Pattern
States like hunger, thirst, sleepiness use mi-e + noun: mi-e foame (I'm hungry), mi-e sete (I'm thirsty), mi-e somn (I'm sleepy).
Explanation
Romanian doesn't say "I am hungry" with a fi + adjective. Instead, it uses an impersonal construction: mi-e (literally "to me is") + a noun like foame (hunger), sete (thirst), somn (sleepiness), frig (cold), cald (warm). The hyphen between mi and e is mandatory in writing — they form a clitic cluster.
To change the person, swap the clitic: mi-e (to me), ți-e (to you), îi e (to him/her), ne e (to us), vă e (to you pl.), le e (to them). For instance: Ți-e foame? (Are you hungry?), Îi e somn copilului (The child is sleepy — literally "to-him is sleep to-the-child").
This is one of the most heritage-language-feeling constructions in Romanian. There's no clean English equivalent. Memorize the formulas as fixed expressions: mi-e foame, mi-e sete, mi-e somn, mi-e frig, mi-e cald, mi-e rău (I feel sick).
Examples
| Romanian | English |
|---|---|
| Mi-e foame. Vreau să mănânc. | I'm hungry. I want to eat. |
| Ți-e sete? Vrei apă? | Are you thirsty? Do you want water? |
| Copilului îi e somn. | The child is sleepy. |
| Ne e frig aici. | We're cold here. |
| Mi-e rău. Trebuie să mă întind. | I feel sick. I need to lie down. |
Common mistakes
- Saying "sunt foame": Wrong — foame is a noun, not an adjective. Use mi-e foame.
- Forgetting the hyphen: Written mi-e, not mi e.
- Mixing clitics: Mi-e foame ție is wrong; pick one clitic per subject.