Feminine Definite -a

Level 1

In Romanian, 'the' is a suffix attached to the end of the noun. For feminine singular nouns, this suffix is usually -a.

How It Works

The feminine singular definite article -a is used to specify a particular noun. Its attachment depends on the noun's ending:

  • Nouns ending in -ă: Replace the -ă with -a. This is the most common group.
    Example: fată (girl) → fata (the girl).
  • Nouns ending in -e: Simply add -a to the end, forming the sound -ea.
    Example: vulpe (fox) → vulpea (the fox).
  • Nouns ending in -ie: Replace the final -e with -a.
    Example: femeie (woman) → femeia (the woman).
  • Nouns ending in -i: These often take -ua or -ea.
    Example: zi (day) → ziua (the day); luni (Monday) → lunea (the Monday).
  • Nouns ending in a stressed vowel: If the word ends in a stressed -a or -ea, use -ua to bridge the sound.
    Example: cafea (coffee) → cafeaua (the coffee); basma (headscarf) → basmaua (the headscarf).

Important Note: In Romanian, the definite article is often dropped after basic prepositions like la (at/to) or în (in). A definite noun with a following modifier can retain its article. A modifier does not automatically make every noun phrase definite. For example, you say Merg la școală (I go to school), but Merg la școala nouă (I go to the new school) or Merg la școala de muzică (I go to the music school). Note that prepositions like cu (with) usually keep the article (e.g., cu mașina).

Examples (5)

  1. Fata citește.

    The girl is reading.

    Word by Word: Girl-the reads.

    The indefinite 'fată' (girl) changes to 'fata' (the girl) by replacing the final -ă with -a.

  2. Casa este mare.

    The house is big.

    Word by Word: House-the is big.

    The noun 'casă' becomes 'casa' to indicate a specific house.

  3. Floarea este roșie.

    The flower is red.

    Word by Word: Flower-the is red.

    For nouns ending in -e like 'floare', we add -a to get 'floarea'.

  4. Cafeaua este fierbinte.

    The coffee is hot.

    Word by Word: Coffee-the is hot.

    Nouns ending in stressed vowels like 'cafea' use the -ua suffix variant.

  5. Ziua este frumoasă.

    The day is beautiful.

    Word by Word: Day-the is beautiful.

    'Zi' (day) is an irregular feminine noun that takes -ua to become 'ziua'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'la' or 'o' to mean 'the'.

    La fată este aici.
    Fata este aici.

    English speakers often try to put a word before the noun. In Romanian, 'the' must be the suffix -a at the end of the word.

  • Adding -a without removing the final -ă.

    casăa
    casa

    For most feminine nouns, the -a replaces the -ă; it is not added onto it.

  • Applying the article to both the adjective and the noun.

    frumoasa fata
    frumoasa fată

    If an adjective comes before the noun, only the adjective takes the definite article suffix.

How It Connects

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Feminine Definite -aLevel 1

Learn This First

To understand how feminine nouns become definite, you first need to recognize feminine noun endings (typically -ă) and understand the unique Romanian system of attaching articles to the end of words rather than placing them before the noun.

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Words in This Pattern

-a