Meaning
To remove dishes after eating.
Cultural Background
Clearing the table is often a gendered task in traditional households, but this is changing rapidly in urban areas where chores are shared. The 'masă joasă' (low table) tradition meant that clearing the table often involved moving the entire table against a wall. Hospitality is extreme; a host might feel insulted if you try to clear the table too early, as it signals you want to leave. Using 'a debarasa' can sound sarcastic or overly fancy among close friends.
The Guest Rule
Always offer to clear the table at least twice. It's a cultural expectation in Romania, even if they say no.
Don't say 'curăță'
If you tell a friend 'Curăță masa!', it sounds like you're telling them the table is filthy and needs scrubbing.
Meaning
To remove dishes after eating.
The Guest Rule
Always offer to clear the table at least twice. It's a cultural expectation in Romania, even if they say no.
Don't say 'curăță'
If you tell a friend 'Curăță masa!', it sounds like you're telling them the table is filthy and needs scrubbing.
The 'Să-ți fie de bine' connection
Wait for the host to say 'Să-ți fie de bine' before you jump up to clear the table.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'a strânge' in the present tense.
Noi __________ masa după cină.
'Noi' (we) requires the 'strângem' ending.
Which sentence means 'I cleared the table'?
Choose the past tense version:
'Am strâns' is the perfect compus (past tense).
Complete the dialogue with the most polite response.
Gazdă: 'Cina a fost gata.' Oaspete: 'Mulțumesc! A fost delicios. _________?'
Offering to help clear the table is the polite response after a meal.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are a waiter in a nice restaurant.
'A debarasa' is the professional/formal term used in restaurants.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Items you 'strâng' from the table
Vase
- • Farfurii
- • Boluri
- • Platouri
Tacamuri
- • Cuțite
- • Furculițe
- • Linguri
Practice Bank
4 exercisesNoi __________ masa după cină.
'Noi' (we) requires the 'strângem' ending.
Choose the past tense version:
'Am strâns' is the perfect compus (past tense).
Gazdă: 'Cina a fost gata.' Oaspete: 'Mulțumesc! A fost delicios. _________?'
Offering to help clear the table is the polite response after a meal.
Situation: You are a waiter in a nice restaurant.
'A debarasa' is the professional/formal term used in restaurants.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsNo, for a desk you would say 'a face ordine pe birou' (to make order on the desk). 'Masa' specifically implies the dining table here.
It is always 'a strânge masa' (with the definite article -a) because you are clearing a specific table.
Say: 'Vă rog, lăsați-mă pe mine să strâng masa.'
Yes, it is a gender-neutral phrase used by anyone performing or discussing the chore.
Rarely. It sounds very formal, almost like you are pretending to be a butler.
Related Phrases
A pune masa
contrastTo set the table
A spăla vasele
builds onTo wash the dishes
A debarasa
synonymTo clear (formal)
A șterge masa
similarTo wipe the table
A sta la masă
similarTo sit at the table
