Travel

20 Essential Romanian Phrases for Travelers

The Romanian phrases that actually help on a trip: directions, the pharmacy, being polite, and getting unstuck, each with pronunciation.

Published June 1, 2026 · 3 min read

A traveler checking their phone in Europe

You don’t need to be fluent to travel well in Romania. You need maybe twenty phrases, said with a smile. These are the ones that earn their keep, grouped by the moment you’ll use them.

Being polite

Mulțumesc!mool-tsoo-MESKThank you!
Vă rog.vuh ROHGPlease. / You’re welcome.
Scuzați-mă.skoo-ZAHTS-muhExcuse me.
Nu înțeleg.noo uhn-tseh-LEGI don’t understand.

Finding your way

Unde este...?OON-deh YES-tehWhere is...?
Cum ajung la...?koom ah-ZHOONG lahHow do I get to...?
La stânga.lah STUHN-gahTo the left.
La dreapta.lah DRYAHP-tahTo the right.
Drept înainte.drept uhn-ah-EEN-tehStraight ahead.
M-am pierdut.mahm pyehr-DOOTI am lost.

At the shop or café

Cât costă?kuht KOS-tuhHow much is it?
Vreau o cafea, vă rog.VRYOW oh kah-FAH, vuh ROHGI want a coffee, please.
Nota, vă rog.NOH-tah, vuh ROHGThe bill, please.

At the pharmacy

Pharmacies (farmacie) handle a lot of minor problems in Romania, so these are worth having ready.

Am nevoie de ceva pentru durere de cap.ahm neh-VOY-eh deh CHEH-vah PEN-troo doo-REH-reh deh kahpI need something for a headache.
Mă doare stomacul.muh DWAH-reh sto-MAH-koolMy stomach hurts.
Sunt alergic la penicilină.soont ah-LER-jeek lah peh-nee-chee-LEE-nuhI am allergic to penicillin.

When you get stuck

Vorbiți engleză?vor-BEETS en-GLEH-zuhDo you speak English?
Mai rar, vă rog.my RAHR, vuh ROHGSlower, please.
Puteți repeta?poo-TETS reh-peh-TAHCan you repeat that?

Save these to your phone before you fly. With our app they download for offline use, so you’ll have them on the plane and anywhere the signal drops.

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Frequently asked questions

Do people in Romania speak English?

In cities and tourist areas, many younger people speak some English. Outside those areas it’s less common, so a handful of Romanian phrases goes a long way and is always appreciated.

What are the most useful Romanian phrases for tourists?

“Mulțumesc” (thank you), “Vă rog” (please), “Unde este…?” (where is…?), and “Cât costă?” (how much?) cover a lot of everyday situations.

How do you ask for directions in Romanian?

Use “Cum ajung la…?” (how do I get to…?) or “Unde este…?” (where is…?). The replies you’ll hear most are “la stânga” (left), “la dreapta” (right), and “drept înainte” (straight ahead).