The Romanian Language

Introduction

The Romanian language—or limba română in its native form—stands out as a unique Romance language in Eastern Europe. While surrounded by Slavic, Hungarian, and Turkish languages, Romanian remains firmly rooted in its Latin heritage, a relic of the Roman Empire's influence in the region. This makes Romanian both familiar to speakers of other Romance languages, such as Spanish or Italian, and distinct, thanks to centuries of cultural interaction with neighboring peoples. The language’s melodious sound, rich vocabulary, and deep historical ties make it one of the most fascinating languages to learn and explore. In this article, we will dive into the history of the Romanian language, the countries where it is spoken, its relationship to other languages, and the unique linguistic features that set it apart from the rest of the Romance family.

Number of Speakers

Romanian is spoken by approximately 24–26 million people worldwide. It is the official language of Romania, where it is spoken by around 19 million people as their first language. In Moldova, Romanian is also an official language, spoken by about 2.5 million people, though it is referred to as Moldovan in official contexts, reflecting the country’s complex political history.

Romanian-speaking communities exist beyond Romania and Moldova, particularly in neighboring countries such as Serbia, Ukraine, and Hungary, where smaller Romanian minorities have lived for centuries. There are also Romanian diaspora communities across the globe, particularly in countries like Italy, Spain, Canada, and the United States, where Romanian immigrants have settled. In these countries, Romanian is maintained as a home or community language, especially among first- and second-generation immigrants.

Romanian is one of the official languages of the European Union, as Romania has been a member state since 2007. This gives the language a wider presence in international institutions, where it is used in official documents and communications.

Historical Roots

The history of the Romanian language is deeply intertwined with the history of Romania and its surrounding regions. As a Romance language, Romanian evolved from Vulgar Latin, the colloquial form of Latin spoken by Roman soldiers, settlers, and traders in the provinces of the Roman Empire.

Romania’s Latin roots date back to 106 CE, when the Roman Empire, under Emperor Trajan, conquered the province of Dacia (modern-day Romania). Roman rule lasted for over a century and left a lasting linguistic imprint on the region. The Latin spoken by the Roman colonists gradually mixed with the local languages, giving birth to the earliest forms of what would become Romanian.

However, after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the territory of present-day Romania was invaded by a series of migratory peoples, including the Goths, Huns, Slavs, and Magyars. Despite these invasions, the Latin-based language spoken in the region survived, although it began to absorb words and influences from the Slavic, Greek, Turkish, and Hungarian languages, reflecting the region’s diverse cultural interactions.

By the 9th century, Romanian had developed into a distinct language, though it remained isolated from the other Romance languages spoken in Western Europe, such as Italian, Spanish, and French. This isolation allowed Romanian to retain many archaic Latin features that have since disappeared in the other Romance languages.

The first written evidence of Romanian appeared in the 16th century, with religious texts and legal documents written in Cyrillic script. However, starting in the 19th century, Romanian intellectuals and nationalists led efforts to Latinize the language, reintroducing Latin-based vocabulary and shifting the writing system to the Latin alphabet. This movement was part of a broader push to emphasize Romania’s Latin heritage and distinguish the language from the surrounding Slavic cultures.

By the end of the 19th century, modern Romanian as we know it had largely taken shape, and it became the language of education, government, and literature in Romania. Today, it remains the core of Romania’s national identity, a symbol of its unique place as a Romance-language-speaking country in Eastern Europe.

Countries Where Romanian is Spoken

Romanian is primarily spoken in Romania and Moldova, where it serves as the official language. In Romania, Romanian is used in all aspects of life, from government and education to media and business. Most Romanians are fluent in Romanian, and it is the primary language used in schools, government institutions, and everyday communication.

In Moldova, Romanian is also an official language, though it is often referred to as Moldovan in the context of Moldovan politics. This distinction is largely political rather than linguistic, as Romanian and Moldovan are mutually intelligible and effectively the same language. The use of Romanian in Moldova is a reflection of the country’s shared cultural and historical ties with Romania, though the Moldovan identity has been shaped by years of Russian and Soviet influence.

Beyond Romania and Moldova, there are Romanian-speaking minorities in neighboring countries, such as:

  • Serbia, particularly in the Vojvodina region.
  • Hungary, especially in the eastern border areas.
  • Ukraine, in the region of Bukovina and along the border with Romania.

In addition to these neighboring regions, large Romanian diaspora communities exist in countries across the world, especially in Western Europe and North America. Countries like Italy, Spain, and Germany have sizable Romanian-speaking populations due to economic migration in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Many Romanian immigrants maintain their language and culture, passing Romanian down to their children, while also integrating into their host countries.

Related Languages

Romanian is part of the Romance language family, which includes Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Catalan. All these languages evolved from Vulgar Latin, the spoken Latin used in the Roman Empire. Among the Romance languages, Romanian is often considered the most conservative in terms of its grammar and vocabulary, having preserved several archaic Latin features that have been lost in other Romance languages.

However, over the centuries, Romanian has also been influenced by the Slavic, Turkish, Hungarian, and Greek languages, due to the region’s history of invasions, trade, and cultural exchange. This has resulted in a distinctive blend of Latin-based vocabulary and foreign loanwords, particularly in areas such as religion, law, and everyday life.

Among the Romance languages, Italian is the closest relative to Romanian, and the two languages share many similarities in terms of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Speakers of Romanian and Italian often find it easier to understand each other than speakers of Romanian and other Romance languages like French or Spanish, though the degree of mutual intelligibility is still limited.

While Romanian has preserved its Latin roots, it also has significant Slavic influences, particularly in its vocabulary. This is due to the region’s long history of interaction with Slavic-speaking peoples, especially during the medieval period. For example, the Romanian word for "thank you," mulțumesc, comes from the Slavic mulțiti, meaning "to praise." The influence of Slavic is most noticeable in rural dialects and in words related to agriculture, religion, and traditional customs.

Romanian is unique among the Romance languages in that it developed in relative isolation from the other Romance-speaking regions of Western Europe, which allowed it to maintain many archaic features. For example, Romanian has preserved the case system for nouns, using different forms to indicate the subject, object, or possessive role of a noun—something that has disappeared in most other Romance languages.

Unique Features of Romanian

The Romanian language has several distinctive features that set it apart from other Romance languages and make it a fascinating study for language learners:

  1. Slavic Influence: Despite its Latin roots, Romanian has a significant amount of Slavic loanwords due to centuries of cultural contact with Slavic neighbors. This gives Romanian a unique character compared to other Romance languages. For instance, while "church" in Italian is chiesa, in French is église, and in Spanish is iglesia, in Romanian, it is biserică, a word borrowed from the Slavic cerkva. However, despite these borrowings, Romanian remains predominantly Latin-based in terms of its core grammar and vocabulary.

  2. Cases: Romanian is the only Romance language that has retained a significant use of noun cases, which were a key feature of Classical Latin. Romanian nouns can appear in different forms depending on their grammatical role in the sentence. There are two cases in modern Romanian: the nominative-accusative and the genitive-dative, with distinct forms for singular and plural nouns. This system makes Romanian grammar more complex than that of other Romance languages but adds to its richness.

  3. Articles: In Romanian, definite articles (the equivalent of "the" in English) are suffixed to the end of the noun, unlike in other Romance languages, where they precede the noun. For example:

    • "The boy" is băiatul in Romanian (where băiat means "boy" and the definite article -ul is attached to the noun).
    • "The girl" is fata (where fată means "girl" and -a is the definite article). This feature is more similar to Bulgarian and Macedonian than to other Romance languages like French or Italian, where the article comes before the noun (e.g., le garçon in French or il ragazzo in Italian).

  4. Verbal Conjugation: Romanian verbs follow similar patterns to those found in other Romance languages, but with some unique forms. Romanian verbs are conjugated according to person, number, and tense, and they have four main conjugation classes. Romanian also uses a subjunctive mood, which expresses wishes, possibilities, or doubts, much like in Italian and Spanish.

  5. Phonology: Romanian has a melodic and vowel-rich sound due to its Latin roots, but it also features softer consonant clusters and sounds that resemble Slavic languages. The Romanian language has seven vowels and several diphthongs, which give it a pleasant musicality, similar to Italian. It also features the Romanian "î" or "â" sound, which is not found in other Romance languages. This sound can be challenging for learners because it doesn’t exist in most Indo-European languages, making pronunciation unique to Romanian.

  6. Folk Expressions and Proverbs: Romanian is rich in folklore, and many expressions are tied to the country's deep connection with its traditions and agrarian past. For example, "apa trece, pietrele rămân" ("the water flows, but the stones remain") is a Romanian proverb that reflects the resilience of people in the face of life’s changes—a poetic and powerful aspect of the language.

Cultural Impact of Romanian

The Romanian language is deeply intertwined with Romania’s history, literature, and cultural identity. Romania has produced world-renowned writers, poets, and philosophers whose works have been celebrated in Romanian and translated into numerous languages.

One of the most famous Romanian authors is Mihai Eminescu, regarded as Romania’s national poet. His works, including the epic poem Luceafărul (The Morning Star), have become a symbol of Romanian literary culture. Eminescu’s romantic and philosophical writing is deeply tied to Romanian identity, exploring themes of love, nature, and nationalism. His language is poetic, rich with metaphors, and reflective of Romania’s folklore and rural heritage.

Another key figure in Romanian literature is Mircea Eliade, a philosopher and historian of religion whose works, such as The Myth of the Eternal Return and The Sacred and the Profane, have had a significant influence on the study of religious history worldwide. Eliade wrote in Romanian and French, and his works explore the intersection of myth, time, and human existence, offering a unique Romanian perspective on universal questions.

In the world of theater, Eugène Ionesco, a Romanian-French playwright, became one of the most prominent figures in the Theater of the Absurd. His plays, such as Rhinocéros and La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald Soprano), explore the absurdity of human existence and language itself. Ionesco’s work is celebrated not only for its innovation but also for its commentary on the political and social realities of his time, offering a uniquely Romanian perspective on global themes.

Romanian music, particularly folk music, also plays an essential role in the cultural landscape. Romanian folk music is known for its haunting melodies, vivid storytelling, and the use of traditional instruments like the cimbalom, pan flute, and violin. This music reflects Romania’s rural traditions and deep connection to the natural world. Folk songs often tell stories of love, struggle, and celebration, preserving the essence of Romanian cultural identity.

Learning Romanian as a Foreign Language

For language learners, Romanian presents both challenges and rewards. While its Latin roots make it relatively accessible to speakers of other Romance languages such as Spanish, Italian, or French, its Slavic influences and unique grammar features—such as the noun case system and postfixed definite articles—add an extra layer of complexity.

Romanian’s phonetic spelling is one of its advantages. Unlike English, where spelling and pronunciation can be unpredictable, Romanian words are generally pronounced as they are written. This consistency makes it easier for learners to master pronunciation, even if some sounds, like the î/â vowel, are unique to Romanian.

For speakers of other Romance languages, Romanian’s verb conjugations and tenses will feel familiar, though learners will need to familiarize themselves with some unique forms. Romanian’s vocabulary is also largely recognizable to speakers of Romance languages, thanks to its Latin roots, though there are a significant number of Slavic, Turkish, and Hungarian loanwords that reflect the country’s diverse history.

There are numerous resources for learning Romanian, including language apps like Duolingo and Memrise, online courses, and textbooks. For learners seeking full immersion, Romania itself is an ideal destination, with its vibrant cities, stunning countryside, and friendly locals providing ample opportunity to practice the language in real-life contexts.

Varieties of Romanian

The Romanian language is relatively homogeneous, with few significant dialectal differences compared to other languages. However, there are some regional variations, particularly in pronunciation and vocabulary. The most commonly recognized varieties of Romanian include:

  1. Daco-Romanian: This is the standard form of Romanian spoken in Romania and Moldova. It is the variety taught in schools and used in official communications, media, and literature.

  2. Aromanian: Spoken by the Aromanian people in the Balkans, particularly in Greece, Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. While closely related to Daco-Romanian, Aromanian has its own distinct grammatical structures and vocabulary, reflecting its long history of isolation from Romania.

  3. Megleno-Romanian: A nearly extinct variety spoken by small communities in North Macedonia and Greece. It is one of the least studied and least spoken of the Romanian dialects, with very few remaining speakers today.

  4. Istro-Romanian: Spoken by a small number of people in Istria, Croatia. Istro-Romanian is considered highly endangered, with fewer than 1,000 native speakers remaining. It has significant influences from Croatian and Italian due to its geographic location.

While there are some differences between these varieties, they are all part of the broader Eastern Romance group, and speakers of different varieties can usually understand each other with relative ease. Standard Romanian, based on the Daco-Romanian variety, remains the dominant form used in education, government, and media across Romania and Moldova.

The Future of Romanian

The future of the Romanian language looks promising, as it continues to thrive both within Romania and Moldova and among Romanian-speaking communities around the world. Romanian is the official language of Romania and Moldova, and it plays a central role in education, media, and government in both countries. The language’s status as an official language of the European Union also ensures that it is recognized and supported at the international level.

However, like many languages, Romanian faces challenges from the increasing dominance of English, particularly in areas such as science, technology, and business. Many young Romanians are fluent in English, and there is a growing trend of using English in professional and academic settings. Despite this, Romanian remains the dominant language in everyday life, and efforts to promote and preserve the language continue.

The Romanian diaspora also plays a key role in the future of the language. With millions of Romanians living abroad, particularly in Western Europe, there is a growing interest in maintaining the language and passing it on to future generations. Romanian-language schools, cultural organizations, and media outlets in countries like Italy, Spain, and Canada help ensure that Romanian remains a vibrant part of these communities.

In addition to its strong presence in Romania and Moldova, the increasing popularity of Romanian culture, including music, film, and literature, has helped promote the language to new audiences worldwide. Romania’s participation in the European Union and the growing international recognition of its cultural contributions further enhance the visibility and vitality of the Romanian language on the global stage.

Conclusion

The Romanian language is a testament to the resilience and cultural richness of Romania and its people. As the only Romance language spoken in Eastern Europe, Romanian occupies a unique position at the crossroads of Latin, Slavic, Turkish, and Hungarian influences, creating a language that is both familiar and distinct.

For language learners, Romanian offers the opportunity to explore one of the most melodic and complex Romance languages, with its rich history, unique grammar, and vivid expressions. Whether you are drawn to the language for its Latin heritage, its literary traditions, or its modern cultural contributions, Romanian provides a rewarding and engaging linguistic journey.

As Romania continues to grow as a key player in European politics, culture, and business, the Romanian language will remain a vital part of the country’s identity, preserving its past while embracing its future on the global stage.