Romanian: Romance with a Twist

After most of the ‘major’ Romance languages (Spanish, French, Catalan, Portuguese and Italian) had firmly embedded themselves in my heart and mind, there was one more, winking at me and beckoning alluringly from afar – Romanian.  I was intrigued by the prospect of learning the only surviving Romance language of Eastern Europe and discovering its unique Slavic, Turkish, Hungarian, even Albanian-tinged Romance-ness. So, when a visiting Romanian professor offered classes at university, I was on board straight away. Learning Romanian can be a fascinating and enriching experience for anyone, let alone language enthusiasts like me. It’s a unique Romance language that opens the door to a rich culture and connects Western and Eastern Europe. In this blog, I hope to highlight the many joys of learning Romanian, its connections to other languages, and how it serves as a bridge between East and West.

I would argue that Romanian is a veritable hidden gem among Romance languages. While it shares a common Latin origin with its Romance siblings such as French, Spanish and Italian, it has its own distinctive features that make it stand out in the crowd. One of the most striking aspects of Romanian is its lexical similarities to French. For instance, consider the words “homme” in French and “om” in Romanian, “crayon” in French and “creion” in Romanian, or “stylo” in French and “stilou” in Romanian. What’s more – Romanian has a past historic too! These resemblances provide a pleasant sense of familiarity for French learners and can make the process of acquiring Romanian more accessible at the outset.

But Romanian’s linguistic connections extend far beyond French. It also shares similarities with Spanish and Italian. Take, for example, the Romanian word “cumpăra” meaning “to buy” and its resemblance to the Spanish “comprar.” Similarly, “sera” in Italian and “seară” in Romanian both mean “evening.” These connections, along with the French similarities and many more, shine a light on the intricate web of Romance languages, making Romanian a linguistic treasure trove for those who want to explore these interconnections (as I did when studying comparative Romance languages at university).

Romanian is also a fun and slightly wacky outlier when it comes to how spoken Latin ended up when it reached downtown Bucharest and Constanța. For example, Latin “quattuor” (“four”), which gave you nice, familiar “cua”-s and “qua”-s in other Romance languages, gives you “patru” in Romanian. Latin “nocte(m)” (“night”), which yielded “nuit” and “noche”, “noite”, “nit” and “notte” elsewhere in Romance-world, became “noapte” in Romanian. Latin “lignu(m)” (“wood”) ended up as “lemn” in Romanian, and so on and so forth.

That said, Romanian’s linguistic smörgåsbord doesn’t stop at Romance languages. It serves as something of a bridge between the Romance and Slavonic language families. This is evident in words like “prieten,” meaning “friend,” which bears a resemblance to Slavic languages such as Russian “приятель” (priyatel’). At the opposite end of the spectrum, “război,” meaning “war” owes itself to Slavonic language neighbours, rather than the Germanic-origin “guerre”/ “guerra” of other Romance languages. Both demonstrate the historical influence of Slavonic languages on Romanian. This linguistic fusion provides a unique opportunity for language enthusiasts to delve into the complexities of language evolution and historical borrowing.

If I haven’t whetted your appetite so far and you’re still looking for that elusive USP, Romanian is the only major Romance language that preserves a case system, a feature it shares with Slavic languages. Romanian’s nominative, accusative, dative and genitive cases (albeit considerably simpler than Latin declensions) add a lovely layer of complexity to the language. In fact, I may have oversold it, as the nominative and accusative are usually identical (although you generally add a preposition “pe” for the accusative) and the genitive and dative are pretty much identical too, but it’s still fun and different. For example, “băiatul bea apă” (“the boy drinks water”), but “îl vad pe băiatul” (“I see the boy”), “prietenul meu este bogat” (“my friend is rich”) and “casa prietenului meu este mare” (“my friend’s house is big”). Adding cases to your modern Romance language repertoire can be a rewarding challenge for those interested in grammar and language structure.

As with just about any language, learning Romanian isn’t just about the language itself; it’s also an invitation to explore a vibrant and diverse culture. Romania, positioned between Central Europe and the Balkans, has a rich and eclectic cultural heritage. It’s a country where ancient traditions coexist with modern influences, creating a unique tapestry of customs, art and cuisine.

Romania is renowned for its lively music and dance traditions. The country has a deep-rooted folk music culture, and traditional instruments like the pan flute and accordion are frequently used. Romanian folk dances, such as the “hora” and “geamparalele” are energetic and captivating, reflecting the spirit of the people. And when the Moldovan band O-Zone burst onto the western pop music scene with the catchy Dragostea Din Tei (think maya hi, maya ha, maya hi, maya ha ha…) in 2004, Romanian-language pop music almost unwittingly entered western consciousness.

Romanian cuisine is a delicious journey for the senses. With influences from neighbouring countries and a diverse landscape, Romanian food offers a wide range of flavours. Classics like “mămăligă” (Romanian polenta), “sarmale” (cabbage rolls), and “mici” (grilled sausages) are sure to tantalise your taste buds. Exploring Romanian cuisine is not only a gastronomic adventure but also a cultural experience.

Romania’s geographical location makes it a bridge between Eastern and Western Europe. By learning Romanian, you’re not only gaining access to the culture and language of Romania and Moldova and everything else that I’ve already mentioned, but also forging connections with neighbouring countries like Ukraine, Bulgaria and Hungary. This knowledge can be invaluable for those interested in exploring this diverse, historically, culturally and linguistically rich part of Europe and the world.

So to sum up, learning Romanian offers a delightful and enriching experience for language enthusiasts and non-language enthusiasts alike. Its connections with other Romance languages, its role as a bridge between Romance and Slavonic languages and even its unique Romance case system make it a fascinating linguistic adventure. But Romanian is so much more than just a language; it opens the door to a rich culture, vibrant music and dance traditions and a diverse culinary landscape. It serves as a bridge between East and West, making it a valuable asset for travellers, explorers, historians, art lovers and more . So, if you’re looking for a new language to learn or you’re just intrigued by Romance with a twist, consider Romanian as your gateway to a whole new world of culture and people and a bridge from the familiar to the exotic.