Verb 'a fi' (to be) — singular forms

Pattern

The verb a fi (to be) has three irregular singular forms: sunt (I am), ești (you are), este/e (he/she is).

Explanation

A fi is the most important verb in Romanian — and one of the most irregular. The good news: native speakers use it constantly, so you'll absorb it quickly. The bad news: there's no pattern to learn. Memorize the forms cold.

Singular forms cover most early conversation: introducing yourself ("Eu sunt Maria"), asking how someone is ("Cum ești?"), describing things ("Este frumos"). The third person este shortens to e in everyday speech — both are correct, but e is more common in speaking and informal writing. "Cum e?" is much more natural than "Cum este?"

The first-person sunt surprises learners — it looks plural but is singular ("I am"). In fact, sunt is identical in form to "they are." Romanians distinguish them by context and by the optional subject pronoun (eu sunt vs. ei sunt). Don't worry about the plural overlap yet; for now, lock in the singular meanings.

Conjugation

Examples

Common mistakes

• Saying "eu este": This is the most common beginner error. Eu always takes sunt.
• Pronouncing "ești" wrong: It's "yesht" — the ș is "sh," the i at the end is barely whispered.
• Forgetting that "e" = "este": They are the same verb, not different words.