Pattern
Affirmative imperatives: singular often = 2nd person present (vino!, mergi!), plural usually = 2nd person plural (veniți!, mergeți!).
Explanation
The Romanian imperative (commands) has two forms: singular tu and plural voi. The plural form is almost always identical to the second-person plural present indicative: Mergeți! (Go!), Veniți! (Come!), Mâncați! (Eat!). Easy.
The singular form is trickier. For most -i and -e verbs, the singular imperative looks like the 2sg present: vino! pleacă! mănâncă! du-te! mergi!. But many common verbs are irregular: fii! (be!), du-te! (go!), spune! (say!), fă! (do!).
For now, learn imperatives as fixed phrases attached to the verbs you use. Common ones: Vino aici! (Come here!), Stai! (Stop / Stay!), Așteaptă! (Wait!), Hai! (Come on!). Negative imperatives (don't…!) follow a different pattern with nu + infinitive — covered later.
Examples
| Romanian | English |
|---|---|
| Vino aici! | Come here! |
| Mâncați, vă rog! | Eat, please! (pl.) |
| Stai un moment! | Wait a moment! |
| Mergi drept înainte! | Go straight ahead! |
| Hai la masă! | Come on, let's eat! |
Common mistakes
- Using the 2sg present for all singular imperatives: Some verbs have irregular forms — fii!, du-te!, fă!.
- Forgetting the plural ending: Singular vino, plural veniți — they're different.
- Mixing imperative with subjunctive: Să vii! expresses a wish; Vino! is a direct command.