Start with the Basics: Sounds, Alphabet, and Greetings
Romanian uses the Latin alphabet with five key diacritics: ă, â, î, ș, ț. Good news for beginners: vowels are consistent, and many words look familiar if you’ve seen Spanish, French, or Italian. Spend your first minutes on clear sounds—especially ă (uh), î/â (closed i), and the soft sh/ts of ș/ț.
Memorize a few friendly phrases and you’ll start speaking right away. Pronounce slowly, then build speed: Bună (hi), Mulțumesc (thank you), Te rog (please), Da (yes), Nu (no). Record yourself and compare with native audio to correct early.
- Alphabet focus: Ă ă, Â â, Î î, Ș ș, Ț ț
- Core words: salut, bună, pa, da, nu
- Polite phrases: te rog, mulțumesc, cu plăcere
A 15-Minute Daily Routine That Covers All Skills
Consistency beats cramming. In just 15 minutes a day, you can learn efficiently and avoid overwhelm. Touch all four skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—so you progress evenly. Keep a simple tracker and a small deck of phrases.
Use a timer. If you have more time, repeat the cycle twice. If less, cut each block in half but keep the order. This structure keeps focus high for a beginner while staying free and online.
- 3 min: Review yesterday’s phrases aloud
- 4 min: Listen to slow audio; shadow 2–3 lines
- 5 min: Build 3 sentences using today’s pattern
- 3 min: Quick write-up; screenshot or save to a pdf
Free Online Tools and Handy PDF Cheat Sheets
Start with free online courses, learners’ dictionaries, and YouTube channels that feature slow Romanian. Download a compact pdf with the alphabet, common phrases, and a mini-grammar page. Keep it on your phone for offline review in spare minutes.
Mix formats for stronger memory. Alternate between video explanations, audio dialogs, and printable sheets. Keep your materials simple and consistent so you don’t context-switch too much.
- Online courses for A1–A2 with checkpoints
- Free dictionaries with audio and verb tables
- YouTube: slow conversations + subtitles
- PDFs: alphabet, phrases, numbers, verb “a fi”
Grammar and Vocabulary for Beginners: The Essentials
Focus on building blocks you’ll use daily. Learn pronouns (eu, tu, el/ea, noi, voi, ei/ele), the verb a fi (to be), and a avea (to have). Romanian nouns have gender and often a postposed article (băiatul = the boy). Don’t aim for perfection; aim for clarity.
Grow vocabulary in chunks, not single words. Learn patterns like “Eu vreau… (I want…)”, “Unde este…? (Where is…?)”, and “Cât costă…? (How much is…?)”. These unlock real conversations fast.
- Verbs first: a fi (sunt, ești, este), a avea (am, ai, are)
- Question starters: ce, unde, când, cât, de ce
- Everyday nouns: apă, cafea, bilet, meniu, camere
- Numbers 1–20; days, months, time phrases
Practice That Sticks: Speaking, Listening, Reading
Speak early and often. Shadow short lines with transcripts, then switch a word or two to create your own sentences. For listening, use slow recordings, repeat, and note one new phrase per session. For reading, start with menus, signs, and short dialogues.
Track progress weekly: What can you say without notes? Record a 30-second self-introduction and update it every 7 days. You’ll hear real improvement in just a few weeks of consistent minutes.
- Micro-goals: 3 new phrases per day, every day
- Weekend review: compile notes into one pdf
- Low-pressure speaking: voice notes to a friend
FAQ
- How long to reach A1–A2 if I study a few minutes daily?
- With 15–25 minutes a day, many beginners hit A1 in 8–12 weeks and A2 in 3–6 months. Keep it consistent, recycle the basics weekly, and use short speaking tasks to lock in what you learn.
- Is Romanian hard for English speakers?
- Romanian is one of the more approachable languages for English speakers thanks to Latin roots and clear pronunciation rules. The trickiest parts are diacritics and noun gender, but steady beginner practice solves these.
- Can I learn romanian online for free without a teacher?
- Yes. Combine free online courses, slow-audio channels, and a printable pdf cheat sheet. Follow a daily routine that touches all skills, and add occasional language exchanges for real conversation.
- What’s the best way to memorize vocabulary?
- Use spaced repetition plus chunks. Learn phrases you’ll actually say, not isolated words. Revisit them in minutes-long sessions, then produce your own variations aloud and in writing.
- Do I really need the diacritics (ă, â, î, ș, ț)?
- Yes. They change meaning and pronunciation. Add a keyboard layout, practice minimal pairs, and keep a small pdf reference. Mastering diacritics early prevents confusion later.