singular: fileu → fileul

Romanian neuter nouns behave like masculine in the singular and feminine in the plural, so learning the gender of each noun is important.

Yes. A atinge can also mean to reach, to attain, or to affect, depending on context.

For example, it can mean:

• to touch physically
• to reach a level or number
• to touch emotionally

But in Mingea atinge fileul, the physical meaning touches is clearly the right one.