If you wander long enough in Romanian cities, you will eventually see a sign that says cu exceptie riveranilor. What in the world does this mean?

The word riveran certainly looks like the word river, and for a good reason. It comes from a French word that means “on the banks of a river”. Therefore in Romanian it refers to “people who live on the banks of a river”.

Except that the signs with this word are posted on streets that are not always alongside a river. In essence, what it means (when posted as a street sign) is that cu exceptie riveranilor “with the sole exception of those people living along the banks of this street”, nobody else may enter.

Or in simpler terms: the street is closed to through traffic.

AND NOW YOU KNOW!