La primire, jucătorul lovește mingea cu lama.

Literally, la primire means at the receiving or on reception, but in a sports context it usually means when receiving, on the receive, or when returning the ball/serve.

primire is a noun from a primi = to receive.

Romanian often uses la + noun to express a situation, stage, or moment, not just a physical location.

So la primire means something like:

• during the receiving phase
• when receiving
• on the return

This is similar to other expressions like:

• la început = at the beginning
• la final = at the end

Because La primire is an introductory phrase. The comma separates that opening context from the main part of the sentence:

• La primire, = setting the scene
• jucătorul lovește mingea cu lama. = main statement

In Romanian, a comma after a short introductory phrase is very common, although with very short openers it can sometimes be omitted.

Because jucătorul means the player.

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

• jucător = player
• jucătorul = the player

This attached article is one of the biggest differences from English.

lovește is the 3rd person singular present form of a lovi, which means to hit or to strike.

So:

• a lovi = to hit
• el/ea lovește = he/she hits
• jucătorul lovește = the player hits

In sports explanations, Romanian often uses the present tense for general descriptions or instructions, just like English can say the player hits the ball...

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

• minge = ball
• mingea = the ball

Again, Romanian adds the definite article to the end of the noun.

Because mingea is an inanimate direct object.

Romanian often uses pe with specific human or animate direct objects, especially people. For example:

• Văd profesorul can become Îl văd pe profesor in common usage.

But with things like the ball, Romanian normally does not use pe.

So lovește mingea is correct.

cu means with, and lama means the blade.

So cu lama means with the blade.

In a sports context, lamă can refer to the blade or striking surface of a racket, paddle, or similar piece of equipment, depending on the sport.

Because lamă is the indefinite form, and lama is the definite form.

• lamă = a blade
• lama = the blade

For many feminine nouns, the definite article appears as -a added to the noun. So the final ă changes when the definite form is made.

No, Romanian word order is fairly flexible.

The given sentence starts with La primire to emphasize the situation first. That is very natural in explanations and instructions.

The original version sounds organized like this:

1. context: La primire
2. subject: jucătorul
3. verb: lovește
4. object: mingea
5. instrument: cu lama

Other orders may be possible, but this one is clear and natural.

A rough English-style pronunciation is:

la pri-MEE-re, zhoo-kuh-TO-rul lo-VEH-shte MEEN-jya koo LA-ma

A few useful sound notes:

• j in jucătorul sounds like the s in measure
• ă sounds like the a in sofa
• ș in lovește sounds like sh
• g before e in mingea sounds like j in judge