Yes/No Questions
A yes/no question can use the same words as a statement. A rising contour is a useful starting pattern; context and the speaker’s intention also shape the intonation.
How It Works
In Romanian, there are several ways to signal a yes/no question:
- Intonation: A common neutral pattern is to keep the Basic Word Order and use a rising contour around the final stressed part. Information questions with words such as cine (who) or unde (where) often end with a fall. These are useful tendencies, not rules for every question: emphasis, attitude, and regional speech affect the contour.
- Word Order: You can switch the verb and subject (e.g., 'Mănânci tu?'). While correct, this inversion is often used to put specific emphasis on the subject. Changing word order alone is not a required question-forming step.
- Tag Questions: You can turn a statement into a question by adding a tag at the end for confirmation, such as nu?, da?, or the common phrase nu-i așa? (isn't it so?). This tag is invariable: it does not change with the subject or tense. Compare Ai plecat, nu-i așa? (You left, didn't you?) and Veți veni, nu-i așa? (You will come, won't you?).
- The Particle 'Oare': You can add oare at the beginning of a sentence to signal a question or to express a sense of 'I wonder if...' (e.g., 'Oare vine Maria?').
- Negative Questions: If you ask a question using negation (e.g., 'Nu vii?'), Ba da, vin clearly contradicts the negative suggestion: 'Yes, I am coming.' Nu, nu vin means 'No, I am not coming.' A bare da can depend on context, so a full answer is helpful.
Examples (5)
- Ești gata?
Are you ready?
Word by Word: Are-you ready?
The words can also form the statement 'Ești gata'. A common neutral question uses rising intonation; the question mark identifies it in writing.
- Vorbești românește?
Do you speak Romanian?
Word by Word: Speak-you Romanian?
The verb 'vorbești' forms the question without an extra word corresponding to English 'do'.
- Ai mâncat deja?
Have you eaten already?
Word by Word: Have-you eaten already?
This uses the compound perfect tense. The structure is the same as the statement 'You have already eaten'.
- Vrei o cafea?
Do you want a coffee?
Word by Word: Want-you a coffee?
A simple everyday question using the present tense of 'a vrea'.
- Ești gata, nu-i așa?
You are ready, aren't you?
Word by Word: Are-you ready, not-is so?
The fixed tag 'nu-i așa?' asks for confirmation. Its wording stays the same when the main clause changes person or tense.
Common Mistakes
Adding an English-style do auxiliary.
Tu faci vorbești românește?Tu vorbești românește?To ask 'Do you speak Romanian?', use vorbești directly. Faci means 'you do/make' and cannot be added as an English-style question auxiliary.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Recognize basic statement word order and word stress before practicing the intonation of a question.
- Basic Word Order
Compare a basic statement with a yes/no question that retains the same word order and changes its intonation.
Level 1 - Word Stress
Since this pattern relies entirely on vocal inflection, understanding how words are stressed is a necessary foundation for applying rising intonation correctly.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- da / nuYes and No
These are the standard ways to answer the yes/no questions formed by intonation.
Level 1 - cine / ce / unde / când / cum / câtQuestion Words
Unlike yes/no questions, information questions (who, what, where) often have a falling intonation at the end.
Level 1 - Negation With nu
Put nu before the verb to form a negative question. A full reply helps make the intended answer clear.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Yes/No Questions in Bubblegum
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