Learn Hardcore Romanian: După aceea mă îmbrac repede pentru școală. - After that I get dressed quickly for school.

După aceea literally means “after that” or “afterwards.” You can often replace it with apoi (“then”), especially in conversation, but după aceea can feel a bit more formal or emphasise the sequence of events.

Why is the reflexive pronoun mă used before îmbrac?

The verb a se îmbrăca is reflexive when you dress yourself. The pronoun mă signals “myself” (first person singular). So mă îmbrac = “I get dressed.” Without mă, îmbrac would mean “I dress (someone else).”

Could I attach mă to the end of îmbrac, like îmbrac-mă?

In the present indicative (statements) you always place the reflexive pronoun before the verb: mă îmbrac. You only attach it in forms like the affirmative imperative: îmbracă-te! (“get dressed!”).

Why is the adverb repede placed after mă îmbrac? Could I say repede mă îmbrac?

In Romanian the usual order is Subject–Verb–Adverb, so mă îmbrac repede sounds most natural. You can front-load repede (Repede mă îmbrac), but it then feels more poetic or marked, not standard speech.

What’s the difference between repede and rapid?

repede is the common adverb for “quickly” in everyday language.
rapid is primarily an adjective (“a rapid response”). Its adverbial form rapid(ă) exists but is more formal or technical.

Why does the sentence use pentru școală instead of la școală?

pentru expresses purpose (“for school”), explaining why you’re getting dressed. la marks location (“at/to school”). If you wanted to say “I go to school,” you’d use la școală, but here you’re describing why you’re dressing.

How do you pronounce the Romanian letters ă and ș?

Ă: a relaxed vowel like the ‘a’ in English “sofa.”
Ș: like English “sh” in “shoe.”
So școală sounds roughly like “shko-ah-luh.”