Learn Romanian: Băiatul mănâncă oul dimineața. - The boy eats the egg in the morning.

Băiatul mănâncă oul dimineața.

The boy eats the egg in the morning.

Breakdown of Băiatul mănâncă oul dimineața.

the morning / in the morning

oul

the egg

Questions & Answers about Băiatul mănâncă oul dimineața.

Why is the word for "the" attached to the end of băiatul and oul?

In Romanian, the definite article (the word for "the") is usually attached to the end of the noun as a suffix. Băiat means boy, so adding -ul makes băiatul, meaning the boy. Adding -l to ou (egg) makes oul, meaning the egg.

Is ou a masculine word since it takes the same -l ending as băiatul?

Ou is actually a neuter noun! In Romanian, neuter nouns are special: they act exactly like masculine nouns when they are singular, and like feminine nouns when they are plural. Because there is only one egg here, it takes the same ending as a masculine word.

Why does dimineața translate to "in the morning" instead of just "the morning"?

Romanian often uses the definite form of a time word to describe when an action happens. Even though dimineața literally translates to the morning, it is the standard way to express in the morning when talking about a habit or general time of day.

How would the verb mănâncă change if I wanted to say "I eat"?

Romanian verbs change their form depending on who is doing the action. To say I eat, you would say eu mănânc. The form mănâncă is used for he, she, and it, as well as for they.