Signification
Emergency exclamation when a fire is spotted.
Contexte culturel
In villages, 'focul' was the center of the 'casă' (house). Shouting 'Foc!' was a call for the 'găleata de apă' (water bucket) chain, a community effort to save a neighbor's home. The 'Lumina Sfântă' (Holy Light) brought from Jerusalem at Easter is often referred to as 'Focul Sfânt'. It represents life and resurrection. Romanian history is full of 'pârjol', where leaders burned their own land to leave nothing for invaders. 'Foc!' was a signal of sacrifice. Similar to 'lit' in English, 'foc' is used by Gen Z in Bucharest to describe a great party or a stylish outfit.
False Alarms
Never shout 'Foc!' in a public place unless there is a real emergency. It is illegal and dangerous.
The 'Arde' Alternative
If you forget 'Foc!', you can also shout 'Arde!' (It's burning!). It's just as effective.
Signification
Emergency exclamation when a fire is spotted.
False Alarms
Never shout 'Foc!' in a public place unless there is a real emergency. It is illegal and dangerous.
The 'Arde' Alternative
If you forget 'Foc!', you can also shout 'Arde!' (It's burning!). It's just as effective.
Fire Slang
If a Romanian friend says a song is 'foc', they mean it's excellent, not that the speakers are burning!
Teste-toi
What should you shout if you see a fire in a Romanian restaurant?
Ai văzut flăcări în bucătărie. Ce strigi?
'Foc!' is the standard emergency shout for fire.
Complete the sentence with the correct word for fire.
Pompierii au venit să stingă ______.
In a sentence, we use the definite article '-ul' to refer to 'the fire'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
1. Foc! / 2. Mi-e cald. / 3. E iute.
Foc is for fire, cald is for temperature, iute is for spicy food.
Fill in the missing word in this emergency dialogue.
A: ______! Arde casa vecinului! B: Sunați repede la 112!
The context of the neighbor's house burning requires an emergency alert.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Uses of 'Foc'
Emergency
- • Foc!
- • Incendiu!
- • Arde!
Daily Life
- • Foc în sobă
- • Foc de tabără
- • Brichetă
Idioms
- • Foc de paie
- • Jocul cu focul
- • Foc și pară
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesAi văzut flăcări în bucătărie. Ce strigi?
'Foc!' is the standard emergency shout for fire.
Pompierii au venit să stingă ______.
In a sentence, we use the definite article '-ul' to refer to 'the fire'.
1. Foc! / 2. Mi-e cald. / 3. E iute.
Foc is for fire, cald is for temperature, iute is for spicy food.
A: ______! Arde casa vecinului! B: Sunați repede la 112!
The context of the neighbor's house burning requires an emergency alert.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIn an emergency, politeness doesn't matter. 'Foc!' is the standard, expected shout.
No. To ask for a light for a cigarette, say 'Aveți un foc?' (Do you have a fire/light?).
The plural is 'focuri', used for multiple fires or fireworks ('focuri de artificii').
'Incendiu' is too long and formal to shout in a panic. 'Foc!' is faster.
No, 'focus' is translated as 'concentrare' or 'focalizare'.
A firefighter is a 'pompier'.
It is neuter: un foc, două focuri.
Yes, 'a fi foc și pară' means to be extremely angry (fire and pear/smoke).
It means 'campfire'.
'Foc' is the whole fire, 'flacără' is a single flame.
Expressions liées
A lua foc
builds onTo catch fire
Foc de paie
similarA flash in the pan
A se juca cu focul
similarTo play with fire
Incendiu
specialized formLarge-scale fire
Arde!
synonymIt's burning!
