Question 1

Why do we use două here instead of doi for the number "two"?

Accepted Answer

In Romanian, the number two changes depending on the gender of the noun it counts. We use doi for masculine nouns and două for feminine and neuter nouns. Since persoane (people) is a feminine noun, we must use două.

Question 2

Is persoană always a feminine noun, even if it refers to a man?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The word persoană (person) is grammatically feminine, regardless of the actual gender of the person you are talking about. Because it is feminine, its plural is persoane and it always takes the feminine number două.

Question 3

Why is the word for "nice" spelled simpatice?

Accepted Answer

Adjectives in Romanian have to match the noun they describe in both gender and number. Because persoane is feminine and plural, the adjective must also be feminine and plural. The masculine singular is simpatic, the feminine singular is simpatică, and the feminine plural becomes simpatice.

Question 4

Does simpatice mean "sympathetic"?

Accepted Answer

No, this is a common false friend! In Romanian, simpatic (and its plural simpatice) means "nice", "likeable", or "friendly". If you want to say someone is sympathetic, you would use a different word, like înțelegător.

Question 5

Where is the word for "I" in Văd?

Accepted Answer

In Romanian, you do not always need to use the subject pronoun eu (I). The verb a vedea (to see) is conjugated here as văd, which specifically means "I see". The form of the verb tells us exactly who is doing the action, so the "I" is built right in!

Văd două persoane simpatice.

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