Signification
Indicating physical illness or nausea.
Contexte culturel
The 'Curent' (Draft) myth is real. If you say 'Mi-e rău' in a public space, people will often check if there is a window open causing a draft. Hospitality and health: Romanians will often offer 'ceai de mentă' (mint tea) as a first remedy for 'mi-e rău'. It is the universal cure-all for stomach issues. The 'Evil Eye' (Deochi). Sudden sickness is sometimes attributed to someone looking at you with envy. A red thread is often worn to prevent this. Pharmacy culture: Romanians go to the pharmacy (farmacie) for almost everything. If you say 'Mi-e rău', a friend will likely suggest a specific over-the-counter brand immediately.
The 'De La' Rule
Always use 'de la' to explain the cause. 'Mi-e rău de la soare' (I'm sick from the sun).
Avoid 'Sunt'
Never use 'Sunt rău' for health. It's the #1 mistake that makes Romanians laugh (kindly).
Signification
Indicating physical illness or nausea.
The 'De La' Rule
Always use 'de la' to explain the cause. 'Mi-e rău de la soare' (I'm sick from the sun).
Avoid 'Sunt'
Never use 'Sunt rău' for health. It's the #1 mistake that makes Romanians laugh (kindly).
The Mint Tea Cure
If you tell a Romanian 'Mi-e rău', expect them to offer you 'ceai de mentă'. It's culturally mandatory.
Past Tense
Memorize 'Mi-a fost rău' as a block. You'll use it often to explain why you missed a meeting or party.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct dative pronoun for 'I feel sick'.
____-e rău de la pizza.
'Mi-e' is the contraction of 'Îmi este', used for the 1st person singular (I).
Which sentence means 'I am an evil person'?
Choose the correct sentence:
'Sunt rău' uses the standard subject-verb-adjective pattern to describe a character trait.
Complete the dialogue in the taxi.
Pasager: Domnule șofer, opriți vă rog! ____ ____ rău.
In a car, 'Mi-e rău' is the standard way to signal motion sickness.
Match the cause to the feeling.
If you are on a boat and feel sick, you say: Mi-e rău de ____.
'Rău de mare' is the specific term for sea sickness.
Put the phrase in the past tense.
Ieri ____ ____ ____ rău toată ziua.
'Mi-a fost' is the past tense (perfect compus) of 'mi-e'.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
Mi-e rău vs Sunt rău
Banque d exercices
5 exercices____-e rău de la pizza.
'Mi-e' is the contraction of 'Îmi este', used for the 1st person singular (I).
Choose the correct sentence:
'Sunt rău' uses the standard subject-verb-adjective pattern to describe a character trait.
Pasager: Domnule șofer, opriți vă rog! ____ ____ rău.
In a car, 'Mi-e rău' is the standard way to signal motion sickness.
If you are on a boat and feel sick, you say: Mi-e rău de ____.
'Rău de mare' is the specific term for sea sickness.
Ieri ____ ____ ____ rău toată ziua.
'Mi-a fost' is the past tense (perfect compus) of 'mi-e'.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsIt's better to say 'Mă doare capul'. 'Mi-e rău' is for general malaise or nausea.
Yes, it's neutral and appropriate for all settings, including with strangers.
'Mi-e rău' is more common for sudden nausea/illness. 'Mă simt rău' is slightly more general and common in written form.
Add 'puțin': 'Mi-e puțin rău'.
Yes, figuratively: 'Mi-e rău de tine' (I'm sick of you), but it's very harsh.
Both are correct. 'Mi-e' is the spoken contraction; 'Îmi e' or 'Îmi este' is more formal/written.
Change 'mi' to 'ți': 'Ți-e rău?'.
It's an exaggeration meaning 'I feel deathly ill' or 'I feel extremely sick'.
Yes, it's one of the first phrases Romanian children learn to communicate distress.
In this specific dative construction, yes. In other contexts, it means 'bad', 'evil', or 'wrong'.
Say 'Mi-e rău de mașină'.
Yes, 'Sunt praf' (I'm dust) or 'Sunt varză' (I'm cabbage) are used for feeling terrible.
Expressions liées
Mi-e foame
similarI am hungry
Mi-e sete
similarI am thirsty
Mi-e somn
similarI am sleepy
Mi-e greață
specialized formI am nauseous
Îmi pare rău
contrastI am sorry
Mă simt rău
synonymI feel bad
