Romanian indefinite articles: un, o, and niște

Romanian puts the indefinite article before the noun: un băiat (a boy), o fată (a girl), niște copii (some children). Use it when you introduce a person or thing that is not already identified.

How do you choose un, o, or niște?

Choose un for masculine or neuter singular nouns, o for feminine singular nouns, and niște for plural nouns.

The article agrees with the noun’s gender and number. If you are not sure whether a noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter, learn it with its article and plural: un scaun, două scaune (one chair, two chairs). See noun gender for that pattern.

When do you use an indefinite article?

• Use un or o when you mean one non-specific person or thing: Am o carte. (I have a book.)
• Use niște when you mean some non-specific plural items: Văd niște studenți. (I see some students.)
• Use the definite article when the noun is already identified: Am o carte. Cartea este bună. (I have a book. The book is good.)

What about one and some?

Un and o can also mean the number one. In beginner sentences, the form is the same, so context tells you whether English needs a/an or one: Am o soră. can mean I have a sister or I have one sister.

Niște usually means some with plural nouns, but it can also be used with singular mass nouns for an unspecified amount: niște lapte (some milk). With ordinary count nouns, keep the simple pattern: singular un/o, plural niște.

Forms you will meet later

In genitive and dative phrases, the indefinite article changes form: un becomes unui, o becomes unei, and plural niște becomes unor. For now, recognize these as case forms meaning of/to a or of/to some.

Mistakes to avoid

• Do not use o with a masculine noun: say un profesor (a male teacher), not o profesor.
• Do not use un with a feminine noun: say o masă (a table), not un masă.
• Do not use niște with a singular count noun when you mean a/an: say un scaun (a chair), not niște scaun.