Lately I’ve been seeing this expression contra cost pop up a lot and I really didn’t understand it. After all, contra means “against”, so did it mean free (no charge)? Or did it mean something akin to “at a minimum cost”? No. Turns out it’s related to a euphemism for prostitution and “contra cost” means to do something for money. It doesn’t necessarily have to … Continue reading Word of the Day: Contra Cost
Earlier today, I was walking down the rainy streets of the unicorn-laced metropolis of Cluj-Napoca when a man stopped me to ask me (in Romanian) for directions to the “Mitropol”. I asked him if he meant the religious term or a casino or what it was as I didn’t know to what he was referring. He kept insisting it was a restaurant close by and … Continue reading Word of the Day: Habar
Hey, it’s been a while since I’ve done an old-fashioned Romanian language lesson, eh? But it’s Friday and for some odd reason, I always get the urge to write on the subject at the end of the week. So let’s do it! Click on the links below to see the gender and declinations for each word, some of which can be very tricky for those … Continue reading Vessels and Containers
Well yesterday I used a word that some of you had probably never heard before. I do indeed hope you never hear it during your time in Romania or while speaking to Romanians. Sadly, however, it is a word that’s all too regularly employed. I am referring to țeapă (tZOPP-uh). Sometimes you’ll see it spelled online as “tzeapa” or even “tzapa” due to the inability … Continue reading Slang Word of the Day: Ţeapă
Until you speak Romanian more or less fluently, I do not recommend you use the word tanti (tawn-tee) but you may hear it and wonder what it means. As you can see at the link, it’s a word that’s used to address a woman, particularly an “older” woman. It would never, ever be used for a young woman in any situation. It comes straight from … Continue reading Word of the Day: Tanti
All Things Romania 