with (accompaniment)
Together with a person or thing.
Vin cu tine.
I'm coming with you.
cafea cu lapte
coffee with milk
#16 · Preposition
cu
In Romanian, cu means “with (accompaniment)”. It’s the #16 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Meaning & Use
The Romanian "with" — the 16th most frequent word, and refreshingly simple: one invariable form covering company, instrument and manner. The only thing to learn is what follows it: after cu you need the stressed pronoun (cu mine, cu tine), never a clitic.
neutralwith / by (instrument, means)
The tool used, including means of transport — where English often says "by".
Scriu cu pixul.
I'm writing with the pen.
Merg cu mașina.
I'm going by car.
with (manner)
Forms adverbial phrases: cu grijă, cu plăcere, cu greu.
Cu plăcere!
You're welcome!
cu atenție
carefully
to / with (in fixed verb phrases)
Several everyday verbs simply require cu: a vorbi cu, a se întâlni cu, a fi de acord cu.
Vorbesc cu el.
I'm talking to him.
Sunt de acord cu tine.
I agree with you.
Forms you’ll actually hear
Ranked by how often each form shows up in spoken Romanian. The top form cover about 100% of everyday use — learn these first.
cu100%
Show 1 more form
cu-<1%
Grammar Behavior
cu + stressed pronoun
Prepositions always take the stressed series.
Rămâi cu mine.
Stay with me.
cu + means of transport (definite)
The vehicle takes its definite article: cu mașina, cu metroul.
Am venit cu trenul.
I came by train.
cu + noun = adverb of manner
A productive way to build "‑ly" adverbs.
Condu cu grijă.
Drive carefully.
verb + cu (fixed)
a vorbi cu, a se întâlni cu, a se căsători cu, a semăna cu all lock in this preposition.
Seamănă cu tatăl lui.
He looks like his father.
vs. fără
fără is the direct opposite, "without", and behaves identically.
cafea fără zahăr
coffee without sugar
vs. pe jos
Going on foot breaks the cu pattern — it is pe jos, not *cu picioarele.
Merg pe jos.
I'm walking.
vs. de (material)
cu adds an ingredient; de states what something is made of.
o casă de lemn / o cafea cu lapte
a wooden house / a coffee with milk
Examples
Merg cu autobuzul.
I'm going by bus.
cu - Transport takes cu plus the definite form: cu mașina, cu trenul, cu avionul.
Vreau să vorbesc cu tine.
I want to talk to you.
cu - a vorbi takes cu, not the dative — and the pronoun must be the stressed tine.
Cu ce te pot ajuta?
How can I help you?
cu - Literally "with what" — the standard shop and service greeting.
A plecat cu prietenii lui.
He left with his friends.
cu - Accompaniment; the noun keeps its definite plural ending.
After cu you must use the stressed pronouns: cu mine, cu tine, cu el, cu noi — never *cu mă or *cu te.