Top 10 Mistakes Romanian Learners Make When Learning English
Romanian is a Romance language (like Italian) surrounded by Slavic neighbours. This creates a unique mix of errors, including "False Friends" like 'Support' and direct translations like 'Make a shower'.
Top 10 Mistakes
1
β Typical learner sentence:
"I make a shower."
π€ Why learners say this:
Romanian 'A face duΘ'. English uses 'Take' or 'Have'.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you are building the shower with tools.
β
Natural English version:
"I take a shower."
2
β Typical learner sentence:
"Please close the light."
π€ Why learners say this:
Romanian 'Γnchide lumina'. English uses 'Turn off' or 'Switch off'.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you want to trap the light inside a box.
β
Natural English version:
"Please turn off the light."
3
β Typical learner sentence:
"I cannot support him." (Meaning tolerate)
π€ Why learners say this:
False friend! 'A suporta' means to tolerate. English 'Support' means to help/back up.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you are refusing to help him.
β
Natural English version:
"I cannot stand him."
π― Practice: Which Word?
You are annoying me! I say:
A) I can't support you
B) I can't stand you
4
β Typical learner sentence:
"Stay on the chair."
π€ Why learners say this:
Romanian 'A sta' means both 'Stay' (remain) and 'Sit' (be seated). English separates them.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you are telling a dog not to move.
β
Natural English version:
"Sit on the chair."
5
β Typical learner sentence:
"I go with the car."
π€ Why learners say this:
Romanian 'Cu maΘina'. English uses 'By car'.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like the car is your friend coming with you.
β
Natural English version:
"I go by car."
6
β Typical learner sentence:
"I keep the baby." (Meaning holding)
π€ Why learners say this:
Romanian 'A Θine' means both 'Keep' (possess/store) and 'Hold' (in hands).
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you are going to keep the baby forever and not give it back!
β
Natural English version:
"I am holding the baby."
π― Practice: Fix the Sentence
"Please stay on the chair and keep this book."
7
β Typical learner sentence:
"Serve yourself." (At a meal)
π€ Why learners say this:
Romanian 'A servi'. In English, 'Serve yourself' can sound rude.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
A bit abrupt. We usually say "Help yourself".
β
Natural English version:
"Help yourself."
8
β Typical learner sentence:
"Wait a moment."
π€ Why learners say this:
This isn't 'wrong', but Romanians say 'Moment' (Moment) a lot. English speakers prefer 'Minute'.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
A bit formal.
β
Natural English version:
"Wait a minute / second."
9
β Typical learner sentence:
"I made a copy." (Meaning cheated)
π€ Why learners say this:
Romanian 'A copia' means to cheat on a test. English 'Copy' means to duplicate a paper.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you used a photocopier machine.
β
Natural English version:
"I cheated on the test."
10
β Typical learner sentence:
"I am boring." (Meaning bored)
π€ Why learners say this:
Confusing -ING and -ED. Boring = The thing causing boredom. Bored = Your feeling.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
You are insulting yourself.
β
Natural English version:
"I am bored."
π― Practice: Fix the Sentence
"I made a shower after I went with the car."
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