Question 1

Why does the word for "chair" have -ul at the end?

Accepted Answer

In Romanian, the word for "the" (the definite article) attaches to the end of the noun instead of coming before it. The base word is scaun (chair). Because it is a singular neuter noun, we add -ul to the end to make scaunul (the chair).

Question 2

I thought the word for "is" was este. Why does this sentence use e?

Accepted Answer

E is simply a shorter, very common version of este. They both mean "is" and are interchangeable, but you will hear e a lot more in everyday, casual speech because it is quicker to say.

Question 3

If scaunul takes the -ul ending, does that mean it is a masculine noun?

Accepted Answer

Not quite! Scaun is actually a neuter noun. In Romanian, neuter nouns act exactly like masculine nouns when there is only one of them (in the singular). That is why it takes the masculine ending for "the", which is -ul.

Question 4

If aici means "here", how would I say "The chair is there"?

Accepted Answer

You would say Scaunul e acolo. Aici is used for things close to the speaker (here), while acolo is used for things further away (there).

Scaunul e aici.

Breakdown of Scaunul e aici.

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