Simple Negation (Nu)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Romanian, simply place the word 'nu' directly before the verb to make it negative.
- Place 'nu' before the verb: 'Eu nu mănânc' (I do not eat).
- The word order remains the same as affirmative sentences: 'Nu' + Verb.
- For compound tenses, 'nu' still precedes the entire verb phrase.
Meanings
The particle 'nu' is the standard way to negate verbs in Romanian, functioning similarly to 'not' in English.
Verbal Negation
Negating the action of a verb.
“Nu știu.”
“Nu vreau.”
Negation Pattern
| Subject | Negation Particle | Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Eu | nu | citesc |
| Tu | nu | citești |
| El/Ea | nu | citește |
| Noi | nu | citim |
| Voi | nu | citiți |
| Ei/Ele | nu | citesc |
Common Contractions
| Full | Contraction | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Nu este | Nu-i | Is not |
| Nu am | N-am | I have not |
| Nu sunt | Nu-s | I am not |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + Verb | Eu mănânc |
| Negative | Subject + Nu + Verb | Eu nu mănânc |
| Question | Verb + Subject? | Mănânci tu? |
| Negative Question | Nu + Verb + Subject? | Nu mănânci tu? |
| Short Answer | Nu + Verb | Nu mănânc |
| Past Negative | Nu + Aux + Verb | Nu am mâncat |
Formalitätsspektrum
Nu doresc. (Expressing desire)
Nu vreau. (Expressing desire)
Nu vreau. (Expressing desire)
N-am chef. (Expressing desire)
Negation Logic
Function
- Negate Opposite of action
Position
- Pre-verbal Before the verb
Examples by Level
Eu nu mănânc.
I do not eat.
Nu știu.
I don't know.
Nu vreau.
I don't want.
Nu înțeleg.
I don't understand.
Nu mergem la cinema.
We are not going to the cinema.
Ea nu vorbește engleză.
She doesn't speak English.
Nu este aici.
He/she is not here.
Nu avem timp.
We don't have time.
Nu am văzut filmul acesta.
I haven't seen this movie.
Nu cred că va ploua.
I don't think it will rain.
Nu mi-a spus nimic.
He didn't tell me anything.
Nu aș face asta.
I wouldn't do that.
Nu se poate face nimic.
Nothing can be done.
Nu mi-ar fi plăcut să plec.
I wouldn't have liked to leave.
Nu te-am mai văzut de mult.
I haven't seen you in a long time.
Nu aș fi crezut niciodată.
I would never have believed it.
Nu numai că a venit, dar a și adus cadouri.
Not only did he come, but he also brought gifts.
Nu-mi vine să cred ce aud.
I can't believe what I'm hearing.
Nu se cuvine să vorbești așa.
It is not appropriate to speak like that.
Nu-i așa că e frumos?
Isn't it beautiful?
Nu-i pasă nimănui de opinia lui.
Nobody cares about his opinion.
Nu-s multe de spus.
There isn't much to say.
Nu cumva ai uitat cheile?
Did you perhaps forget the keys?
Nu-i vorba de bani, ci de principii.
It's not about money, but about principles.
Easily Confused
Learners confuse 'not' with 'neither/nor'.
Learners don't know when to use the contraction.
Learners use 'nimic' as a verb negator.
Häufige Fehler
Eu fac nu mănânc
Eu nu mănânc
Mănânc nu
Nu mănânc
Eu nu mănânc nu
Eu nu mănânc
Nu-i mănânc
Nu mănânc
Nu am mâncat nu
Nu am mâncat
Nu-i nu mănânc
Nu mănânc
Eu nu-i mănânc
Eu nu mănânc
Nu-l nu văd
Nu-l văd
Nu-s nu știu
Nu știu
Nu am nu făcut
Nu am făcut
Nu-i nu-i
Nu-i
Nu-i nimeni nu vine
Nu vine nimeni
Nu-i nu-i
Nu-i
Nu-i nimeni nu vine
Nu vine nimeni
Sentence Patterns
Eu ___ ___.
___ ___ timp.
___ ___ că este bine.
___ ___ să plec.
Real World Usage
Nu pot veni.
Nu vreau ceapă.
Nu am experiență.
Nu înțeleg.
Nu-mi place.
Nu am primit mesajul.
Keep it simple
No auxiliary verbs
Contractions
Politeness
Smart Tips
Use 'Nu știu' instead of trying to translate 'I do not know'.
Use 'Nu vreau' for 'I don't want'.
Use 'N-am' for 'I don't have'.
Start with 'Nu' followed by the verb.
Aussprache
Nu
Pronounced like 'noo' in English.
Falling
Nu. ↓
Finality or refusal.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Nu is the 'No' that you need to know.
Visual Association
Imagine a big 'NO' sign (like a traffic sign) being placed in front of a person running (the verb).
Rhyme
When you want to say no, put 'nu' before the verb, and watch it go!
Story
Ion wanted to eat, but he was not hungry. He looked at the food and said 'Nu'. Then he looked at the water and said 'Nu'. He realized that 'Nu' is the magic key to saying no to everything.
Word Web
Herausforderung
For the next 5 minutes, try to turn every sentence you think of into a negative one using 'nu'.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Negation is direct and clear.
Similar usage, very common in daily speech.
Often uses specific regional particles, but 'nu' remains standard.
Comes from Latin 'non'.
Conversation Starters
Vrei cafea?
Știi unde este gara?
Ai văzut filmul?
Crezi că va ploua?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Eu ___ mănânc.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu fac nu știu.
Eu vreau.
Does 'nu' change for different subjects?
A: Vrei apă? B: ___.
mănânc / nu / eu
Which is a negation?
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesEu ___ mănânc.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu fac nu știu.
Eu vreau.
Does 'nu' change for different subjects?
A: Vrei apă? B: ___.
mănânc / nu / eu
Which is a negation?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, 'nu' is invariant. It is 'ei nu mănânc'.
Yes, 'nu am mâncat'.
Yes, always.
Nu am.
No, but add 'mulțumesc' to be polite.
Only for emphasis or double negation.
Nu vreau să mănânc.
Yes, it functions as the negation particle.
In Other Languages
No
Placement is identical.
Ne... pas
Romanian is much simpler.
Nicht
Romanian is pre-verbal.
nai
Romanian uses a separate word.
la
Romanian 'nu' is invariant.
bù
Very similar structure.
