In the singular, Genitive and Dative endings change depending on the gender of the noun. In the plural, Romanian grammar becomes wonderfully simple: all genders share the exact same definite ending!
To form the definite Genitive (showing possession) or Dative (showing the recipient) for a plural noun, simply add -lor to the end of the bare plural form.
The Genitive Plural
In the Genitive case, -lor translates to "of the" or adds an English "-s'". This is extremely useful for discussing the rights, voices, or property of groups of people.
| Our state defends the rights of the workers. | Statul nostru apără drepturile muncitorilor. |
| The voice of the unions is very important. | Vocea sindicatelor este foarte importantă. |
This rule applies equally to masculine, neuter, and feminine plural nouns:
| At the strike, the representative listens to the voice of the women. | La grevă, reprezentantul ascultă vocea femeilor. |
The Dative Plural
When an action is directed toward a group—such as explaining something or making a promise—you use the exact same -lor ending to form the Dative.
| The representative explains the situation to the residents. | Reprezentantul explică situația locuitorilor. |
| The minister promises the unions that the strike is ending. | Ministrul promite sindicatelor că greva se termină. |
The Plural Dative Pronoun
Just as singular Dative sentences often use an unstressed pronoun (like îi) right before the verb to echo the recipient, plural Dative sentences use the pronoun le (to them).
| The union guarantees the employees a good salary. | Sindicatul le garantează angajaților un salariu bun. |
Notice how the pronoun le pairs perfectly with the -lor ending on the noun receiving the action:
| I promised the workers high salaries. | Le-am promis muncitorilor salarii mari. |