You might remember my posts on the slang usage of the words marfa and tare, both of which mean “cool” or “awesome” or “brilliant”. Now here’s yet another word with similar meanings: beton (beh-tone). The standard meaning of this noun, borrowed directly from the French, is “concrete” as in the ancient mixture of sand and water to form a rock-like substance. Over time this got … Continue reading Slang Word of the Day: Beton
Over the years I’ve scoured websites, textbooks and other material looking for a concise chapter to explain the dash “-” mark in Romanian syntax and yet never found it. Perhaps it exists somewhere and you can provide us with a link. But for now you’ll have to do with my mini guide. I actually used to write Romanian before I spoke or understood a single … Continue reading That Damn Dash Mark
Just a brief note on this one topic because I see it get mangled over and over. In the Romanian language, money (banii – bawnee) is always a plural word with normal plural declensions and is not a singular word as it is in English in most cases. Watch: Banii vorbesc – Literally “money(s) talk” – using the collective plural form of the verb rather … Continue reading Money Talk
Oh my word, I just found this old post that was printed in the (UK) Telegraph newspaper, which made me smile. I have to give this lady respect for her honesty, that’s for sure. A few choice quotes: As my third anniversary in Bucharest passed, I realised I was becoming that person I had previously derided: the expat who has spent years in a country … Continue reading Following the 37 Steps :P
When I first came to Romania, I was confronted with a wild and dazzling array of different kinds of music, most of which I had never heard before. It also didn’t help that I couldn’t understand the words either. In fact, due to my odd memory, I can tell you exactly which song I heard in Romanian first, an old and very popular ballad by … Continue reading Music in Romania
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