Romanian has eight core personal subject pronouns, but a finite verb often makes the subject clear: Eu citesc. and Citesc. can both mean I am reading. The written pronoun is a choice, not a compulsory part of every clause.
What are the eight core subject pronouns?
The core inventory has one form for each person and number, with separate masculine and feminine forms in the third person.
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| First person | eu (I) | noi (we) |
| Second person | tu (you, familiar) | voi (you, familiar plural) |
| Third person masculine | el (he) | ei (they; masculine or mixed group) |
| Third person feminine | ea (she) | ele (they; feminine group) |
For people, el and ea distinguish masculine and feminine singular, while ei is used for a masculine or mixed plural group and ele for a feminine plural group. For things, the pronoun follows grammatical gender and number; a neuter noun behaves like masculine in the singular and like feminine in the plural.
How do subject pronouns match the verb?
A finite verb agrees with its subject in person and number. It does not show masculine versus feminine gender, so el and ea share the same verb form, as do ei and ele.
| Subject | Present form of a citi | Example |
|---|---|---|
| eu | citesc | Eu citesc în fiecare seară. (I read every evening.) |
| tu | citești | Tu citești în fiecare seară. (You read every evening.) |
| el / ea | citește | Ea citește în fiecare seară. (She reads every evening.) |
| noi | citim | Noi citim în fiecare seară. (We read every evening.) |
| voi | citiți | Voi citiți în fiecare seară. (You read every evening.) |
| ei / ele | citesc | Ei citesc în fiecare seară. (They read every evening.) |
The endings help, but they do not always identify one person uniquely: citesc can match eu or ei / ele. Context, or an explicit pronoun, resolves that ambiguity. For the especially common forms of a fi, compare the present tense of a fi.
When can you leave out the pronoun?
Leave out a personal subject pronoun when the verb and the surrounding context make the subject clear. This is normal neutral Standard Romanian, not merely an informal shortcut.
- Citesc în fiecare seară. (I read every evening.) The context can supply eu.
- Citim după cină. (We read after dinner.) The form citim supplies noi.
- Sunteți acasă? (Are you at home?) The form sunteți can supply voi or polite dumneavoastră when the addressee is known.
This omission is sometimes called a null or unexpressed subject. It does not mean that Romanian has no subject; it means that the subject is understood rather than written.
When should you keep an explicit subject?
Write the pronoun when you need to contrast people, correct an assumption, add emphasis, or make the intended subject easier to identify. An explicit pronoun is not automatically emphatic in every sentence, but it is often meaningful when the context already allows omission.
| Reason | Romanian example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| contrast | Eu lucrez, dar ea se odihnește. (I work, but she rests.) | It sets two subjects against each other. |
| correction | Eu citesc, nu ei. (I am reading, not them.) | It identifies the intended subject when citesc could fit more than one person. |
| reference clarity | Ea este Ana, iar el este Mihai. (She is Ana, and he is Mihai.) | It keeps two third-person references distinct. |
| emphasis | Eu am trimis mesajul. (I sent the message.) | It can highlight who performed the action, especially in a correction or contrast. |
A neutral statement can still include a pronoun, especially when introducing a person or making the subject explicit. The practical rule is to omit it when the subject is recoverable and keep it when the listener needs the comparison or clarification.
What is polite you in Romanian?
Use dumneavoastră for polite or formal address to one person or several people. It takes the second-person plural form of the finite verb, even when it refers to one person: Dumneavoastră sunteți doamna Popescu? (Are you Mrs Popescu?)
| Form | Typical use | Verb pattern |
|---|---|---|
| tu | one familiar person | second-person singular: ești |
| voi | several familiar people | second-person plural: sunteți |
| dumneavoastră | one or more people; polite or formal | second-person plural: sunteți |
The pronoun can also be omitted when the relationship and situation are clear: Sunteți gata? (Are you ready?) For marked familiar-polite forms and respectful third-person forms, see polite pronouns.
What is the boundary with impersonal constructions?
An omitted personal pronoun is different from a clause that has no personal subject at all. Do not insert el or ea just because English uses it.
| Romanian clause | Analysis | Natural English |
|---|---|---|
| Citesc. | A personal subject is understood from context: often eu, or ei / ele. | I am reading. / They are reading. |
| Plouă. | Impersonal weather verb; there is no personal subject corresponding to English it. | It is raining. |
| Este frig. | Impersonal state expression; it does not mean that el or ea is cold. | It is cold. |
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not add eu before every finite verb: Citesc is complete when the context supplies eu.
- Do not assume that every verb ending identifies one subject: citesc can match eu or ei / ele.
- Do not use ei for a feminine-only group; use ele.
- Do not use a singular verb with polite dumneavoastră: write Dumneavoastră sunteți aici., not Dumneavoastră ești aici.
- Do not add el or ea to weather expressions: use Plouă., not El plouă.
Which pronoun refers to a feminine third-person plural group?
- ei
- ele
- ea
- noi
Ele is the feminine third-person plural pronoun. Ea is feminine singular, while ei is masculine plural or a mixed personal group.
Complete the sentence: Noi ___ în fiecare seară. (We read every evening.)
- citesc
- citești
- citim
- citiți
The subject noi requires the first-person plural form citim. Citesc can be first-person singular or third-person plural, not first-person plural.
Which sentence correctly says “They are here” for a mixed group?
- Ele este aici.
- Ei sunt aici.
- El sunt aici.
- Ei este aici.
A mixed group uses ei, and the third-person plural form of a fi is sunt: Ei sunt aici.
Which is the polite question for one woman?
- Dumneavoastră ești doamna Popescu?
- Dumneavoastră sunt doamna Popescu?
- Dumneavoastră este doamna Popescu?
- Dumneavoastră sunteți doamna Popescu?
Polite dumneavoastră takes the second-person plural verb sunteți, even when it addresses one woman.
Which sentence uses explicit subject pronouns to create a contrast?
- Citesc.
- Plouă.
- Eu lucrez, dar ea se odihnește.
- Sunteți acasă?
The pronouns eu and ea contrast the two people. Citesc omits a recoverable subject, plouă is impersonal, and sunteți can omit voi or dumneavoastră.