Romanian prepositions connect a noun or pronoun to the rest of the sentence: Cartea este pe masă. (The book is on the table.) The same short word can express more than one relation, so learn each preposition with a few useful meanings and examples rather than with one fixed English translation.
How do core Romanian prepositions behave?
The preposition itself is invariable, and the core set in this lesson normally introduces an accusative noun phrase; the noun usually keeps its nominative-accusative form while its article still matters.
| Pattern | What to notice | Example |
|---|---|---|
| The preposition does not agree | cu stays the same with every subject or noun | Vorbesc cu Ana. (I speak with Ana.) / Vorbim cu Ana. (We speak with Ana.) |
| The noun phrase is normally accusative | For this core set, do not add a genitive-dative form just because English uses to or of | pentru o studentă (for a female student), not pentru unei studente |
| în + un/o | The two parts are written together as într-un and într-o | Locuiesc într-un oraș mare. (I live in a big city.) |
| din + un/o | The two parts are written together as dintr-un and dintr-o | Vin dintr-o țară mică. (I come from a small country.) |
| Article choice depends on the phrase | Some nouns keep a suffixed article, while conventional locative phrases can use a bare noun | cu profesorul (with the teacher), but pe masă (on the table) |
This is a practical starting point, not a rule for every Romanian preposition. Compound prepositions and prepositions that select the genitive or dative need separate treatment in the Romanian case system and prepositions with the accusative.
Which preposition expresses the basic relation?
Start with the relation in the situation, then choose the Romanian preposition. The English gloss is only a guide: one Romanian preposition can cover several English choices, and one English preposition can have several Romanian equivalents.
| Preposition | Core meanings | Example |
|---|---|---|
| la | at, to a point or institution; at a time | Sunt la bibliotecă. (I am at the library.) / Ne vedem la ora șase. (We will see each other at six.) |
| în | in, inside; in a period | Cheile sunt în geantă. (The keys are in the bag.) / În iunie plecăm. (In June we are leaving.) |
| din | from a place or out of an interior | Sunt din Cluj. (I am from Cluj.) / Ies din casă. (I am going out of the house.) |
| de | of; a link for type, contents, or a relation | un curs de română (a Romanian course) / o cană de ceai (a cup of tea) |
| cu | with; using; together with | Merg cu trenul. (I am going by train.) / Ceai cu lămâie. (Tea with lemon.) |
| fără | without; in the absence of | Cafea fără zahăr, vă rog. (Coffee without sugar, please.) |
| pentru | for a person, recipient, purpose, or occasion | Cadoul este pentru Ana. (The gift is for Ana.) / Învăț pentru examen. (I am studying for the exam.) |
| pe | on, onto, along a surface; also a direct-object marker in some sentences | Telefonul este pe masă. (The phone is on the table.) / O văd pe Maria. (I see Maria.) |
| până | until a time or as far as an endpoint | Lucrez până la ora cinci. (I work until five.) / Mergem până la gară. (We are going as far as the station.) |
What noun forms should you use after them?
Choose the noun phrase's article and number for the intended meaning and the conventional prepositional pattern, then use the accusative form for this core group. Some phrases keep a suffixed definite article, as in cu profesorul, while common locative phrases can use a bare noun, as in pe masă. The main spelling pattern to memorize is the contraction of în and din with the indefinite articles un and o.
| Noun phrase | Romanian | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| în + un | într-un oraș | in a city |
| în + o | într-o cameră | in a room |
| din + un | dintr-un oraș | from a city |
| din + o | dintr-o cameră | from a room |
| another preposition + un/o | cu un coleg / pentru o colegă | with a colleague / for a female colleague |
| article choice in context | pe masă / cu profesorul | on the table / with the teacher |
Do not confuse într-un with în un or dintr-o with din o in neutral Standard Romanian spelling. The forms într-un, într-o, dintr-un, and dintr-o are the regular written forms when în or din comes before an indefinite singular noun.
Why is one English preposition not enough?
| English idea | Romanian choice | Contrast |
|---|---|---|
| with / by means of | cu | Scriu cu un pix. (I write with a pen.) |
| for / intended for | pentru | Biletul este pentru tine. (The ticket is for you.) |
| until / deadline | până | Aștept până mâine. (I will wait until tomorrow.) |
| at a place / inside a place | la or în | Sunt la școală. (I am at school.) / Sunt în școală. (I am inside the school building.) |
| on a surface / direct object | pe | Cartea este pe masă. (The book is on the table.) / Văd cartea. (I see the book.) |
The last pair is especially important: lexical pe means a relation such as on or onto, while marker pe can identify a direct object, especially a person. In O văd pe Maria, pe does not mean on. The direct-object marker article gives the fuller animacy and definiteness contrasts.
Neutral and context-sensitive choices
The forms above are neutral contemporary Standard Romanian. Do not turn la and în into a universal English-style rule such as “la means city” or “în means country.” Context, the kind of place, and sometimes the intended geographic reference matter; DOOM3 illustrates that la Cluj can refer to the city while în Cluj can be used for the county in a context that needs the distinction. The dedicated la versus în location contrast goes further.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not translate every English to as la: până la gară means as far as the station, while ordinary place choices depend on the situation.
- Do not use pe as a general replacement for în or la. Compare Cartea este pe masă. (The book is on the table.) with Cartea este în geantă. (The book is in the bag).
- Do not use de for every English with: use cu for association or an instrument, as in cu prietenii (with friends) and cu autobuzul (by bus).
- Do not leave în and din separate before un or o: write într-un, într-o, dintr-un, and dintr-o.
- Do not assume that a preposition changes the noun into a genitive-dative form. For this core group, start with the accusative phrase and check the selected preposition when you meet a new construction.
Which phrase means “coffee without sugar”?
- cafea cu zahăr
- cafea fără zahăr
- cafea pentru zahăr
- cafea din zahăr
Fără means without, so cafea fără zahăr is coffee without sugar. Cu means with, while pentru and din express different relations.
Complete the sentence: Locuiesc ___ oraș mare. (I live in a big city.)
- în un
- dintr-un
- într-o
- într-un
Before masculine or neuter un, în is written as într-un: Locuiesc într-un oraș mare. Într-o is the feminine form, and dintr-un means from a city.
Which sentence means “The gift is for Ana”?
- Cadoul este pentru Ana.
- Cadoul este cu Ana.
- Cadoul este de Ana.
- Cadoul este pe Ana.
Use pentru for an intended recipient: Cadoul este pentru Ana. Cu means with, de has other linking meanings here, and pe does not mean for.
Which sentence uses pe as a direct-object marker rather than as a surface preposition?
- Cartea este pe masă.
- Stau pe scaun.
- O văd pe Maria.
- Merg pe jos.
In O văd pe Maria, pe marks the identifiable person who is the direct object. In the other sentences, pe expresses a place or manner relation.
Which sentence means “I work until five”?
- Lucrez pentru ora cinci.
- Lucrez până la ora cinci.
- Lucrez la ora cinci.
- Lucrez în ora cinci.
Use până for a time limit: Lucrez până la ora cinci. La ora cinci means at five, not until five.