Centrala termică nu merge.

Centrala termică usually means the boiler, the heating unit, or the central heating system, depending on context.

In many Romanian homes, centrala often refers to the household heating boiler that provides heat and sometimes hot water.
Literally:

• centrală = plant / station / unit / central system
• termică = thermal / related to heat

Together, it means something like heating unit or boiler.

The basic noun is centrală. In the sentence, it appears as centrala because Romanian often attaches the definite article to the end of the noun.

So:

• o centrală = a boiler / a heating unit
• centrala = the boiler / the heating unit

This is a very important Romanian pattern:

• băiat = boy

• băiatul = the boy

• casă = house
• casa = the house

So centrala termică means the heating boiler/system.

In Romanian, adjectives usually come after the noun.

So:

• centrala termică = the thermal/heating boiler
• literally: the boiler thermal

This is normal Romanian word order. English usually puts adjectives before the noun, but Romanian commonly puts them after.

Because it agrees with centrală, which is a feminine singular noun.

Romanian adjectives change form to match the noun’s:

• gender
• number
• definiteness in some contexts

Here:

• centrală = feminine singular
• termică = feminine singular adjective

So they match.

Here, nu merge means doesn’t work or isn’t working.

The verb a merge often means to go, but it can also mean to work, to function, or to run.

Examples:

• Mașina merge. = The car works / runs.
• Internetul nu merge. = The internet isn’t working.
• Centrala termică nu merge. = The boiler/heating system isn’t working.

So this is one of those very common verbs with more than one meaning.

Because Romanian does not form negatives the way English does.

In English, we say:

• It works
• It does not work

In Romanian, you usually just put nu before the verb:

• merge = works
• nu merge = does not work

So nu is the standard negation word meaning not.

Yes, merge is present tense, 3rd person singular.

The verb is a merge = to go / to work / to function.

Here are a few present-tense forms:

• eu merg = I go
• tu mergi = you go
• el/ea merge = he/she/it goes, works

Since centrala termică is a singular thing, Romanian uses merge.

Literally, you might think so, because a merge often means to go. But in natural English, the best translation here is:

• The boiler isn’t working.
• The heating system isn’t working.
• The heater is not working.

So although merge literally connects to go, in this context it clearly means function/work.

A simple approximate pronunciation for an English speaker is:

chen-TRAH-la TER-mi-kuh noo MER-jeh

A few notes:

• ce in Centrala sounds like che in check
• ă is a short, neutral vowel, like a relaxed uh
• ică in termică sounds roughly like ee-kuh
• g in merge is soft here, like the g in genre or the s in measure
• stress is roughly:
  • cenTRAla
  • TERmică
  • MERge

Yes, absolutely.

Centrala nu merge is very natural if the context already makes it clear that you mean the heating boiler/system.

Adding termică makes it more specific or formal:

• Centrala nu merge. = The boiler isn’t working.
• Centrala termică nu merge. = The heating boiler/system isn’t working.

In everyday speech, many people would simply say centrala.

It is neutral and very natural. You could use it in everyday conversation, with a repair technician, a landlord, a neighbor, or in a message.

It is not especially formal, but not slang either. It is a normal, standard Romanian sentence.