Learn Hardcore Romanian: Vrei apă sau lapte?

Romanian forms yes/no questions by intonation or punctuation, not by adding an auxiliary. The main verb (vrei) carries the person and tense, so no extra “do” is needed to ask a question.

What is the form and meaning of vrei?

vrei is the second person singular present indicative of the verb a vrea (to want). It literally means you want, so “Vrei apă?” = “Do you want water?”

Why isn’t there a pronoun tu before vrei?

In Romanian, the verb ending already shows the subject (you). Subject pronouns like tu are dropped unless you want to add emphasis:
• Vrei apă? = “Do you want water?” (neutral)
• Tu vrei apă? = “You want water?” (with emphasis on “you”)

Why is apă used without an article? Shouldn’t it be o apă?

When offering or requesting something uncountable (like water), Romanian often omits the article.
• Vrei apă sau lapte? = “Do you want (some) water or (some) milk?”
If you mean “a glass of water,” you’d say o apă or specify un pahar de apă.

How do you pronounce the in ?