A Romance language with its own history
Romanian is related to Italian and French but has its own grammar and many influences arising from regional language contact.
Romance language
Have Romanian translated
română
Romanian and Moldovan documents may use similar language but follow different administrative and documentary traditions. Their origin and date of issue are therefore also checked.
Romanian is spoken as a first language by approximately 24 million people.
Geographical distribution of Romanian
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Romania
Republic of Moldova
Ukraine
Serbia
Hungary
Germany
Italy
Schematic selection of key areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders; the map is not a comprehensive population statistic.
Language profile
Romanian at a glance
- Native name
- română
- Language family
- Romance language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- ro
Documents and uses
Common uses for this language combination
The language alone is not decisive. ABBA-Sprachendienste also considers the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and requested language direction.
Request a document review- Birth and marriage certificates
- School and university certificates
- Employment and social-security records
- Court and official documents
- Contracts and powers of attorney
Origin and development
How the language developed
Romanian is an Eastern Romance language that developed from spoken Latin in south-eastern Europe. Its vocabulary also shows Slavic, Greek, Turkish and Hungarian influences.
Romanian was written partly in Cyrillic until the 19th century, after which the Latin alphabet became established. In the Republic of Moldova, older Soviet documents may contain Cyrillic forms.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Diacritical marks
Ă, â, î, ș and ț must be reproduced correctly; older technical texts sometimes use substitute characters.
Moldovan context
The language designation, script and administrative structure may vary according to the period and the document's origin.
A brief introduction to the language
Three introductory expressions
The transliteration is intended only as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bună ziua | — | Good day |
| Mulțumesc | — | Thank you |
| Vă rog | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded estimates and may vary depending on the definition, survey year and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Romanian language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources current as at 14 July 2026. The information will undergo a specialist review before the production launch.
Other related service languages
Romanian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Romanian
Can I have Romanian translated into German and German into Romanian?
Both directions can be requested. Binding confirmation is provided after the document type, subject area, certification requirements, appointment and intended use have been assessed.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Romanian?
Birth and marriage certificates, school and university certificates, employment and social-security records, and court and public-authority documents are typical examples. Other types of document can also be assessed using a clear photograph or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check for Romanian?
The review covers the language direction, document type, use of the Latin alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and any potential need for certification.
Do I need a certified translation of my Romanian document?
The receiving authority, court, notary or other requesting body decides this. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted so that the requirements can be assessed appropriately.
Is a photo sufficient for the initial review?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually sufficient for an initial quotation review. Depending on the assignment, the original may also be required later.
Ask us to review your Romanian ↔ German requirements
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally assess the language direction, document, intended use and certification requirements.
