ELONIO
Log inSign up

Unde este mărul?

Unde este mărul?
Where is the apple?
FromLesson 3inHardcore Romanian

Breakdown of Unde este mărul?

a fi
to be
unde
where
mărul
the apple

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)

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Romanian grammar?”
Romanian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Romanian

Master Romanian — from Unde este mărul to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Romanian→