Nici rama, nici veioza nu sunt ieftine.

Questions & Answers about Nici rama, nici veioza nu sunt ieftine.

Why does Romanian use nici ... nici here?

Nici ... nici means neither ... nor.

So:

  • Nici rama, nici veioza = neither the frame nor the lamp

This is the normal Romanian way to join two negative alternatives. It works much like English neither X nor Y.


Why is there also nu in the sentence? Isn’t nici ... nici already negative?

Yes, but Romanian normally uses negative concord, which means negative words often appear together in the same sentence.

So in standard Romanian, you usually say:

  • Nici rama, nici veioza nu sunt ieftine.

Not:

  • Nici rama, nici veioza sunt ieftine.

For an English speaker, this can feel like a double negative, but in Romanian it is correct and standard.

A useful way to remember it:

  • nici ... nici introduces the negative pair
  • nu marks the verb as negative

Why is the verb sunt plural when both rama and veioza are singular nouns?

Because the subject is made of two coordinated items:

  • rama
  • veioza

Together they form a plural idea: the frame and the lamp as a pair of things being talked about negatively.

So Romanian uses the plural verb:

  • nu sunt = are not

This is the same logic as in English:

  • Neither the frame nor the lamp are cheap
    though many English speakers also prefer is in careful grammar depending on style. In Romanian, plural agreement is the normal choice here.

Why is ieftine plural?

Because ieftine agrees with the whole subject, which is plural in meaning.

  • rama = feminine singular
  • veioza = feminine singular
  • together = feminine plural idea

So the adjective becomes plural feminine:

  • singular feminine: ieftină
  • plural feminine: ieftine

Compare:

  • Rama nu este ieftină. = The frame is not cheap.
  • Veioza nu este ieftină. = The lamp is not cheap.
  • Nici rama, nici veioza nu sunt ieftine. = Neither the frame nor the lamp are cheap.

Why are rama and veioza written with -a at the end?

Here they are definite singular nouns, meaning:

  • rama = the frame
  • veioza = the lamp

In Romanian, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun.

So:

  • ramă = a frame
  • rama = the frame

and

  • veioză = a lamp / a bedside lamp
  • veioza = the lamp

So this sentence is talking about specific known objects, not just any frame or lamp.


Could I say the sentence without the definite article?

Yes, but the meaning changes.

For example:

  • Nici o ramă, nici o veioză nu sunt ieftine.

This means something more like:

  • Neither a frame nor a lamp is cheap
  • or No frame and no lamp are cheap, depending on context

That version is more indefinite or generic.
Your original sentence with rama and veioza refers to particular items.


Can the word order change?

Yes. Romanian word order is somewhat flexible.

The most neutral version is:

  • Nici rama, nici veioza nu sunt ieftine.

But you may also hear or see variations such as:

  • Nu sunt ieftine nici rama, nici veioza.

This still means the same thing, but it shifts the focus slightly toward nu sunt ieftine.

For a learner, the original order is a very good pattern to remember.


Can I leave out the second nici?

Normally, no, not in this structure.

Romanian usually repeats it:

  • nici X, nici Y

So:

  • Nici rama, nici veioza nu sunt ieftine.

Not:

  • Nici rama, veioza nu sunt ieftine.

The repetition is part of the standard neither ... nor pattern.


Would nu este ieftină also work here instead of nu sunt ieftine?

In standard Romanian, with two coordinated subjects like this, the expected form is plural:

  • nu sunt ieftine

Using singular here would sound nonstandard or unnatural in most contexts.

So the safest and most correct choice is:

  • Nici rama, nici veioza nu sunt ieftine.

Is veioza a special kind of lamp?

Yes. Veioză usually means a table lamp, often a bedside lamp or desk lamp, not just any lamp in the broadest possible sense.

So depending on the translation shown to the learner, lamp is fine, but the Romanian word is a bit more specific than a general lighting term.


How would I say the positive version?

A natural positive counterpart would be:

  • Atât rama, cât și veioza sunt ieftine. = Both the frame and the lamp are cheap.

Or more simply:

  • Rama și veioza sunt ieftine. = The frame and the lamp are cheap.

This helps show the contrast:

  • Nici ... nici ... nu = neither ... nor
  • atât ... cât și = both ... and

What is the singular version if I want to talk about just one item?

You would use singular verb and singular adjective:

  • Rama nu este ieftină. = The frame is not cheap.
  • Veioza nu este ieftină. = The lamp is not cheap.

Then when you combine the two with nici ... nici, you switch to plural:

  • Nici rama, nici veioza nu sunt ieftine.

That contrast is very useful for understanding agreement in Romanian.

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