Contorul rămâne la zero.

Contorul means the counter / the meter, while contor means a counter / a meter.

Romanian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like English the.

• contor = counter, meter
• contorul = the counter, the meter

This ending -ul is the masculine/neuter singular definite article here.

Contor is a neuter noun in Romanian.

That means:

• in the singular, it behaves like a masculine noun
• in the plural, it behaves like a feminine noun

So in this sentence, singular contorul uses masculine-style forms. That is why the definite article is -ul.

Examples:

• un contor = a meter
• contorul = the meter
• două contoare = two meters
• contoarele = the meters

Rămâne comes from a rămâne, meaning to remain / to stay.

So Contorul rămâne la zero means the counter stays at zero or remains at zero, not just is at zero.

Compare:

• Contorul este la zero. = The counter is at zero.
• Contorul rămâne la zero. = The counter remains / stays at zero.

The second one emphasizes that its value does not change.

Rămâne is the 3rd person singular present tense form of a rămâne.

It can mean:

• he remains
• she remains
• it remains

Here it means it remains, because contorul is a thing.

A few present-tense forms:

• eu rămân = I remain
• tu rămâi = you remain
• el/ea rămâne = he/she remains
• noi rămânem = we remain
• voi rămâneți = you all remain
• ei/ele rămân = they remain

Romanian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed, because the verb form already gives a clue about the subject.

But in this sentence, the subject is actually stated: contorul.

So Romanian does not need a separate word for it:

• Contorul rămâne... = The counter remains...

If you added a pronoun, it would usually only be for emphasis:

• Contorul, el rămâne la zero.

That sounds marked or emphatic, not neutral.

Here la means something like at.

So:

• la zero = at zero

Romanian often uses la with numbers, levels, or positions on a scale.

Examples:

• temperatura este la 20 de grade = the temperature is at 20 degrees
• scorul a rămas la 1-1 = the score stayed at 1-1
• prețul rămâne la 10 lei = the price remains at 10 lei

So rămâne la zero is a very natural way to say remains at zero.

Normally, no. In this context, la zero is the natural choice.

• la zero = at zero, on zero as a reading/level/value

În zero would usually sound wrong here. Pe zero can exist in some contexts, especially in more informal or technical speech, but la zero is the standard and safest option for a meter/counter reading.

So for a learner, the best form to remember is:

• Contorul rămâne la zero.

The normal word order here is:

Subject + verb + complement

• Contorul = subject
• rămâne = verb
• la zero = complement

This is the most neutral order:

• Contorul rămâne la zero.

You can rearrange it for emphasis, but that changes the feel:

• La zero rămâne contorul. = marked/emphatic
• Rămâne la zero contorul. = also marked, less neutral

For ordinary usage, the original order is best.

A rough pronunciation is:

ruh-MUH-nuh

A few details:

• ă is a short central vowel, like the a in English about
• â is a special Romanian vowel with no exact English equivalent; it is a close central sound
• the stress is on the second syllable: ră-MÂ-ne

So:

• rămâne ≈ ruh-MUH-nuh

Also:

• Contorul is roughly kon-TOR-ool
• zero is roughly ZE-ro

In this sentence, zero comes after the preposition la, and it stays the same because it is being used simply as a numeral/value.

So:

• la zero = at zero

Romanian numbers often stay unchanged in expressions like this.

Examples:

• la unu
• la doi
• la zece
• la zero

There is no article or special ending needed here.

Yes. It sounds natural, especially in technical, mechanical, utility, or figurative contexts.

It could refer to:

• an electricity/gas/water meter
• a score counter
• a device reading
• a numerical value that has not changed

Depending on context, Romanian speakers might also say:

• Contorul este la zero. = The meter is at zero.
• Contorul a rămas la zero. = The meter stayed at zero. / remained at zero.
• Contorul încă rămâne la zero. = The meter is still at zero.

So the sentence is perfectly normal Romanian.