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7. Polite forms

Please, sorry, and the you that keeps distance.

Vă rog is please to a stranger, a shop, an elder, or more than one person. Te rog is the same to someone you know. Both sit at the end of a request more often than at the start: o cafea, vă rog. Thank you is mulțumesc; add mult for many thanks. The reply is cu plăcere, with pleasure, or nu-i nimic.

Excuse me: scuzați in a crowd or to interrupt. Scuză-mă to a friend. Sorry for a real fault is îmi pare rău.

Dumneavoastră takes plural verb forms even for one person: dumneavoastră sunteți, aveți, mergeți. That is the polite machinery. You do not mix tu with vă in the same address. Sărut mâna is still used to an older woman, literally I kiss your hand, as a hello. You can answer with a nod and bună ziua if you are not from here. Poftiți means come in, or here you are when something is handed over.

• vă rog Please, polite.
• te rog Please, to someone you know.
• mulțumesc Thank you.
• cu plăcere You're welcome.
• scuzați Excuse me, to a stranger.
• îmi pare rău I am sorry.
• dumneavoastră You, formal. Takes plural verbs.
• sărut mâna Greeting to an older woman.
• poftiți Come in, or here you are.
• bine ați venit Welcome, formal.

That is the set. Keep them on words, read them in stories, or check a phrase in the translator. English from the Romanian side: learn English.