Romanian: The Latin You Didn’t Expect

When you think of Romance languages, Italian, Spanish, and French likely come to mind. But nestled in Eastern Europe, there’s another language that shares the same Latin roots. Romanian. It stands as a unique linguistic island, a testament to the enduring reach of the Roman Empire.

This is the story of a language that survived centuries of influence from powerful neighbors, emerging with its Latin soul largely intact.

A Brief History: Rome's Eastern Outpost

The story begins with the Roman conquest of Dacia in the early 2nd century AD. Latin became the language of administration and trade. Even after the Roman legions withdrew, the language spoken by the people, known as Common Romanian or Proto-Romanian, continued to evolve.

Its geographical position meant it was constantly in contact with other linguistic groups. Slavic influence was significant, especially from the 6th to the 12th centuries. Later, Hungarian, Turkish, and Greek left their marks. Yet, through it all, the core grammatical structure and a substantial part of the vocabulary remained fundamentally Latin.

This resilience is what makes Romanian so fascinating. It’s a language that has absorbed influences without losing its fundamental identity.

The Latin Core with a Slavic Coat

At first glance, Romanian can seem intimidating. The Cyrillic alphabet was used for centuries, only being replaced by a Latin-based one in the 19th century. Even today, you’ll find a significant number of Slavic-derived words, especially those related to basic aspects of life and nature.

But look closer. The grammar is unmistakably Romance.

Take the definite article, for example. Unlike its cousins that place it before the noun (like *the house*), Romanian attaches it to the end. *lup* means "wolf." *lupul* means "the wolf." *om* is "man." *omul* is "the man." This feature, called the enclitic definite article, is a hallmark of the language.

Verbs will also feel familiar to anyone who has studied a Romance language. They are conjugated for person and number, and the system of tenses is recognizably Latin. The verb "to be," *a fi*, conjugates in a way that echoes Spanish (*ser*) or French (*être*). *Eu sunt*, *tu ești*, *el/ea este*.

Then there's the neuter gender. Most Romance languages have two genders: masculine and feminine. Romanian has three. This is another feature preserved from Latin that its western cousins lost.

Pronunciation: Sounds of the Balkans

The Romanian sound system has its own distinct character. A few key letters stand out.

The most famous is probably "ă," a schwa sound, like the "a" in the English word "about." It’s everywhere.

Then there are "ț" and "ș," which are pronounced exactly like the "ts" in "cats" and the "sh" in "shop." They give the language a crisp, clear sound.

Perhaps the most unique are "â" and "î." Both represent the same sound, a close central unrounded vowel. Think of pursing your lips as if to say "oo" but trying to say "ee" instead. It’s a sound common in Slavic languages but rare in the Romance family.

A Language of Many Relatives

Romanian is not alone. It has several closely related dialects, often considered separate languages by some linguists. The most prominent are Aromanian, Megleno-Romanian, and Istro-Romanian, spoken by communities in the Balkans. These represent the remnants of a much larger Romance-speaking area in Southeastern Europe.

Within Romania itself, the language is remarkably uniform. Regional accents exist, but the standard language, based on the dialect of Wallachia, is understood by all.

What Makes Romanian Unique?

So, what sets Romanian apart from its Romance siblings?

It is the only Romance language in Eastern Europe, making it a linguistic outlier. Its isolation led to the preservation of certain Latin features, like the neuter gender and a more conservative case system for nouns. At the same time, its vocabulary is a rich tapestry woven from Latin, Slavic, Turkish, French, and modern English threads.

This blend creates a unique experience. You can read a sentence and clearly see its Latin foundation, while the words themselves tell a story of migration, empire, and cultural exchange.

Learning Romanian is not just about acquiring a new language. It’s about connecting with a living piece of Roman history, one that developed its own unique path. It’s the Latin you didn’t expect, waiting to be discovered.