Work comes up fast in conversation, often right after your name. You don't need a script of job titles to handle it. What you really need is a clean introduction, the right level of politeness, and a couple of phrases to keep things moving. The Romanian curriculum we teach leans on exactly those building blocks, so we'll stick to phrases you can trust.
How do you introduce yourself?
Lead with your name, then where you're from. These two lines open almost every first meeting.
Why does formality matter so much at work?
Romanian has two words for “you,” and getting the level right is a sign of respect in a professional setting. Use the formal form with people you've just met or who outrank you.
That last question is how colleagues often agree to drop the formality. Wait for it, or let someone senior offer first.
Keeping the conversation polite
A few courteous lines smooth over the moments when your vocabulary runs short. Lean on them.
Useful forms of address
You'll hear these titles often. They pair with a last name or stand alone.
How to handle the gap when words run out
You won't have a Romanian word for every part of your job, and that's fine. The trick is to fall back on what you do have: your name, where you're from, a polite request, and a thank-you. Most colleagues will meet you halfway, often in English, once they see you trying in Romanian. The effort itself does most of the social work, well before your vocabulary catches up.
It also helps to listen for how people address each other. If everyone around you uses first names and the informal “tu,” you can follow their lead. If they keep things formal, stay with “dumneavoastră” until someone clearly invites you to relax it.
Get the formal “dumneavoastră” right and Romanian colleagues will notice. It signals respect more than any clever vocabulary would.
Start small. A solid introduction and the correct “you” will carry you through most first conversations at work, and the rest builds naturally once people relax around you.
The Learn Romanian app teaches the formal and informal forms side by side, with native audio you can practice offline, so you'll know which one to reach for in the moment. Try it free for 30 days.
