Signification
A request to switch off the electricity.
Contexte culturel
Saving electricity is a point of pride for older generations due to historical shortages. Leaving a light on is often seen as wasteful and lazy. The usage is identical to Romania, but you might hear 'stinge' slightly more often in formal radio or TV broadcasts. Younger Romanians often use 'închide' for all tech (TV, laptop, lights), showing a unified conceptualization of 'turning off'. In villages, 'a stinge' is still very strong, as it relates more closely to the action of putting out a lamp or a fire in the stove.
The 'Te Rog' Rule
Always add 'te rog' (please) after 'închide lumina' to avoid sounding like you are barking orders.
Don't 'Close' the Fire
Never say 'închide focul'. Use 'stinge focul' for anything involving actual flames.
Signification
A request to switch off the electricity.
The 'Te Rog' Rule
Always add 'te rog' (please) after 'închide lumina' to avoid sounding like you are barking orders.
Don't 'Close' the Fire
Never say 'închide focul'. Use 'stinge focul' for anything involving actual flames.
The Opposite
To turn the light ON, use 'aprinde lumina' (ignite the light). It's a cool fire-based metaphor!
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'a închide' (imperative singular).
Te rog, _______ lumina!
Since the request is 'Te rog' (informal), we use the singular imperative 'închide'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to ask a teacher to turn off the light?
Asking a teacher:
The plural imperative 'închideți' combined with 'vă rog' is the polite way to address a teacher.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ești gata de culcare? B: Da. ___________
In the context of going to bed, turning off the light is the most logical action.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are leaving a room and want to be responsible.
To be responsible when leaving, you 'close' (turn off) the light.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Light Actions
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesTe rog, _______ lumina!
Since the request is 'Te rog' (informal), we use the singular imperative 'închide'.
Asking a teacher:
The plural imperative 'închideți' combined with 'vă rog' is the polite way to address a teacher.
A: Ești gata de culcare? B: Da. ___________
In the context of going to bed, turning off the light is the most logical action.
Situation: You are leaving a room and want to be responsible.
To be responsible when leaving, you 'close' (turn off) the light.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is perfectly correct and the most common way to say 'turn off the light' in Romania.
Yes, 'închide calculatorul' is the standard way to say 'shut down the computer'.
'Închide' means 'close' and is more colloquial. 'Stinge' means 'extinguish' and is slightly more formal.
You say 'aprinde lumina' (literally 'ignite the light') or 'deschide lumina' (literally 'open the light').
To a friend, no. To a stranger or elder, use 'Închideți lumina, vă rog' to be polite.
It's a carry-over from the days of gas lamps where you had to close a valve to stop the light.
Only if you work there! Otherwise, you might ask a waiter: 'Puteți să închideți lumina puțin?'
Not usually. For that, use 'stingerea'.
Yes! 'Închide cartea' is the correct way to say 'close the book'.
You would say 'dă lumina mai încet' or 'redu intensitatea luminii'.
Expressions liées
stinge lumina
synonymto extinguish the light
aprinde lumina
contrastto turn on the light
închide televizorul
similarto turn off the TV
dă stingerea
specialized formlights out (military)
