La casieră plătesc cu cardul, nu cu numerar.

Romanian often drops subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the subject clear.

• plătesc = I pay
• The ending -esc shows 1st person singular

So:

• Plătesc cu cardul. = I pay by card.
• Eu plătesc cu cardul. also works, but eu is usually added only for emphasis or contrast.

In this sentence, the subject is understood, so eu is not necessary.

La casieră means something like at the cashier, at the checkout, or at the cash desk, depending on context.

The preposition la often means:

• at
• to
• by

So la casieră refers to the place/person where payment happens.

In real-life usage, it can sound a bit flexible in English:

• at the cashier
• at the checkout
• at the till

It can suggest the cashier (female), but in everyday usage la casieră often works like at the cashier’s desk / at checkout.

So grammatically, casieră is the noun cashier (feminine), but the whole expression can refer to the payment point rather than focusing only on the person.

That is why translating it too literally as at the female cashier may sound odd in English, even though the Romanian wording is normal.

Plătesc is the 1st person singular present tense of the verb a plăti = to pay.

Present tense of a plăti:

• eu plătesc = I pay
• tu plătești = you pay
• el/ea plătește = he/she pays
• noi plătim = we pay
• voi plătiți = you all pay
• ei/ele plătesc = they pay

So in the sentence:

• plătesc = I pay

Cu usually means with, and in Romanian it is commonly used to express the means or method of payment.

So:

• cu cardul = with the card / by card
• cu numerar = with cash / in cash

Even though English often prefers by card, Romanian normally uses cu here.

Other similar examples:

• plătesc cu telefonul = I pay with my phone
• scriu cu pixul = I write with a pen

This is a very common learner question.

cu cardul

Here, cardul has the definite article attached:

• card = card
• cardul = the card

Romanian often uses the definite form in fixed expressions involving instruments or means:

• cu cardul = by card
• cu trenul = by train
• cu autobuzul = by bus

cu numerar

Numerar means cash and behaves more like an uncountable/material noun here. Romanian commonly leaves it without the article in this expression:

• cu numerar = in cash / with cash

So the difference is mostly idiomatic:

• cu cardul is the normal phrase
• cu numerar is also the normal phrase

You should learn them as set expressions.

Normally, cu cardul is the standard and most natural form for by card.

Cu card may occasionally appear in certain contexts, but for a learner, the safe and idiomatic choice is:

• plătesc cu cardul

So if you want to sound natural, use cu cardul, not cu card.

Romanian word order is fairly flexible. Putting la casieră first gives the sentence a kind of topic or setting first:

• La casieră plătesc cu cardul, nu cu numerar. = At the checkout, I pay by card, not cash.

This sounds natural and can emphasize where this happens.

You could also say:

• Plătesc cu cardul, nu cu numerar, la casieră.

But that sounds less natural in many contexts. The original order is smoother.

Here nu negates the second phrase to create a contrast:

• cu cardul, nu cu numerar
• by card, not cash

This is a very common Romanian pattern:

• X, nu Y
• this, not that

Examples:

• Vreau cafea, nu ceai. = I want coffee, not tea.
• Pleacă azi, nu mâine. = He’s leaving today, not tomorrow.

So in your sentence, nu highlights the rejected payment method.

The comma marks a contrast between the two payment methods:

• cu cardul, nu cu numerar
• by card, not cash

It helps separate:

1. the preferred/true option
2. the rejected option

In English, we often do the same:

• I pay by card, not cash.

So the comma is natural and helps clarity.

In this sentence, yes, numerar corresponds to cash.

It refers to physical money, especially notes and coins, as opposed to card payment.

So:

• cu numerar = in cash / with cash

Depending on context, Romanian may also use:

• bani cash in very informal speech
• but numerar is the standard, correct word

Yes, in some contexts you could use other expressions, but the meaning and nuance may shift slightly.

For example:

• la casieră = at the cashier / at checkout
• la casa de marcat = at the cash register / checkout register

Both can work in shopping contexts, but la casieră is very natural when referring to the place where you go to pay.

So the original sentence is perfectly normal.

It can be either, depending on context.

Romanian present tense can express:

• a general habit
• a current action
• a regular preference

So:

• La casieră plătesc cu cardul, nu cu numerar.

could mean:

• At the checkout, I pay by card, not cash.
• When I pay at the checkout, I use card, not cash.
• I’m paying by card, not cash.
  (less likely without more context, but possible)

Most naturally, it sounds like a general preference or usual method.

Two useful pronunciation points:

plătesc

• The ă is a Romanian central vowel, not quite like English a
• Stress is on the last syllable: plă-TESC

casieră

• It is roughly ka-si-E-ră
• Stress is on e: casiERĂ

Also:

• cardul sounds close to English card, but with Romanian pronunciation
• numerar is roughly nu-me-RAR

If you want to sound natural, the rhythm of the whole sentence is important:

• La casieră plătesc cu cardul, nu cu numerar.