Prietenul este aici azi.

In Romanian, the definite article is usually added to the end of the noun.

• prieten = friend
• prietenul = the friend

This is one of the first big differences from English. Instead of a separate word like the, Romanian often uses an ending:

• băiat = boy
• băiatul = the boy
• om = person/man
• omul = the person / the man

So prietenul literally means friend-the.

The definite article ending depends on the noun’s gender and form.

Prieten is a masculine singular noun, so its definite form is:

• prieten → prietenul

This -ul ending is very common for masculine singular nouns in the nominative/accusative:

• elev → elevul
• profesor → profesorul

Not every noun behaves identically, but -ul is the normal pattern here.

Este means is. It is the 3rd person singular form of the verb a fi (to be).

So:

• este = is

In this sentence:

• Prietenul este aici azi.
• The friend is here today.

In everyday Romanian, native speakers often drop este in casual speech if the meaning is still clear:

• Prietenul e aici azi.

This is extremely common.
So both are correct:

• este = more full/formal/neutral
• e = shorter, very common in speech

Romanian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed. The verb form usually gives enough information, or the noun itself is already the subject.

Here, prietenul is the subject:

• Prietenul = the friend
• este = is

So there is no need to add el (he).
In fact, adding el here would usually sound unnecessary unless you want emphasis:

• El este aici azi. = He is here today.
• Prietenul este aici azi. = The friend is here today.

It can mean either, depending on context.

• prieten can mean friend
• It can also mean boyfriend in the right context

So prietenul could mean:

• the friend
• the boyfriend

Usually the situation makes it clear. If someone is talking about relationships, prietenul may very naturally mean boyfriend.

Yes, Romanian word order is fairly flexible, and both can work.

The original sentence:

• Prietenul este aici azi.

puts aici (here) before azi (today), which sounds natural and neutral.

You can also say:

• Prietenul este azi aici.

This may put a little more focus on today.

Romanian often changes word order for emphasis, rhythm, or style more freely than English. The most neutral order is often the one you were given, but alternatives are possible.

Both mean today.

• azi = today
• astăzi = today

The difference is mainly style and register:

• azi is shorter and very common in everyday speech
• astăzi is also common, but can sound slightly more formal or more complete

So you could also say:

• Prietenul este aici astăzi.

That means the same thing.

A simple approximate pronunciation for an English speaker is:

pree-eh-teh-nool EHS-teh ah-EECH AHZ

A few helpful notes:

• ie in prietenul is pronounced as two sounds, roughly ee-eh
• ul at the end of prietenul is pronounced, but the final l can sound light
• este = EHS-teh
• aici sounds roughly like ah-EECH
• azi sounds roughly like AHZ-ee, though in fast speech the second vowel may be quite short

Romanian spelling is much more regular than English spelling, so pronunciation is usually more predictable.

There could be. Romanian allows that too.

The given sentence is just a neutral statement:

• Prietenul este aici azi.

But you can also front azi for emphasis:

• Azi, prietenul este aici.

That means Today, the friend is here.

Starting with azi puts more focus on the time. The original version sounds more like a plain observation.

It is basically neutral.

• Prietenul is standard
• este is the full form of is
• aici and azi are everyday standard words

If you wanted a slightly more conversational version, you might hear:

• Prietenul e aici azi.

That is still completely correct, just more natural in casual speech.

Grammatically, yes, but the meaning would change.

• Prietenul este aici azi. = The friend is here today.
• Prietenul este azi. would not make good sense in normal Romanian, because is today is incomplete
• Prietenul e azi aici. is fine
• Prietenul e aici. = The friend is here

So aici is necessary if you want the idea here.

It is in the nominative, because it is the subject of the sentence.

In:

• Prietenul este aici azi.

prietenul is the one that is here today, so it is the subject.

For a beginner, the important practical point is this:

• subject form: prietenul
• direct object form in many situations can look the same: prietenul

Romanian case distinctions often show up more clearly with articles, adjectives, and certain noun types, but here you can simply think of prietenul as the normal subject form.

Yes. That would change the meaning from here to there.

• aici = here
• acolo = there

So:

• Prietenul este aici azi. = The friend is here today.
• Prietenul este acolo azi. = The friend is there today.

This is a useful pair to remember.