Learn Hardcore Romanian: Din cauza ploii, copiii rămân acasă. - Because of the rain, the children stay at home.

Din cauza literally means of the cause, but functions as because of in English. It introduces a reason before a noun or noun phrase and always requires the following noun to be in the genitive case.

Why is ploaie written as ploii in Din cauza ploii?

Ploaie (rain) is a feminine noun. In the genitive singular it becomes ploii. Since din + cauza demands the genitive, ploaie changes its ending to -ii, yielding ploii.

Why is there a comma after Din cauza ploii? Is it mandatory?

Romanian typically uses a comma to separate an introductory adverbial phrase (like Din cauza ploii) from the main clause. It’s not strictly mandatory—especially if the phrase is short—but it improves clarity:

With comma: Din cauza ploii, copiii rămân acasă.
Without comma: Din cauza ploii copiii rămân acasă.

Why is the word copiii used instead of copii?

Copii is the indefinite plural children, while copiii is the definite plural the children. In Romanian, the definite article is appended to the noun:

Indefinite plural: copii
Definite plural: copiii
Here we refer to specific children, so we use copiii.

What’s the subject of rămân and why is there no pronoun?

Rămân is the third person plural present tense of a rămâne (to stay). It agrees with the plural subject copiii. Romanian often omits the subject pronoun because the verb ending already indicates person and number. (You could add ei for emphasis: Ei rămân acasă.)

What part of speech is acasă, and why does it have no article?

Acasă is an adverb meaning at home. Adverbs do not take articles in Romanian. Here it tells us where the children stay.

Can I change the word order and put din cauza ploii at the end?

Yes. You can say Copiii rămân acasă din cauza ploii. The meaning remains identical; only the emphasis shifts slightly toward the cause phrase.

Are there alternative ways to express because of the rain in Romanian?

Yes. Common options include:

din pricina ploii (very similar to din cauza ploii)
datorită ploii (more formal, often in positive contexts)
pentru că plouă (uses a conjunction + verb: Pentru că plouă, copiii rămân acasă.)