The Impersonal "se"
In English, we often use the passive voice ("English is spoken here") or general statements using "one" or "they" ("How does one say this?"). In Romanian, these are most commonly expressed using the impersonal pronoun se.
| oneself / impersonal particle (as in "English is spoken here") | se |
To make a general or passive statement, place se directly before the third-person singular form of the verb.
| English is spoken here. | Aici se vorbește engleza. |
| How is this said in Romanian? | Cum se spune asta în română? |
Operating Hours and Locations
This structure is extremely common when talking about things opening or closing, or when asking where something is found.
| At what time does the store open? | La ce oră se deschide magazinul? |
| The door closes at nine o'clock. | Ușa se închide la ora nouă. |
You will frequently see these verbs applied to public spaces like the entrance (intrarea) or the exit (ieșirea).
| The entrance opens immediately. | Intrarea se deschide imediat. |
| Where is the exit found? | Unde se găsește ieșirea? |
Rules and Permissions
Public rules and regulations are almost always stated using the impersonal se. You will see it paired with verbs like a permite (to allow) and a interzice (to forbid).
| Entry with the dog is allowed here. | Aici se permite intrarea cu câinele. |
| Parking is forbidden here. | Aici se interzice parcarea. |
You can also use this construction simply by pairing se with an action verb to ask if a general activity is allowed in a space:
| Is smoking allowed here? | Se fumează aici? |
Offerings and Requirements
Finally, use the impersonal se to discuss what is provided or required in a given situation, such as with the verbs a oferi (to offer) and a cere (to request).
| What is offered for breakfast? | Ce se oferă la micul dejun? |
| The passport is requested at the airport. | Se cere pașaportul la aeroport. |
