Bancnota este în portofel.

The banknote is in the wallet.

Breakdown of Bancnota este în portofel.

• a fi: to be
• în: in
• portofelul: the wallet
• bancnota: the banknote

Questions & Answers about Bancnota este în portofel.

Why does bancnota end in -a?

Because Romanian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun.

• bancnotă = a banknote
• bancnota = the banknote

So -a here is not just part of the noun stem. It shows that the noun is definite.

This is very different from English, where you would use a separate word, the.

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What exactly does este mean?

Este means is. It is the 3rd person singular present form of the verb a fi = to be.

So:

• bancnota = the banknote
• este = is
• în portofel = in the wallet / in a wallet, depending on context

This is a completely normal use of este in Romanian.

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Why is there no separate word for the?

Romanian usually uses an attached definite article instead of a separate word.

Compare:

• English: the banknote
• Romanian: bancnota

And:

• English: the wallet
• Romanian: portofelul

So instead of putting the before the noun, Romanian often adds it to the end.

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Why is it în portofel and not în portofelul?