Mastering Romanian greetings: A beginner’s guide

Learning to greet someone in Romanian opens the door to meaningful conversations with native speakers. Whether you’re planning a trip to Romania or simply expanding your language skills, knowing these friendly expressions will help you make a great first impression.

Romanian greetings follow specific time-of-day patterns similar to many European languages, but with charming cultural touches that make them special. Let’s look at the ones you’ll use most often!

Essential Romanian greetings

Romanian offers several warm ways to greet people depending on the time of day, formality level, and your relationship with the person. The most common greetings include Bună dimineața (Good morning), Bună ziua (Good afternoon/day), Bună seara (Good evening), and the casual Salut or Bună (Hello).

Bună dimineața (boo-nuh dee-mee-nah-tsa) works from early morning until around 11 AM. This polite greeting shows respect and fits perfectly in professional settings or when talking to strangers and elders. When greeting someone you don’t know well, a slight nod or handshake adds a nice touch.

Bună ziua (boo-nuh zee-wah) is your go-to Romanian greeting from late morning until sunset – usually between 11 AM and 6 PM. This handy phrase works almost anywhere, whether you’re walking into a shop, saying hello to a neighbor, or starting a business meeting. Think of it as the Romanian “good day” that’s always appropriate.

Bună seara (boo-nuh sea-rah) becomes the right choice after sunset and throughout the evening. When you enter a restaurant for dinner or meet friends for evening fun, this greeting fits perfectly. Romanians often eat dinner later than in some Western countries, so you can use this greeting well into the night.

For relaxed situations, Salut (sah-loot) or simply Bună (boo-nuh) are perfect when greeting friends, peers, or in casual settings. These friendly greetings work like “hi” or “hello” in English and show warmth. Young people typically use these with each other no matter the time of day.

Learning these Romanian greetings creates a positive start to any conversation. When you use the right greeting based on time and setting, you show appreciation for Romanian culture and quickly connect with native speakers – even if you continue your chat in English. To build on these basics, check out 100 essential Romanian words to use in everyday conversations.

Formal vs. informal greetings

Romanian offers clear distinctions between formal and casual ways to greet people, helping you navigate social situations with ease. Knowing which style to use shows your respect for Romanian culture and helps you connect with locals right away.

In formal settings, you’ll want to use Domnule (Sir/Mr.) for men and Doamnă (Madam/Mrs.) for women. Pair these titles with Bună ziua when meeting someone new, speaking with elders, or during business interactions. This combination signals proper respect and makes a positive impression.

The physical greeting matters too! A firm handshake works perfectly in formal situations, with good eye contact to show you’re engaged. Men often wait for women to extend their hand first – a small but meaningful gesture in Romanian etiquette.

When you’re with friends and family, you can switch to the friendly Salut or Bună. In Transylvania, you might hear Servus (sehr-voos) – a casual greeting with German and Hungarian roots that’s popular among younger people. These relaxed expressions instantly create a warm atmosphere.

Among friends, physical greetings become more affectionate. Two cheek kisses (starting with the left) are common, while male friends might add a shoulder pat or quick hug. These gestures reflect the heart-warming nature of Romanian friendships.

Matching your greeting to the situation helps conversations flow naturally. Using the right level of formality shows you understand and value Romanian social customs – a small effort that goes a long way in building genuine connections!

Pronunciation and cultural etiquette

Getting Romanian sounds right will make your greetings shine! Romanian uses the Latin alphabet like English, but with a few special characters that give the language its musical quality. If you’re new to the Romanian alphabet, explore this Romanian alphabet guide for letters and sounds.

1. Sound basics

Romanian pronunciation follows clear patterns that you’ll pick up quickly:

1. ă: Like the “u” in “but” – heard in bună [hello]
2. â or î: A deep sound made with your mouth in a “i” position – found in mâncare [food]
3. ș: Just like “sh” in “shop” – as in și [and]
4. ț: Sounds like “ts” in “bits” – as in dimineața [morning]
5. r: Slightly rolled – as in seară [evening]
6. ce/ci: Pronounced like “che/chi” – as in cinci [five]

The stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable in Romanian words. When saying Bună ziua, put the emphasis on “zi” (BU-nă ZI-ua) to sound more natural.

2. Gestures and body language

What you do with your body matters just as much as what you say in Romanian culture!

In business settings, keep about an arm’s length of personal space. Make direct eye contact and offer a firm but friendly handshake. Women sometimes prefer a simple nod instead of a handshake with men they’re meeting for the first time.

With friends, the greeting becomes warmer – typically two kisses on the cheeks (left first, then right) between women and when men greet women. Close male friends might share a quick hug or shoulder pat, though younger Romanians often use cheek kisses regardless of gender.

Good posture when being introduced shows respect, while eye contact during conversations shows you’re engaged. Romanians often use expressive hand gestures that add color to their speech.

When you match good pronunciation with the right physical gestures, you create connections that go beyond words. This attention to cultural details shows real interest and helps build authentic relationships with Romanian speakers.

Practice Romanian greetings with exercises

Let’s put your Romanian greeting skills to the test! A bit of practice now will help you feel confident when meeting Romanian speakers in real situations.

Fill-in-the-blank

Try completing these everyday scenarios with the right greeting:

• Morning coffee with your teacher (8:30 AM): “____, Doamnă Popescu!”
• Bumping into a friend at 3 PM: “____, Andrei! Ce mai faci?”
• Formal dinner greeting (7 PM): “____, domnule director!”
• Casual teen greeting: “____, ce faci?”
• Entering a shop at noon: “____, aș dori să cumpăr acest pulover.”

Multiple choice

Which greeting fits best? Pick one:

1. Meeting your friend’s parents (2 PM):A) SalutB) Bună ziuaC) Bună searaD) Servus
2. Hotel check-in (10 PM):A) Bună dimineațaB) Bună ziuaC) Bună searaD) Noapte bună
3. Greeting a classmate (9 AM):A) Bună dimineațaB) SalutC) Bună ziuaD) Either A or B
4. Business meeting (11 AM):A) Bună dimineațaB) Bună ziuaC) Salut toată lumeaD) Servus
5. Entering a restaurant (1 PM):A) Bună dimineațaB) Bună ziuaC) Bună searaD) Salut

Say these greetings out loud to get comfortable with how they sound! You’ll find all the correct answers at the end of this article.

Common mistakes with Romanian greetings

Let’s look at a few slip-ups that might happen when you’re practicing your Romanian greetings! Knowing these common mistakes will help you chat more confidently with locals.

1. Mixing up time-of-day greetings

Using Bună seara (Good evening) at 3 PM will definitely raise some eyebrows among Romanian speakers! They pay attention to these time distinctions in their daily conversations.

Romanians follow natural daylight patterns rather than strict clock hours. In summer, Bună ziua works until around 7-8 PM, while winter calls for Bună seara from about 5 PM when darkness falls earlier. Just follow what the locals are saying, and you’ll quickly get the hang of it!

2. Overusing informal greetings in formal settings

Greeting your Romanian business partner’s CEO with a casual Salut might not make the best first impression! Romanian culture values showing respect through appropriate language choices.

In professional settings, academic environments, or when meeting older people, formal greetings show good manners and cultural awareness. If the other person wants to shift to a more casual tone, they’ll often invite you with phrases like Putem să ne tutuim (We can use the informal “you”).

Being mindful of these greeting customs helps you connect more authentically with Romanian speakers. The small effort of choosing the right greeting shows you value their culture and helps conversations start on the right note!

Wrap up with Preply: Start your Romanian journey

You’ve now explored the essentials of Romanian greetings – from the formal Bună ziua (Good afternoon) with Domnule (Sir) or Doamnă (Ma’am), to the casual Salut (Hi) and regional Servus (Hello). You know when to use Bună dimineața (Good morning), Bună ziua (Good afternoon), and Bună seara (Good evening), and you’re aware that those unique Romanian sounds – like ă, ș, and ț – may take a little practice. Remember, greetings in Romania are more than just words – gestures like a firm handshake in business or a warm cheek kiss among friends are just as important.

If you’re ready to build confidence and sound natural in every situation, personalized support can make all the difference. Preply is a global online learning platform and app that connects learners with 100,000+ expert tutors teaching 90+ languages and 120 subjects. Every journey is human-led and AI-enabled: tutors adapt lessons to your goals, while smart AI tools – including Lesson Insights, Daily Exercises, and Scenario Practice – help you keep progressing between classes. As shown in this independent efficiency study, learners on the platform progressed three times faster than industry expectations, with 94% reporting improved fluency and 91% feeling confident speaking English after 24+ lessons.

Whether you’re preparing for travel, reconnecting with family roots, or building professional relationships, you can find online Romanian tutors who will guide you every step of the way. With the right tutor, the right tools, and real conversations, you’ll be ready to greet anyone in Romanian with confidence.

Answers to Romanian greetings exercises

Ready to check your Romanian greeting skills? Let’s see how you did with these practice exercises!

Answers to fill-in-the-blank

• Morning coffee with your teacher (8:30 AM): “Bună dimineața, Doamnă Popescu!”
• Bumping into a friend at 3 PM: “Bună ziua or Salut, Andrei! Ce mai faci?”
• Formal dinner greeting (7 PM): “Bună seara, domnule director!”
• Casual teen greeting: “Salut or Bună, ce faci?”
• Entering a shop at noon: “Bună ziua, aș dori să cumpăr acest pulover.”

Answers to multiple choice

1. B) Bună ziua – The respectful daytime greeting works best with your friend’s parents.
2. C) Bună seara – Perfect for evening interactions at your hotel.
3. D) Either A or B – Both morning and casual greetings work with classmates.
4. B) Bună ziua – The professional choice for business meetings after 11 AM.
5. B) Bună ziua – The right pick for lunchtime at a restaurant.

Did you get them all right? These small greeting choices make a big difference when speaking Romanian! With a bit of practice, you’ll naturally pick the perfect greeting for every situation.