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Questions & Answers about Unde este mărul?
Why does Romanian attach the article to the noun in mărul instead of using a separate word as in English?
In Romanian the definite article is a suffix (enclitic). For masculine singular nouns ending in a consonant the ending is -ul. So măr + -ul = mărul.
How would I say where an apple is using an indefinite article?
Use the indefinite article un before the noun without any suffix:
Unde este un măr?
What does este mean and why might I hear just e?
este is the third person singular present of a fi (to be). In informal speech este often contracts to e, so you will hear Unde e mărul?. In writing and formal contexts use este.
Can I say Unde-i mărul??
Yes. In colloquial Romanian -i replaces este, so Unde-i mărul? is a common spoken form.
How do I pronounce Unde este mărul??
Approximate phonetic transcription: /ˈunde ˈeste məˈrul/.
- ă is a schwa, like the ‘a’ in about.
- The n before d merges into a single [nd] sound.
What is the word order in Unde este mărul??
Romanian questions usually follow QuestionWord–Verb–Subject. Here it is Unde (where), este (is), mărul (the apple).
How would I ask where multiple apples are?
Change the noun to its plural with enclitic article and use the plural of a fi:
Unde sunt merele? means Where are the apples?
Is there another way to ask where the apple is besides using este?
Yes. You can use the reflexive verb a se afla for location:
Unde se află mărul? (slightly more formal)