Learn Hardcore Romanian: Problema nu este mare, dar este importantă. - The problem is not big, but it is important.

In Romanian, the definite article is enclitic—meaning it attaches to the end of the noun. So problema = problemă (problem) + -a (the). This single word translates as “the problem.” In English you say the problem, but in Romanian you stick -a onto problemă.

What is the gender and number of problema, and how do adjectives agree with it?

Problema is feminine singular. Romanian adjectives must match the noun’s gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural):

mare is in predicative position (after the verb este) and by nature has the same form for both masculine and feminine singular.
importantă is the feminine singular form of the adjective important (“important”).

Why is the adjective mare the same for both masculine and feminine singular?

Mare is one of the irregular adjectives in Romanian that only has two forms:

Singular (masc. and fem.): mare
Plural (masc. and fem.): mari
You won’t see a different ending for mare in the singular based on gender.

Why does importantă end with -ă?

Adjectives change endings to agree with the noun. Important is the masculine singular form. To make it feminine singular, you add -ă, yielding importantă. If it were plural (any gender), you’d use importante.

Why is the verb este repeated in both clauses? Can you drop it like in English (“The problem isn’t big but important.”)?

In Romanian you normally need a full verb in each independent clause. You cannot omit the linking verb in the second clause. So you say “Problema nu este mare, dar este importantă”, not “dar importantă.”

Why is there a comma before dar?

When you join two independent clauses with dar (“but”), Romanian punctuation convention calls for a comma before the conjunction—much like English does with but.

Can mare mean something other than physically big here?

Yes. Mare can also mean “major,” “serious,” or “a big deal.” In context, “Problema nu este mare” might imply “It’s not a big deal” rather than referring to physical size.

What’s the difference between importantă (adjective) and importanță (noun)?

importantă is the feminine singular adjective meaning “important.”
importanță is a noun meaning “importance.”
Use importantă to describe something (the thing is important), and importanță to speak of the concept or degree of importance (the importance of that thing).

How do you pronounce the final -ă in importantă?

The -ă is a schwa-like sound [ə], similar to the a in about. So importantă is roughly im-por-tan-tə, with the last syllable very quick and neutral.