A2 Numbers 5 min read Easy

Fractions and Decimals

In Romanian, swap your decimal dots for commas and use the -ime suffix for most fractions.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Learn to read fractions using 'o' + ordinal + 'ime' and decimals using 'virgulă'.

  • Fractions use ordinal numbers + 'ime': 1/3 is 'o treime'.
  • Decimals use 'virgulă' to separate the whole from the part: 2,5 is 'doi virgulă cinci'.
  • Use 'jumătate' for 1/2 and 'sfert' for 1/4.
1/x = o + [ordinal] + ime | x,y = [whole] + virgulă + [decimal]

Overview

Fractions and decimals are the secret ingredients of any language. You need them to follow a recipe. You need them to check your bank balance. You even need them to tell the time correctly in Bucharest. In Romanian, these numbers follow very specific patterns. They might look scary at first, but they are quite logical. Think of them as the "building blocks" of precise communication. Whether you are at the market or in a business meeting, these rules matter. They help you avoid paying too much for tomatoes. They help you arrive on time for your coffee dates. Let's dive into how Romanian handles these tiny but mighty numbers.

How This Grammar Works

Romanian handles fractions and decimals differently than English. The biggest shock for many is the comma. In English, you use a dot for decimals (1.5). In Romanian, you must use a comma (1,5). If you use a dot, people might think you are writing a date. Fractions also have their own personality. Most fractions are feminine nouns. They usually end in the suffix -ime. However, the most common ones like "half" and "quarter" have special names. It is like a grammar traffic light. Green means use the suffix. Red means use the special word. Yellow means check the gender agreement. Most of the time, you are just combining a number with a special ending. It is simpler than it looks!

Formation Pattern

1
Creating fractions and decimals follows a clear set of steps.
2
For decimals, say the whole number first.
3
Add the word virgulă (comma).
4
Say the numbers that come after the comma individually. For example, 2,5 is doi virgulă cinci.
5
For standard fractions, start with the cardinal number (like trei).
6
Add the suffix -ime to the ordinal base. For example, trei becomes treime (a third).
7
For "one half," always use o jumătate.
8
For "one quarter," always use un sfert.
9
When you have more than one part (like 2/3), the fraction becomes plural. O treime becomes două treimi.
10
Formation involves a bit of math and a bit of grammar. Just remember that fractions usually behave like feminine nouns. The word sfert (quarter) is the rebel; it is masculine.

When To Use It

Use these patterns whenever you need to be exact.
  • At the market: Asking for o jumătate de kilogram (half a kilo) of apples.
  • In the kitchen: Reading a recipe that calls for o treime de cană (a third of a cup) of sugar.
  • In business: Discussing a creștere de zero virgulă cinci la sută (a 0.5 percent increase).
  • Telling time: Saying și un sfert (and a quarter) to mean fifteen minutes past the hour.
  • Ordering drinks: Asking for o jumătate de litră (half a liter) of water.
Real-world scenarios require precision. If you ask for "some" flour, your cake might fail. If you ask for o jumătate, you are safe. Even native speakers double-check their decimals during tax season!

When Not To Use It

Do not use formal fractions for vague amounts. If you just want "a bit" of milk, use puțin or un pic. Using o optime (an eighth) in a casual chat sounds like a math textbook. Also, avoid decimals when talking about people or animals. You cannot have unu virgulă cinci cats. Well, you could, but that would be a very sad story. For prices, Romanians often skip the word virgulă. Instead of saying doi virgulă cincizeci lei, they say doi lei și cincizeci. It sounds more natural and less like a calculator. Keep the decimals for science, math, and precise measurements.

Common Mistakes

One huge mistake is using the English dot. Writing 1.5 instead of 1,5 is a classic learner error. Another trap is the gender of the number "two." For fractions, we use the feminine două because treime and pătrime are feminine. So, it is două treimi, never doi treimi. People also forget to pluralize the fraction. If you have 3/10, it must be trei zecimi. Don't forget the -i at the end! Lastly, don't confuse sfert (quarter) with patru (four). It is a common slip of the tongue. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired. Just breathe and take it slow.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Romanian fractions look a lot like ordinal numbers (first, second, third). For example, a treia means "the third one" (feminine), while o treime means "one third" (the fraction). They share the same root but have different endings. Decimals in Romanian are strictly separated by virgulă. In some languages, people say "point." In Romanian, saying punct (point) in a decimal sounds very strange. It is always a "comma." Also, unlike English "half a...", Romanian always needs the preposition de. We say o jumătate de litru, not just o jumătate litru. That little de is the glue holding your sentence together.

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I say 0,5?

You say zero virgulă cinci.

Q

Is "half" always feminine?

Yes, o jumătate is always feminine.

Q

What about 1/4?

That is un sfert. It is masculine, so we use un.

Q

Do I use a comma for thousands?

No! Romanian uses a dot or a space for thousands (1.000). This is the opposite of English.

Q

Can I say "half" for time?

Yes, use jumătate. For example, două și jumătate (half past two).

Q

How do I say 3/4?

Use trei sferturi. Note that sfert becomes plural sferturi.

Fraction Formation

Fraction Romanian Literal Meaning
1/2
o jumătate
a half
1/3
o treime
a third
1/4
un sfert
a quarter
1/5
o cincime
a fifth
1/6
o șesime
a sixth
1/10
o zecime
a tenth

Meanings

This grammar rule explains how to express parts of a whole using fractional and decimal notation in Romanian.

1

Fractions

Expressing a portion of a whole.

“O pătrime din buget.”

“Două cincimi din grup.”

2

Decimals

Reading numbers with a decimal comma.

“Temperatura este 36,6.”

“Prețul este 10,50 lei.”

3

Common Parts

Special nouns for common fractions.

“O jumătate de oră.”

“Un sfert de oră.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Fractions and Decimals
Fraction/Decimal Romanian Term Gender/Type Example Usage
1/2
o jumătate
Feminine
o jumătate de măr
1/4
un sfert
Masculine
un sfert de oră
1/3
o treime
Feminine
o treime din grup
0,5
zero virgulă cinci
Decimal
zero virgulă cinci litri
2,75
doi virgulă șaptezeci și cinci
Decimal
două kilograme și ceva
3/4
trei sferturi
Plural
trei sferturi din tort
1/10
o zecime
Feminine
o zecime de secundă

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Prețul este de cinci virgulă cincizeci lei.

Prețul este de cinci virgulă cincizeci lei. (Shopping)

Neutral
Costă cinci virgulă cinci.

Costă cinci virgulă cinci. (Shopping)

Informal
E cinci jumate.

E cinci jumate. (Shopping)

Slang
E cinci cinzeci.

E cinci cinzeci. (Shopping)

Romanian Fraction Basics

Fracții

Irregular

  • o jumătate one half
  • un sfert one quarter

Regular (-ime)

  • o treime one third
  • o zecime one tenth

Decimal Punctuation

English (US/UK)
1.5 One point five
Dot (.) Used for decimals
Romanian
1,5 Unu virgulă cinci
Comma (,) Used for decimals

How to name a fraction

1

Is it 1/2?

YES ↓
NO
Check next
2

Is it 1/4?

YES ↓
NO
Use Number + -ime

Usage Contexts

🛒

Market

  • • o jumătate de kg
  • • un sfert de kg
⏰

Time

  • • și un sfert
  • • fără un sfert
📊

Math

  • • zero virgulă doi
  • • trei pătrimi
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Examples by Level

1

Am o jumătate de pâine.

I have half a loaf of bread.

2

Prețul este 2,5 lei.

The price is 2.5 lei.

3

Un sfert de oră.

A quarter of an hour.

4

E 1,2 grade.

It is 1.2 degrees.

1

Am mâncat o treime din tort.

I ate a third of the cake.

2

Distanța este 5,7 kilometri.

The distance is 5.7 kilometers.

3

Două cincimi din studenți.

Two fifths of the students.

4

Costă 10,99 euro.

It costs 10.99 euros.

1

Trei sferturi din populație votează.

Three quarters of the population vote.

2

Rezultatul este 0,005.

The result is 0.005.

3

O zecime din buget a fost cheltuită.

A tenth of the budget was spent.

4

A crescut cu 1,5 procente.

It grew by 1.5 percent.

1

O optime din suprafață este acoperită.

An eighth of the surface is covered.

2

Valoarea este 4,125.

The value is 4.125.

3

Șase șeptimi din timp a trecut.

Six sevenths of the time has passed.

4

Eroarea este 0,02 virgulă 5.

The error is 0.025.

1

O nouăime din total a fost alocată.

A ninth of the total was allocated.

2

Coeficientul este 2,718.

The coefficient is 2.718.

3

Două treimi din acțiuni au fost vândute.

Two thirds of the shares were sold.

4

O sutime de secundă a făcut diferența.

A hundredth of a second made the difference.

1

O miime din eșantion a prezentat anomalii.

A thousandth of the sample showed anomalies.

2

Raportul este de 3,14159.

The ratio is 3.14159.

3

Trei pătrimi din teritoriu a fost anexat.

Three quarters of the territory was annexed.

4

O milionime din doză este suficientă.

A millionth of the dose is sufficient.

Easily Confused

Fractions and Decimals vs Ordinal vs Fraction

Learners confuse 'treilea' (third) with 'treime' (a third).

Fractions and Decimals vs Decimal Point vs Comma

Using the English point.

Fractions and Decimals vs Jumătate vs Sfert

Mixing up half and quarter.

Common Mistakes

✗

1.5

✓

1,5

Use a comma, not a point.
✗

o treia

✓

o treime

Use -ime for fractions.
✗

jumătate oră

✓

o jumătate de oră

Need 'de' for quantity.
✗

două sferturi

✓

o jumătate

Simplify fractions.
✗

patru virgulă cincizeci

✓

patru virgulă cinci

Usually read digits.
✗

o pătrime de tort

✓

un sfert de tort

Use 'sfert' for 1/4.
✗

trei zecimi

✓

trei zecimi

Correct, but check spelling.
✗

0.5

✓

0,5

Comma is mandatory.
✗

o optime

✓

o optime

Correct.
✗

două treimi

✓

două treimi

Correct.
✗

0,500

✓

0,5

Avoid unnecessary zeros.
✗

o miime

✓

o miime

Correct.
✗

trei șeptimi

✓

trei șeptimi

Correct.
✗

o nouăime

✓

o nouăime

Correct.

Sentence Patterns

Am nevoie de ___ de oră.

Prețul este ___ lei.

Am mâncat ___ din tort.

Rezultatul este ___.

Real World Usage

Cooking constant

Adaugă o jumătate de linguriță.

Shopping very common

Costă 2,99.

Time common

Ne vedem într-un sfert de oră.

Science occasional

Valoarea este 0,001.

Finance common

Dobânda e 1,5%.

Sports occasional

A câștigat cu o sutime.

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⚠️

The Comma Trap

Never use a period for decimals in Romania. If you write 2.500, people will think you mean two thousand five hundred!
🎯

The 'DE' Rule

Always put 'de' between a fraction and a noun. It's 'o jumătate DE pâine', not 'o jumătate pâine'.
💬

Time is Flexible

In Romania, 'un sfert de oră' (15 mins) can sometimes mean 20 minutes in social settings. Don't say I didn't warn you!
💡

Gender Matters

Remember that 'sfert' is a guy (un sfert) and 'jumătate' is a girl (o jumătate). They don't switch roles!

Smart Tips

Read the whole number, then 'virgulă', then the cents.

5.50 → cinci virgulă cincizeci

Use 'jumătate' for half portions.

Vreau 1/2 porție. → Vreau o jumătate de porție.

Always add -ime to the ordinal.

o trei → o treime

Replace the dot with a comma.

1.2 → 1,2

Pronunciation

/vir.ɡu.lə/

Virgulă

Pronounced as 'veer-goo-luh'.

Rising at comma

Trei ↗ virgulă ↘ cinci.

Standard reading.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'ime' as 'I'm a part' of the whole.

Visual Association

Imagine a pizza being cut into slices. Each slice is an '-ime'.

Rhyme

Pentru fracții, pune '-ime', ca să știi cât vine.

Story

Ana vrea o jumătate de tort. Ea taie tortul în sferturi. Fiecare sfert este o pătrime. Ea plătește 10,5 lei.

Word Web

jumătatesferttreimezecimevirgulăfracție

Challenge

Go to a Romanian news site and find three numbers with commas. Read them aloud.

Cultural Notes

The decimal comma is strictly used in all official documents.

Derived from Latin 'pars' and ordinal numbers.

Conversation Starters

“

Cât costă cafeaua?

“

Cât timp ai?

“

Care este rezultatul?

“

Ce fracție din buget ai folosit?

Journal Prompts

Write about your grocery shopping.
Describe how you divide your time.
Explain a math problem.
Discuss economic data.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct word for 'half' in a recipe context.

Pune ___ de cană de lapte în bol.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o jumătate
In Romanian, 'half' is always the feminine 'o jumătate'.
How do you say 2.5 in Romanian?

Cumpără două ___ cinci kilograme de mere.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: virgulă
Decimals are separated by the word 'virgulă' (comma).
Select the correct plural form for 'two thirds'.

___ din tort a dispărut deja!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Două treimi
Since 'treime' is feminine, we use 'două' and the plural 'treimi'.

Score: /3

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

1/3 este o ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: treime
1/3 is a third.
Choose the correct decimal. Multiple Choice

How do you write 2.5 in Romanian?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 2,5
Romanian uses a comma.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Am mâncat o treia din tort.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Am mâncat o treime din tort.
Use -ime.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

jumătate / oră / o / de

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O jumătate de oră.
Correct word order.
Match the fraction. Match Pairs

1/4

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: un sfert
1/4 is a quarter.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Cât costă? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: E 5,5.
Comma usage.
Is this true? True False Rule

Romanian uses decimal points.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Romanian uses commas.
Form the fraction. Conjugation Drill

1/5

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o cincime
Correct suffix.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

It is the standard in Romania and most of Europe.

Yes, it is the most common way to say it.

Unu virgulă douăzeci și cinci.

Yes, but 'un sfert' is more common.

Zero virgulă cinci.

Yes, they end in -ime, which is feminine.

Always 'o treime' for fractions.

Yes, when followed by a noun.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

un tercio

Suffix usage.

French moderate

un tiers

Romanian is more systematic with -ime.

German low

ein Drittel

German is Germanic, Romanian is Romance.

Japanese none

san-bun-no-ichi

Structure is completely different.

Arabic none

thulth

Semitic structure.

Chinese none

san fen zhi yi

Analytic structure.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Counters for Objects

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