Când este prânzul?

to be

Breakdown of Când este prânzul?

• când: when
• prânzul: the lunch

Questions & Answers about Când este prânzul?

What does Când mean in this sentence?

Când is an interrogative adverb meaning when. It’s used to ask about time.

What part of speech is este and what does it do here?

Este is the third person singular of the verb a fi (to be). In this question it functions as a linking verb, connecting the subject (prânzul) with the question word (când).

Why is there an -ul ending on prânz? What does prânzul mean?

The suffix -ul is the masculine singular definite article in Romanian. So prânz (lunch) becomes prânzul (the lunch). Even in questions, Romanian marks definite nouns with a suffix rather than a separate word.

Why do we translate prânzul as lunch and not the lunch in English?

Romanian always attaches a definite article to definite nouns. English, however, often omits the article before words like lunch, dinner, or breakfast. Although prânzul literally means the lunch, in natural English you’d simply say lunch.

What case is prânzul in this question?

Prânzul is in the nominative/accusative case (they share the same form). Here it functions as the subject of este.

Why is the word order Când este prânzul? and not Prânzul este când?

In Romanian the interrogative adverb (când) typically opens the question. Beginning with când signals that you’re asking when. You could say Prânzul este când?, but it sounds awkward and is very uncommon.

Can I use a shorter form of este here?

Yes. In informal speech este often contracts to e. So you can ask Când e prânzul? with exactly the same meaning.

Is there another common way to ask “When is lunch?” in Romanian?

Yes. To focus on the clock time you can say La ce oră este prânzul? (literally “At what hour is lunch?”).

How do you pronounce Când este prânzul??

Approximate pronunciation guide:

• Când: “kuhnd” (with ă as a schwa, like the ‘a’ in “sofa”)
• este: “ES-teh” (stress on the first syllable)
• prânzul: “PRUHN-zool” (with â as a central vowel, similar to an unstressed “u,” and z like in “zoo”)

What’s the difference between prânz and masa de prânz?

• prânz = lunch (the concept or time of the meal)
• masa de prânz = the lunch meal (emphasizing the actual meal or table setting)
  In everyday speech prânz alone is perfectly natural.