for; intended for a person or thing
marks the beneficiary, recipient, or intended use
Un cadou pentru Maria.
A present for Maria.
Această cameră este pentru copii.
This room is for children.
#24 · Preposition · ADP
In Romanian, pentru means “for; intended for a person or thing”. It’s the #24 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Preposition meaning mainly “for”, used to show purpose, beneficiary, destination, or cause. It is very common in Romanian and combines with nouns, pronouns, and infinitives with "a".
neutralmarks the beneficiary, recipient, or intended use
A present for Maria.
This room is for children.
expresses purpose or aim
I came to discuss the problem.
We are studying for the exam.
less strong and often in formal or written style
He/She was absent because of illness.
used in prices, rates, and equivalents
I pay 50 lei for books.
Ranked by how often each form shows up in spoken Romanian. The top form cover about 100% of everyday use — learn these first.
pentru + noun/pronoun
Very common after a noun phrase to show who something is for, what it is for, or what it is intended for.
Un loc pentru tine.
A place for you.
pentru + a + verb
Used to express purpose in a formal, standard structure.
Am oprit mașina pentru a verifica harta.
I stopped the car to check the map.
pentru + noun meaning cause/reason
Can introduce the reason something happened, especially in written or careful speech.
A fost felicitat pentru rezultatele obținute.
He/She was congratulated for the results achieved.
vs. ca să
Both can express purpose, but "ca să" is more conversational, while "pentru a" is more formal.
Am plecat devreme ca să prind trenul.
I left early so that I could catch the train.
vs. din cauza
"Din cauza" usually expresses a cause with a negative result; "pentru" by itself is more general and context-dependent.
A întârziat din cauza traficului.
He/She was late because of the traffic.
vs. spre
"Spre" means toward/towards, while "pentru" means for or in order to.
Merg spre casă, nu pentru casă.
I am going toward home, not for the house.
Aceasta este o carte pentru copii.
This is a book for children.
pentru - Intended use / audience.
Am cumpărat flori pentru mama mea.
I bought flowers for my mother.
pentru - Recipient / beneficiary.
Am venit pentru a-ți spune adevărul.
I came to tell you the truth.
pentru - Purpose with infinitive.
Common phrases built around pentru — worth learning as whole units.
lit. “for that”
lit. “for to”