Eu am doi frați.

From Lesson 33:Numbers 1 to 10·Romanian

Breakdown of Eu am doi frați.

eu
I
avea
to have
fratele
the brother
doi
two

Questions & Answers about Eu am doi frați.

Why do we use doi here instead of două for the number two?
In Romanian, the numbers one and two change depending on the gender of the noun they count. Because frate (brother) is a masculine noun, we must use the masculine form of two, which is doi. If we were counting something feminine, like sisters (surori), we would use două.
How does the word for brother (frate) become plural here?
The singular word for brother is frate. To make masculine nouns plural, Romanian often changes the ending to an -i. Here, the -e is dropped and replaced with -i, making it frați.
Could I leave out Eu and just say Am doi frați?
Yes, absolutely! Because the verb am (have) is already the specific form used for the pronoun eu (I), the pronoun itself is completely optional. Romanian speakers usually drop it unless they want to add special emphasis to who is speaking.
How is the letter -i pronounced at the end of frați?
The letter -i at the end of many plural words like frați is called a whispered i. You do not pronounce it as a full, long vowel sound. Instead, it is very short and just slightly softens the consonant right before it.

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