The Forgotten Romance Language of Eastern Europe.
Live 1-on-1 Romanian lessons with expert teachers. Latin roots like French and Spanish, a thriving IT economy, and a rich cultural heritage — from your very first session. Trial lesson from $1.
Why Learn Romanian?
24M Speakers
Romanian is spoken by 24 million people in Romania and Moldova, plus significant diaspora communities in Italy, Spain, Germany, and the US.
Romance Language
Romanian shares Latin roots with Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. If you know a Romance language, you have a massive head start.
EU Member & Growing Economy
Romania is an EU member with one of Europe's fastest-growing economies. Its tech and outsourcing sectors are attracting international businesses and talent.
Heritage Diaspora
Over 3 million Romanians live abroad. Significant communities in Italy (1.1M), Spain (750K), Germany (800K), and the US.
Romanian's Latin Roots — See the Family Resemblance
Romanian descends from the same Vulgar Latin as Spanish, French, and Italian. The table below shows how Romanian shares clear cognates with its Romance siblings.
| English | Romanian | Spanish | French | Italian | Latin Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | apă | agua | eau | acqua | aqua |
| Night | noapte | noche | nuit | notte | noctem |
| Good | bun | bueno | bon | buono | bonus |
| Name | nume | nombre | nom | nome | nomen |
| Love | dragoste | amor | amour | amore | amor |
Choose Your Learning Path
Conversational Romanian
Everyday spoken Romanian — pronunciation, natural speech, and real-world dialogues. Build confidence from day one.
Romanian for Business & IT
Romania has one of Europe's fastest-growing IT sectors. Business Romanian for outsourcing, tech, and professional contexts.
Heritage Connection
For Romanian diaspora and heritage learners reconnecting with family language. Tutors experienced with heritage learner needs.
Romance Language Fast Track
Already speak Spanish, French, Italian, or Portuguese? Romanian shares deep Latin roots — your existing knowledge accelerates everything.
Meet Your Romanian Teachers
Andreea P.
Bucharest
Univ. of Bucharest, Romanian Philology · 9 yrs
Standard Romanian & Bucharest Cultural Immersion
Mihai C.
Cluj-Napoca
Babeș-Bolyai Univ., Linguistics · 7 yrs
Transylvanian Accent & Literary Romanian
Elena D.
New York
Columbia, Romance Languages · 8 yrs
Diaspora Romanian & Heritage Reconnection
CEFR + DRLR Level Guide
The DRLR (Diploma in Romanian Language and Civilization) is the official Romanian language certificate, awarded by the Institute of the Romanian Language in Bucharest and recognized by Romanian universities and employers.
| Level | Name | Study Hours | Can Do | DRLR Exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner | 0–80 | Introduce yourself, handle basic greetings, read simple Romanian signs. | — |
| A2 | Elementary | 80–200 | Routine exchanges, describe your environment, basic conversations. | — |
| B1 | Intermediate | 200–400 | Navigate travel, express opinions, understand everyday texts. | DRLR B1 |
| B2 | Upper-Intermediate | 400–700 | Complex topics, literature, professional communication. | DRLR B2 |
| C1 | Advanced | 700–1000 | Academic texts, nuanced argument, idiomatic fluency. | DRLR C1 |
| C2 | Mastery | 1000+ | Near-native literary and intellectual discourse. | DRLR C2 |
Your 4-Week Starter Plan
Romanian Pronunciation & Alphabet
Romanian uses the Latin script — no new alphabet needed. Focus on unique sounds: ă (schwa), â/î (central vowel), ș (sh), ț (ts). Faster than Slavic languages for Romance speakers.
Core Vocabulary & Latin Roots
200 most-used words. If you know Spanish or French, you will recognize 40–60% immediately. Build on your existing Romance vocabulary.
Grammar Fundamentals
Romanian noun genders (masculine, feminine, neuter), definite article attached to end of word — unique among Romance languages. Basic verb conjugation.
First Real Conversations
Introduce yourself, navigate Bucharest daily life, handle basic business interactions. Ready for A2 progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close is Romanian to Spanish and Italian?
Romanian is a Romance language — descended directly from Vulgar Latin like Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. Core vocabulary shows clear Latin roots across all five languages. Romanian diverges in some grammar features (noun cases, postposed definite article) and has absorbed Slavic loanwords — but a Spanish or Italian speaker recognizes 40–60% of Romanian vocabulary immediately. Learning Romanian is significantly faster for Romance language speakers.
Does Romanian use the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet?
Romanian uses the Latin alphabet — the same script as English, Spanish, and French. No new writing system to learn. Romanian has five additional characters: ă, â, î, ș, and ț, which follow consistent pronunciation rules. Most learners master Romanian spelling within days.
Is Romanian the same as Moldovan?
Moldovan and Romanian are the same language. Moldova's official name for the language was officially changed to 'Romanian' in 2023 by the Moldovan Constitutional Court. The historically separate name 'Moldovan' was a Soviet-era distinction. Speakers in Romania and Moldova understand each other fully, with minor dialect and accent differences comparable to US vs UK English.
How long does it take to become conversational in Romanian?
Romanian is a Category II language for English speakers — significantly easier than Slavic or Asian languages. Most learners reach conversational A2–B1 in 5–8 months. Spanish or Italian speakers can reach B1 in 3–5 months. The Romanian case system and postposed articles are the main learning hurdles.
Why is Romanian called the 'forgotten Romance language'?
Romanian is the easternmost Romance language — isolated from French, Spanish, and Italian by Slavic-speaking countries, it evolved separately over 2,000 years. It preserved Latin features lost in Western Romance languages (noun cases, neuter gender) while absorbing Slavic, Greek, and Turkish vocabulary. It is a living linguistic time capsule of Eastern Latin.
Start your Romanian journey today
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