Ten each for the notary, the bank, the building site and daily life, with simple pronunciation. Enough to follow a meeting and ask the right question.
Under Law 36/1995, notarial deeds are drawn up in Romanian. A buyer who does not understand Romanian reads the deed through an authorized translator or interpreter, who signs the record with the notary.
Romanian is written almost as it sounds: ș is sh, ț is ts, ă is the a in about, and ce/ci sound like che/chi.
Romanian for buyers: the short answer
You can buy a home in Romania without speaking Romanian. In Bucharest, many developers, agents, bankers and lawyers work in English. But the documents that matter are in Romanian. Under the law on notaries, the sale deed is drawn up in Romanian, and a buyer who does not understand Romanian reads it through an authorized translator or interpreter, who signs the notarial record together with the notary.
So learn the 40 words below to follow the conversation, and use an authorized translator for the moments the law cares about.
In plain words: English gets you through the meetings. Romanian is the language of the signature, so the translator is not optional at the notary.
Pronunciation in five minutes
Romanian is written almost as it sounds. Eight rules cover most words:
| Letter | Sounds like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ă | the "a" in "about" | casă (house): KA-sə |
| â, î | a short "i" said with the tongue back, between "i" and "u" | când (when): kind |
| ș | "sh" | șantier (site): shan-tee-ER |
| ț | "ts" | preț (price): prets |
| ce, ci | "che", "chi" | recepție: re-CHEP-tsye |
| ge, gi | "je", "ji" as in "jam" | agenție (agency): a-jen-TSEE-e |
| che, chi | "ke", "ki" | chirie (rent): kee-REE-e |
| final -i | barely spoken | pași (steps): pash |
Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable, but not always. In the tables, the stressed syllable is in capitals.
At the notary: 10 words
| Romanian | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| notar public | notary | no-TAR POO-blik |
| act de identitate | identity document | akt de i-den-ti-TA-te |
| contract de vânzare-cumpărare | sale and purchase deed | kon-TRAKT de vin-ZA-re koom-pə-RA-re |
| antecontract | preliminary contract | an-te-kon-TRAKT |
| extras de carte funciară | land register extract | ex-TRAS de KAR-te foon-CHEE-a-rə |
| intabulare | registration of ownership in the land register | in-ta-boo-LA-re |
| procură | power of attorney | pro-KOO-rə |
| traducător autorizat | authorized translator | tra-doo-kə-TOR a-oo-to-ri-ZAT |
| semnătură | signature | sem-nə-TOO-rə |
| onorariu | fee | o-no-RA-ryoo |
At the bank: 10 words
| Romanian | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| cont bancar | bank account | kont ban-KAR |
| credit ipotecar | mortgage loan | KRE-dit i-po-te-KAR |
| avans | down payment | a-VANS |
| dobândă | interest | do-BIN-də |
| rată lunară | monthly instalment | RA-tə loo-NA-rə |
| evaluare | valuation | e-va-loo-A-re |
| ipotecă | mortgage (the charge on the property) | i-po-TE-kə |
| asigurare | insurance | a-si-goo-RA-re |
| transfer bancar | bank transfer | trans-FER ban-KAR |
| extras de cont | bank statement | ex-TRAS de kont |
A Romanian bank may finance up to 70% of the price for a foreign buyer, so the avans is at least 30%. Our mortgage guide explains the process.
On the building site: 10 words
| Romanian | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| șantier | building site | shan-tee-ER |
| autorizație de construire | building permit | a-oo-to-ri-ZA-tsye de kon-stroo-EE-re |
| proces-verbal de recepție | handover (acceptance) record | pro-CHES ver-BAL de re-CHEP-tsye |
| fundație | foundation | foon-DA-tsye |
| acoperiș | roof | a-ko-pe-RISH |
| fereastră | window | fe-RYAS-trə |
| defect | defect | de-FEKT |
| garanție | warranty | ga-RAN-tsye |
| cartea tehnică | the building's technical book | KAR-tya TEH-ni-kə |
| racordare | utility connection | ra-kor-DA-re |
At handover you sign a reception record and receive documents. Our guide to the handover of a new home lists what to check.
Daily life: 10 phrases
| Romanian | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Bună ziua | Good day | BOO-nə ZEE-wa |
| Mulțumesc | Thank you | mool-tsoo-MESK |
| Vă rog | Please | və ROG |
| Da / Nu | Yes / No | da / noo |
| Nu înțeleg | I don't understand | noo in-tse-LEG |
| Vorbiți engleză? | Do you speak English? | vor-BEETS en-GLE-zə |
| Cât costă? | How much is it? | kit KOS-tə |
| Unde este...? | Where is...? | OON-de YES-te |
| Factura, vă rog | The invoice, please | FAK-too-ra və ROG |
| Mă scuzați | Excuse me | mə skoo-ZATS |
Where English is enough, and where it is not
| Situation | English usually enough? | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing homes, meeting the developer or agent | Often yes | No rule; ask in advance |
| First meetings at a bank in Bucharest | Often yes | The contract documents are usually in Romanian; ask which version prevails |
| Signing the deed at the notary | No | The deed is drawn up in Romanian; if you do not understand it, an authorized translator or interpreter explains it and signs the notarial record (Law 36/1995, Art. 82) |
| Documents you bring from abroad | No | Documents for a notarial act must be in Romanian; a foreign document needs a translation by an authorized translator, and often an apostille |
| A power of attorney signed abroad | No | Needs translation and usually an apostille; agree the text with the Romanian notary first |
| Reading the land register extract | Rarely | It is issued in Romanian; your own lawyer should read it with you |
| Handover on site | Rarely | Technical Romanian; bring someone who speaks it |
The notary may act as translator only if the foreign language is his or her mother tongue, or if he or she is authorized as a translator. Otherwise, a translator authorized by the Ministry of Justice does it (Art. 82(2)).
English gets you through the meetings. Romanian is the language of the signature.
Our guide to apostilles and documents for Israeli buyers lists which documents usually need an apostille and a translation. Our notary guide explains the signing day.
How to prepare: 6 steps
- Learn the pronunciation table and the 10 daily phrases. People respond warmly to a "Bună ziua".
- Print the notary and bank tables and bring them to meetings.
- Ask the notary early whether an authorized translator for your language is available, and who books them.
- Send your foreign documents for translation by an authorized translator, after the apostille is attached.
- Ask for a draft of the deed a few days before signing, and have your own lawyer review it with you.
- Bring a Romanian speaker to the handover. It can be your lawyer, a friend or an engineer you hire.
Our company lawyer represents the company only. We recommend that every buyer hire an independent lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak Romanian to buy property in Romania?
No. But the notarial deed is drawn up in Romanian. If you do not understand Romanian, the law gives you the right to understand the deed through an authorized translator or interpreter, who signs the record with the notary.
Can the notary translate for me?
Only if the language is the notary's mother tongue or the notary is authorized as a translator or interpreter. Otherwise, an authorized translator does it (Law 36/1995, Art. 82(2)).
Do my foreign documents need a translation?
Yes. Documents presented for a notarial act must be in Romanian, so a foreign document needs a translation by an authorized translator. Many also need an apostille.
Is the Romanian sale contract also written in English?
Sometimes, as a bilingual document in two columns or one language after the other. The law allows that layout for documents that are translated (Art. 82(5)). Ask the notary in advance.
How do I say "I don't understand" in Romanian?
"Nu înțeleg", pronounced noo in-tse-LEG. At the notary, it is the right moment to ask the translator to repeat.
The bottom line
Forty words will not make you fluent, but they will let you follow the meeting, read a heading on a document and ask the right question. For the signature, rely on the law: an authorized translator.
If you are planning a purchase in Romania, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the steps and the documents together, in English or Hebrew.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: Law 36/1995 on notaries public, Art. 82 (notari.pro, consolidated text) · Regulation implementing Law 36/1995, Art. 320 (notari.pro) · Hague Conference: Apostille Convention status table
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. The rules are correct as of 22 October 2026. Pronunciations are simplified approximations. Ask the notary and your independent lawyer about the documents for your purchase.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
