The Verb "A Fi" (To Be)
A fi ("to be") is the single most useful verb in Romanian. You need it to say who you are, what something is like, and where things are — and unlike in Russian, you never drop it. Learn its six present forms first and a huge amount of everyday Romanian opens up.
The present tense of a fi
These six forms are worth memorizing cold — you will use them in almost every conversation. Notice that eu and ei/ele share the same form, sunt, so "sunt" can mean "I am" or "they are" depending on context.
a fi — present tense (prezent)
| Person | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| eu | sunt | I am |
| tu | ești | you are (informal) |
| el / ea | este (e) | he / she / it is |
| noi | suntem | we are |
| voi | sunteți | you are (plural / formal) |
| ei / ele | sunt | they are |
"este" vs "e" — same word, two registers
In speech Romanians almost always shorten este to e: "El e acasă" ("He is home"). Both are correct; e is casual, este is neutral/written. You will hear "e" constantly, so train your ear for it early.
Ce e asta?
What is this?
Everyday spoken form.
Aceasta este o carte.
This is a book.
Slightly more formal / written.
What a fi is used for
- Identity / profession: Eu sunt profesor. — I am a teacher. (No word for "a" here.)
- Description: Ea este înaltă. — She is tall.
- Location: Cartea este pe masă. — The book is on the table.
- Age? No — use a avea: for age Romanian says "am 20 de ani" (I have 20 years), not "sunt". See the a avea guide.
Making it negative
Just put nu in front: nu sunt, nu ești, nu e / nu este, nu suntem, nu sunteți, nu sunt. "Nu sunt obosit" — "I am not tired."
Examples
Eu sunt student.
I am a student.
Tu ești din România?
Are you from Romania?
El e acasă acum.
He is home now.
"e" = spoken "este".
Noi suntem prieteni.
We are friends.
Nu sunt obosit.
I am not tired.
Unde sunteți?
Where are you (all)?
a fi — present tense (prezent)
| eu | tu | el/ea | noi | voi | ei/ele |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sunt | ești | este / e | suntem | sunteți | sunt |
Common Mistakes
- Dropping the verb. Unlike Russian, Romanian keeps "to be": say "Ea este medic", never "Ea medic".
- Using a fi for age. "I am 20" is "Am 20 de ani" (a avea), not "Sunt 20 de ani".
- Forgetting that "sunt" is both "I am" and "they are" — let the subject or context tell you which.
- Writing "ieste" or "este" where speech wants "e" — both spellings of the verb are "este"/"e", never "ieste".
Lookup Tips
- If a sentence describes or locates something and has no other verb, it almost certainly needs a form of a fi.
- Hear "e"? Mentally expand it to "este" — it is the 3rd-person singular.
- Pair a fi with an adjective and remember the adjective must agree: "El este bun", "Ea este bună".
Frequently asked questions
Is "e" the same as "este"?
Yes. "e" is the everyday spoken contraction of "este" (he/she/it is). Both are correct; "e" is informal, "este" is neutral or written.
Why does "sunt" mean both "I am" and "they are"?
Romanian genuinely uses the same form "sunt" for eu (I) and ei/ele (they). The subject pronoun or the context disambiguates: "Eu sunt" vs "Ei sunt".
How do I say "I am 20 years old"?
Use a avea, not a fi: "Am 20 de ani" (literally "I have 20 years"). Age, hunger and similar states use a avea in Romanian.
How do I make a fi negative?
Put "nu" before the verb: nu sunt, nu ești, nu e, nu suntem, nu sunteți, nu sunt.