După aceea plătesc factura la bancomat, nu la casieră.

După aceea means after that or afterwards. It is a very common time expression in Romanian.

It is not the only option. You could also hear:

• apoi = then
• după asta = after this/that
• pe urmă = afterwards / later on

In this sentence, după aceea introduces the next step in a sequence of actions.

Romanian often leaves out the subject pronoun when it is already clear from the verb ending.

• plătesc = I pay
• the ending -esc tells you the subject is I

So plătesc factura already means I pay the bill.

You could say eu plătesc factura if you want emphasis, for example:

• Eu plătesc factura, nu tu. = I’m paying the bill, not you.

Yes, plătesc is the present tense, first person singular, from a plăti = to pay.

Romanian present tense can sometimes refer to:

• a present habit: I pay the bill at the ATM
• a planned next step: Then I pay the bill at the ATM

In a sequence like După aceea..., English might sometimes prefer I’ll pay, but Romanian can still naturally use the present tense.

Factura means the bill/invoice.

Romanian usually attaches the definite article to the end of the noun:

• factură = a bill / invoice
• factura = the bill / the invoice

So instead of a separate word like the, Romanian adds -a to the noun.

In this sentence, factura refers to a specific bill that is already known from context.

The preposition la often means at, to, or with, depending on context.

Here it marks the place or service point where the action happens:

• la bancomat = at the ATM
• la casieră = at the cashier / at the cashier’s desk

So plătesc factura la bancomat means the payment is made at the ATM.

Because the meaning is at the ATM, not inside the ATM.

Romanian often uses la for public service points, machines, desks, counters, shops, or institutions:

• la bancă = at the bank
• la doctor = at the doctor’s
• la casă = at the checkout
• la bancomat = at the ATM

Using în would suggest being physically inside something, which does not fit here.

Here casieră means the cashier or, more naturally in English, the cashier’s desk/window/counter, depending on the situation.

Literally, casieră is the feminine noun for cashier. But in everyday Romanian, la casieră often refers to paying at the place where the cashier works, not just to the person.

So:

• nu la casieră = not at the cashier’s desk/counter

After prepositions like la, Romanian often uses the noun without a definite article when talking about a place in a general way.

So:

• la bancomat = at the ATM / at an ATM
• la casieră = at the cashier’s desk

If you wanted to make it more specific, you could add the definite form or more detail:

• la bancomatul din colț = at the ATM on the corner
• la casiera de la etajul întâi = at the cashier on the first floor

In the original sentence, the places are mentioned generally, so the simpler form is natural.

The comma helps mark the contrast:

• la bancomat, nu la casieră = at the ATM, not at the cashier’s desk

This is a contrastive correction or clarification. Romanian often uses a pause, and the comma reflects that.

There is also an omitted repetition here. The full idea would be something like:

• După aceea plătesc factura la bancomat, nu plătesc factura la casieră.

But Romanian avoids repeating everything, so only the contrasting phrase remains.

Yes. This is a good example of ellipsis, where words are left out because they are understood from context.

The full meaning is:

• ... la bancomat, nu la casieră = ... at the ATM, not at the cashier’s desk

The verb and object are understood from the first part:

• plătesc factura la bancomat, nu la casieră really means
• plătesc factura la bancomat, nu plătesc factura la casieră

Romanian does this very naturally, just as English does in sentences like I’m going by train, not by bus.

Yes, Romanian word order is fairly flexible, although some versions sound more natural in neutral speech.

The original sentence is perfectly natural:

• După aceea plătesc factura la bancomat, nu la casieră.

You could also say:

• După aceea, plătesc factura la bancomat, nu la casieră.
• Factura o plătesc după aceea la bancomat, nu la casieră.

Changing the order usually changes emphasis, not the core meaning. The original version is a straightforward, neutral way to say it.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• După aceea ≈ DOO-puh ah-CHAY-ah
• plătesc ≈ pluh-TESK
• factura ≈ fak-TOO-rah
• la bancomat ≈ la bahn-koh-MAHT
• nu la casieră ≈ noo la kah-see-YEH-ruh

A few useful notes:

• ă is a short, neutral vowel, something like the a in sofa
• â and î are a different central Romanian vowel
• stress often falls near the end, but it is best learned word by word

Yes, it sounds natural, especially if someone is explaining how they pay a bill and wants to contrast two methods.

The sentence has a practical, everyday feel:

• first something happens
• after that
• the speaker pays the bill
• and specifies at the ATM, not at the cashier’s desk

A Romanian speaker might also choose a shorter or slightly different version depending on context, but the original sentence is completely normal.