Since Monday can be a depressing day, it’s a good time to cover a common Romanian noun known as belea (beh-leh-AH).
It’s another one of those nouns that has a number of similar meanings, all adding up to add a layered nuance to the word.
Def. 1: “An unforeseen incident that brings trouble, suffering or disharmony.”
Def. 2: “A complicated and unpleasant situation.”
In my imagination I can see someone involved in some nightmarish divorce proceedings that are extremely lengthy and emotionally gut-wrenching and cost a lot of money and headaches. That would be o belea.
A lot of Romanians believe their lives are plagued by many instances of one belea or sometimes multiple, entertwined belele.
There’s also often a strong emphasis on the victimhood of the person suffering from being involved in a belea and he/she is not to blame and in fact it is completely unfair it is even happening to them!
AND NOW YOU KNOW!
All Things Romania 
Belele, like in “Southern Belele”.
Now seriously, I’d translate it as “jinx”.
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Correct; I suppose I combined the ideas of meaning and definition together :)
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Technically there’s a third meaning and it’s heavily used among cocalari and manelari; “de belea” or simply “belea” can also designate something that is a good thing.
Beleaua aia de fata e belea frate.
That awful girl(could mean annoying family, poor manners, morals or a cock-tease) is really awesome (usually translatable by pretty, hot, amazing).
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Awesome! But wouldn’t that be the first slang definition?
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