Pattern
Subject pronouns: eu (I), tu (you sg. informal), el (he), ea (she), noi (we), voi (you pl.), ei (they masc./mixed), ele (they fem.).
Explanation
Romanian distinguishes between singular and plural "you" — and between informal and formal address. Tu is singular, used with friends, family, children, peers. Voi is plural, used for any group. For formal singular address (a stranger, an elder, a professional context), Romanian uses dumneavoastră with the verb in second-person plural form. We'll cover that later — for now, focus on tu and voi.
The third person plural splits by gender: ei for groups containing at least one man (or all men), ele for groups of only women. This is the standard Romance pattern. A mixed group of children would be ei copii; a group of girls is ele fete.
In practice, Romanian drops subject pronouns most of the time (see the "pro-drop" rule). You'll typically say "Sunt obosit" rather than "Eu sunt obosit." Use the pronouns for emphasis, contrast, or clarity: EU sunt obosit, dar TU ești energică (I am tired, but you are energetic).
Examples
| Romanian | English |
|---|---|
| Eu sunt Maria, tu cine ești? | I am Maria, who are you? |
| El e fratele meu, ea e sora mea. | He is my brother, she is my sister. |
| Noi suntem prieteni. | We are friends. |
| Voi sunteți studenți? | Are you (pl.) students? |
| Ei sunt acasă, dar ele sunt la școală. | They (m.) are home, but they (f.) are at school. |
Common mistakes
- Using tu with a stranger: Switch to dumneavoastră for unfamiliar adults — tu can feel rude.
- Using ele for a mixed group: Even one man makes the group ei.
- Overusing eu: Native speakers drop it; constant "eu" sounds emphatic or non-native.