Romanian · Advanced

Romanian Common Mistakes and False Friends

Romanian words and phrases that are easily confused or misused, explained for learners. Front: the confusing Romanian word or phrase. Back: explanation of the correct usage or meaning.

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librărie

Means 'bookstore' in Romanian, not 'library'. The word for library is 'bibliotecă'.

actual

Means 'current, present-day', not 'actual, real' (that meaning is 'real' or 'propriu-zis').

a realiza

Traditionally means 'to achieve, to carry out'; under English influence it can now also mean 'to realize, to understand', which confuses learners about which sense is meant.

familiar

Means 'informal, casual' in Romanian, not 'familiar' in the sense of 'well-known' (that would be 'cunoscut').

a asista

Means 'to attend, to be present at' (a lecture, a show), not 'to assist, to help' (that is 'a ajuta').

sensibil

Means 'sensitive'; it is often confused with English 'sensible', which is actually 'rezonabil' or 'chibzuit' in Romanian.

eventual

Means 'possibly, perhaps' in Romanian, not 'eventual, final' (that would be 'final' or 'care va urma').

a controla

Can mean 'to check, to inspect' as well as 'to control'; learners often only think of the narrower English sense.

a suporta

Means 'to bear, to endure, to withstand'; only secondarily 'to support financially', which is more precisely 'a susține' or 'a întreține'.

confecție

Means 'ready-made clothing' (as in 'haine de confecție'), not 'confection, sweets' (that is 'dulciuri').

a pretinde

Means 'to claim, to demand', not 'to pretend' (that is 'a se preface').

servietă

Means 'briefcase', not 'napkin' (that is 'șervețel'); easy to confuse by spelling.

a agrea

Means 'to like, to be fond of' or 'to approve of', slightly different in nuance from English 'to agree', which is usually 'a fi de acord'.

cameră

Means 'room' in Romanian, not a photographic device (that is 'aparat foto').

rest

Means 'change' (money returned), not 'rest' as in relaxation (that is 'odihnă').

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