Learn Hardcore Romanian: Pregătesc un mic dejun simplu cu pâine și mere. - I prepare a simple breakfast with bread and apples.

Romanian nouns have grammatical gender. dejun (“breakfast”) is masculine, so it takes the masculine indefinite article un. o would be used with feminine nouns.

What’s the literal translation of mic dejun?

Literally, mic means “small” and dejun means “lunch,” so word-for-word it’s “small lunch.” Idiomatically, however, it means “breakfast.”

Why does the adjective simplu come after mic dejun rather than before?

In Romanian, descriptive adjectives typically follow the noun (noun + adjective), e.g. mic dejun simplu. Placing an adjective before the noun can add emphasis or a stylistic nuance, but the normal order is after.

What does the preposition cu mean here, and why are pâine and mere unmodified?

cu means “with,” indicating what the breakfast includes. After cu, you list elements without adding an article each time, so you say cu pâine și mere (“with bread and apples”).

Could you also say cu niște pâine și niște mere?

Yes. niște is an indefinite plural article meaning “some.” cu niște pâine și niște mere = “with some bread and some apples.” Dropping niște is more concise and common for food items.

Why is mere in the plural? What if I want just one apple?

Using mere implies multiple apples. If you want a single apple, say un măr (“an apple”).

Is there a difference between pregătesc micul dejun and fac micul dejun?

Both can mean “I make breakfast.” a pregăti (“to prepare”) focuses on the preparation, while a face (“to make/do”) is more general. Both are correct in everyday speech.

How do you pronounce Pregătesc un mic dejun simplu cu pâine și mere? Where’s the stress?

Approximate stress pattern (CAPS = stressed syllable):
pre-GĂ-tesc un mic DE-jun SIM-plu cu PÂI-ne și ME-re.

Can you drop mic and just say pregătesc un dejun simplu?

You could say pregătesc un dejun simplu, but mic dejun is the standard term for “breakfast.” Without mic, dejun could refer to any meal.