The Sources column indicates the linguist(s) or the works who suggested including the words in the list:
The Notes column contains information found in various dictionaries. "Not in current use" indicates words not found in dictionaries of contemporary Romanian.
| Word / Name | English | Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| abeş | ? | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Not in current use. Dacian: *abhesya. |
| Abrud | Abrud | Hasdeu | Place name in Romania. |
| abur | steam, vapour | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian avull (steam). Dacian: *abhula. PIE: *h2ep-h3n.-lo |
| acăţa | to hang, to catch | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *accaptiāre (to catch) Current Romanian form: agăţa. |
| adămană | Vraciu | Not in current use. | |
| ademeni | to tempt, to lure | Hasdeu | Cf. Hungarian adomány (gift, grant). |
| adia | to breeze gently | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *adiliare. Current form: adia. |
| aghiuţă | devil | Hasdeu | Cf. Greek άγιοσ ágios (saint). |
| aidoma | alike, identical | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: from Slavic vidomŭ (visible). |
| alac | Einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum) | Hasdeu | Cf. Hungarian alakor, which, however, has foreign origin, possibly Romanian. Alternative etymology: Latin alica (spelt) Other possible origins: Albanian akuë or Albanian lakër (greenery) of Greek origin. |
| ală | a monster that unleashes storms | Hasdeu | Alternative form: hală; alternative etymology: Bulgarian, Slavic (h)ala |
| aldea | ? | Hasdeu | |
| ameţi | to make/get dizzy | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *ammatteāre (to bludgeon) or *ammitĕre. |
| amurg | twilight, dusk | Russu | See murg below. |
| anina | to hang, to hook | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *annināre (to swing) or *allevinare. |
| aprig | fiery, hot-blooded | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin aprīcus (warm) or *apricus from aper (wild boar). |
| argea | loom (or particular boards of a loom) | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | |
| Argeş | Argeş | Hasdeu | Place name, river name. |
| arunca | to throw, to cast | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin eruncare (to weed out). |
| azugă | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use (see also Azuga, a town in the Prahova County) |
| baci | (chief) shepherd | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Hungarian bácsi (uncle). Compare Bulgarian бачо (bacho/bacio). |
| baier, baieră | rope, belt; coin necklace; talisman; bail (handle) | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin baiulus (a porter). |
| baligă | dung, manure | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian bajgë (same meaning). |
| baltă | pool, puddle | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian baltë (mud, soil) and Serbian blato (mud). |
| bară | marsh | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: Serbian bara (?) |
| Barbă-cot | (fairy tale character?) | Hasdeu | |
| barză | stork (Ciconia ciconia) | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu, Olteanu | Cf. Albanian barth, feminine bardhë (white). |
| bască | beret | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.) | |
| batal | wether (castrated ram) | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: Turkish battal (useless) from Arabic batal (to mutilate), which also gave Spanish baldar (cripple). Also Cf. Albanian batal and Bulgarian батал (useless). |
| bălaur balaur | dragon, monster | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian bollë (snake) and Serbian blavor (slowworm). |
| băga | to insert, to thrust | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *bīgāre, from bis (twice) + *iuga. |
| băiat | boy | Russu | |
| bălan | blond (person), white-haired (animal) | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: Slavic bĕlŭ (white) |
| beregată | throat, larynx | Russu | Cf. Serbian berikat (?). Alternative etymology: Latin *verucata, from *veruca. |
| bîrsă | a piece of wood or iron that binds together the coulter, the share and mouldboard of a plough (the plough beam?) | NODEX | Cf. Albanian vërz (plane (tool)?), Slovenian brdce (piece of wood holding a trawl), and Moravian brdce (piece of wood across the main shaft of a carriage). |
| boare | breeze | Russu | Albanian: borë (snow); Alternative etymology: Latin boreas (the north wind). |
| bordei | (buried or half-buried) hut | Hasdeu, Russu | |
| bortă | hole, hollow, archway | Hasdeu | Cf. Ukrainian bort. |
| brad (archaic form *bradzŭ) | fir (any tree of genus Abies) | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Olteanu | Cf. Albanian bradh or bredh (same meaning). |
| brînduşă | crocus, primula (Crocus heuffelianus and other similar flowers) | Russu | Cf. Bulgarian brenduška and Serbian brnduša. |
| brînză | cheese | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu | spawned German Brinsenkäse, Slavic брынза, bryndza in Slovak and Polish |
| brîu | belt, waist | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian bres or brezi |
| brusture | bur (large-leafed plant, Lappa) | Russu (Alb.) | |
| bucura (verb) bucuros (adj.) | (to be) glad, to enjoy | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian zbukuroj (beautify) bukurosh (handsome). |
| buiestru | pace (a horse gait) | Russu | |
| bunget | thick and dark forest | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian bunk. |
| burghiu | drilling bit | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: Turkish burgu (gimlet, corkscrew), Serbo-Croatian burgija |
| burlan | spout, water pipe | Russu | Cf. Turkish burgu (pipe, trumpet). |
| burtă | belly, stomach | Russu | Cf. Albanian barku (same meaning). |
| burtucă | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| burtuş | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| butuc | log, stump | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *bottum (blunt and snout), Cuman butak (branch), or Turkish buduk (short-legged). Cf. Hungarian butuk. |
| butură | log, stump | Russu | Probably a similar etymology with butuc. |
| buză | lip | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian buzë (same meaning). Similar in Bulgarian but the meaning is shfited into cheek. |
| caier | tuft of wool, etc. to be spun | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *caiulus. |
| caţă | long stick ending with a hook, used by shepherds | Russu | See acăţa above. Cf. Albanian cita (weaving sticks) |
| căciulă | brimless hat | Russu (Alb.) | Albanian kësul'ë(same meaning). Similar in Bulgarian, meaning hood. |
| căpuşă | tick | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian këpushë. |
| căpută | upper side of a foot; footwear covering it | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian këputsë; Alternative etymology: Slavic kopyto > Romanian copită (hoof), Slavic kopytĭce, Hungarian kapta (last) |
| cătun | hamlet | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian katund (village), Serbian katun (summer pasture). |
| cioară | crow | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian sorrë (same meaning). |
| cioban | shepherd | Hasdeu | Cf. Turkish çoban (same meaning). |
| cioc | beak | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian çok (hammer, knuckle). Compare with the Bulgarian word човка (chovka/ciovca) with the same meaning (bill, beak). |
| ciocîrlie | skylark | Hasdeu | Derived from cioc, see above. |
| ciomag | club, cudgel | Hasdeu | Cf. Turkish çomak (same meaning), Cf. Albanian çomage (big hammer) |
| cîrlan | sheep or goat weanling; colt, foal | Russu | |
| cîrlig | hook | Russu | Cf. Bulgarian кърлик kărlik (?). |
| codru | wide old forest | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Alternative etymology: Latin *quodrum (from quadrum (a square), Cf. Albanian koder (hill) |
| copac | tree | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian kopaçe (big piece of wood). |
| copil | child | Russu | Cf. Albanian kopil (bastard), Serbian and Bulgarian kopile (bastard). |
| creţ | curly; curly haired | Russu | |
| cruţa | to pardon, to spare | Russu (Alb.) | |
| cujbă | Y-shaped piece of wood used to hold the kettle over the fire | Hasdeu | |
| culbec | snail | Hasdeu | Variant: cubelc. |
| curma | to tighten (a rope); to cut, stop | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian kurmue. |
| curpăn | vine, twining stem | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian kurpen (?). |
| cursă | trap, snare | Russu (Alb.), Olteanu | Cf. Albanian kurth (same meaning). |
| custură | blade, knife edge, knife | Russu | Possible etymology: Romanian cuţit (knife) + the suffix tură |
| darari | ? | Russu | Not in current use. |
| daş | ram | Russu (Alb.) | Albanian: dash (same meaning). |
| dărîma | to demolish, to knock down | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian: dermoj (to hurt someone) Alternative etymology: Latin *deramare. |
| deh | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| deretica | to tidy up | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *deradicare (to root out). |
| descăţa | to unhook | Russu | des-căţa |
| descurca | to disentangle | Russu | Antonym of încurca, see below. |
| desghina | to divide, to separate | Russu | current: dezbina |
| dezbăra | to break from a bad habit, to rid | Russu | |
| dezgauc | ? | Hasdeu | |
| doină | Romanian lyrical folk song | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Cf. Latvian and Lithuanian daina (song, traditional form of Baltic music and poetry). |
| don | ? | Hasdeu | |
| dop | cork, plug | Russu | Cf. Saxon dop. |
| droaie | crowd, large number (of people or animals) | Russu | Cf. Albanian droe or droje (shyness from the crowd ). |
| dulău | mastiff | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Alternative etymology: Polish dolow or dolaw. |
| fărîmă | crumb, fragment | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian thërrime (same meaning). |
| gard | fence | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gardh (same meaning) and old Slavic gradŭ. |
| gata | ready, done | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gati (same meaning). |
| gălbează | fascioliasis | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gëlbazë, këlbazë (phlegm). |
| genune | abyss | Hasdeu, Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *gyro. |
| gheară | claw, talon | Russu | Alternative etymology: 1. Latin *ungularis (claw, talon) → *înghiare → în ghiare (in [its] claws); 2. Romanian unghioară (small fingernail) → înghiară. Cf. Albanian dorë (arm, clutches, fist, flipper, hand, handful, mitt, palm, quality), darë (nippers, pincers, pinchers), çjerr (clapperclaw, lacerate, scratch, tear up), grric or gervish (scratch)/ |
| ghes | a poke, a goad | Russu | |
| ghimpe | thorn | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gjëmp, gjemb (same meaning). |
| ghiob | cheese barrel | Hasdeu | Cf. Hungarian döböny (?). |
| ghionoaie | woodpecker | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gjon (night bird). |
| ghiont | a nudge, a poke | Russu | |
| ghiuj | old, decrepit man | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian gjysh (grandfather). |
| gîde | executioner | Hasdeu | |
| gîdel | ? | Hasdeu | |
| gordin | Romanian kind of grapes used in winemaking | Hasdeu | |
| gorun | Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) | Russu | Alternative etymology: Bulgarian горун gorun (same meaning). |
| grapă | harrow | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian grep, gërepë (fishing rod, [its] hook). |
| gresie | sandstone, whetstone | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gëresë (?). |
| groapă | hole, pit | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gropë (same meaning). |
| grui | hilltop, hillock | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *grunnium |
| grumaz | neck | Russu (Alb.), NODEX | Cf. Albanian gurmaz or gërmaz (throat). |
| grunz | a lump of stiff but brittle substance, such as a block of salt | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian grundë (?). |
| gudura | to fawn | Russu | Cf. Albanian gudulis (to tickle); cf. Romanian gâdila (to tickle), cf. Bulgarian гъделичкам (gădelichkam), гъдел ме е (gădel me e) (to tickle) |
| guşă | a bird's crop; double chin, goiter | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian gushë (same meaning, plus Adam's apple), Serbian guša (throat), Bulgarian. Alternative etymology: Latin *geusiae. |
| hojma | repeatedly, continuously | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Alternative etymology: Ukrainian hožma. |
| iazmă | ugly and evil apparition, ghost | Hasdeu | |
| iele | mythological characters (white-clad beautiful girls, bewitching men with their song and dance) | Hasdeu | Cf. Serbian vile (nymphs), Slavic mythology. Alternative etymology: from Romanian ele (feminine form of they). |
| încurca | to entangle, to mix up | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *incolicare (from colus = distaff). |
| înghina | to assemble, to put together | Russu | Cf. Romanian îmbina. |
| îngurzi | to wrinkle the edge of a fabric or the sole of a shoe with a thread | Russu | |
| înseila | to stitch, to sew temporarily | Russu | Currently preferred form: însăila; alternative etymology: Turkish say (saw or a delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth). Cf. Serbian šiti (to sew) |
| întrema | to recover after illness or fatigue | Russu | |
| jilţ, jielţ | tall-backed (arm)chair | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Etymology given for current form jeţ: German Sitz. |
| leagăn | cradle, swing | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *liginare from ligare (to tie/bind). |
| lepăda | to drop; to take off (clothes) | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin lapidare (to throw stones). Cf. Serbian pada, opada (to drop, to fall). |
| lespede | stone slab | Russu | |
| leşina | to faint | Russu | From Serbian lešina (carcass) |
| mal | shore | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian mal (mountain). |
| maldac | a small load (of wood, hay, etc.) | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: Greek mandakis. |
| mazăre | pea (Pisum sativum) | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu, Olteanu | Cf. Albanian modhë and modhullë. |
| măceş | sweetbrier (Rosa eglanteria) | Russu | |
| mădări | to pamper, to spoil (a child) | Russu | |
| măgură | hill, knoll | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian magulë (same meaning). |
| mălai | millet flour | Hasdeu | After millet was largely replaced by corn, the word changed its meaning into corn flour. |
| mămăligă | cornmeal mush (mămăligă) | Hasdeu | Albanian mëmeligë (same meaning) |
| mărcat | ? | Russu | Not in current use. |
| mătură | broom | Russu (Alb.) | Serbian metla (broom) |
| Mehadia | Mehadia | Hasdeu | |
| melc | snail | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu | |
| mieru | bluish | Russu | |
| mire | bridegroom | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian mirë (good). |
| mistreţ | wild boar | Russu | Albanian: mistrec (captious kid). Alternative etymology: Latin *mixticius. |
| mişca | to move, to stir | Russu | |
| mînz | foal, colt | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian mëz (same meaning). It is agreed that the Thracian inscription ΜΕΖΗΝΑΙ (mezēnai, in Greek alphabet) on the Duvanli gold ring means horseman. The PIE root *mend(i)- is thought to mean horse. |
| morman | pile, heap | Russu | |
| mosoc | large shepherd dog | Hasdeu | |
| moş | old man | Russu (Alb.) | Probably a backformation from moaşă (midwife); cf. Albanian moshë (age). |
| moţ | tuft, crest | Hasdeu | |
| mugure | bud | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian mugull (gemma). |
| munună | hilltop | Russu | |
| murg | dark brown (animal, horse) | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian murg (monk?). |
| muşat | handsome | Russu | |
| năpîrcă | limbless lizard (Anguis fragilis); viper | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian nepërkë, nëpërkë (viper). |
| năsărîmbă | prank, mischief | Hasdeu | |
| niţel | a little | Russu | |
| noian | multitude, heap | Russu | |
| ortoman | rich (of a shepherd); handsome (of an outlaw); quick (of a horse) | Hasdeu | |
| păstaie | pod, capsule, hull | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian pistaë, bishtajë (beans). |
| păstra | to keep | Russu | Alternative etymology: Bulgarian pastrja (?). |
| pînză | cloth, linen, fabric | Russu | |
| pîrîu | brook, creek | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian përrua (creek, stream); also might be related to Romanian rîu (river, stream) from Latin rivus (stream). |
| prunc | small child | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin *puerunculus (small child). |
| pururea | always, ever, aye | Russu (Alb.) | Alternative etymology: Latin purus (pure, also absolute). |
| raţă | duck | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Cf. Albanian rosë (same meaning) and Serbian raca (?). |
| ravac | any of several kinds of wine or must | Hasdeu | Alternative etymology: Turkish ravak (?). |
| răbda | to bide, bear, endure | Russu | |
| reazem | support, backing, prop | Russu | |
| ridica | to raise, lift | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin eradicare (to uproot). |
| rîmfă | ? | Hasdeu | Not in current use. |
| rînză | gizzard; any of several stomach diseases | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | Cf. Albanian rrëndës (rennet). |
| sarbăd (today searbăd) | insipid | Russu (Alb.), Olteanu | Cf. Albanian tharbët (?). Alternative etymology: Latin exalbidus (white). |
| Sarmisegetuza | Sarmizegetusa | Hasdeu | |
| scăpăra | to strike a flintstone (to start a fire) | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian sqepar (small axe for cutting meat) |
| scrum | ashes | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian shkrum, shkrumb (same meaning). |
| scula | to get up, to wake | Russu (Alb.) | Albanian shkul (uproot) Alternative etymology: *excubulare (to get up, wake). |
| scurma | to scrape or dig (with snout, claws, beak, tools) | Russu | Alternative etymology: *excorrimare (?). |
| sîmbure | pit (fruit kernel) | Russu (Alb.), NODEX, Olteanu | Cf. Albanian sumbull or thumbull (?). |
| sîmvea | (?) | Hasdeu | |
| spînz | hellebore | Russu (Alb.) | Alternative etymology: Slavic spreji (?). |
| stăpîn | master, owner | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Alternative etymology: Slavic stopanŭ (same meaning). |
| strănut | sneeze | Russu | Alternative etymology: Latin sternutare (to sneeze). |
| stejar | oak | Hasdeu, Vraciu | Alternative etymology: Bulgarian стежер (stejer) (?). |
| steregie | icicle-shaped soot concretion in chimneys | Russu | |
| sterp | sterile, infertile | Russu (Alb.) | Albanian: shterp (same meaning). |
| stînă | sheep fold | Hasdeu, Vraciu, NODEX | |
| străghiată | storm | Russu | Cf. Albanian shtrëngatë (same meaning). |
| strepede | larva living in foodstuff (Piophila casei) | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian shtrep (?). |
| strugure | grape | Russu, NODEX | |
| strungă | place for milking sheep; narrow passage, canyon | Russu (Alb.), NODEX | Cf. Albanian shtrungë (?). |
| sugruma | to strangle, to burke | Russu | From sub (under) and grumaz (throat, see above). |
| suguşa | to strangle, to burke | Russu | From sub (under) and guşă (goiter, see above). |
| şale | hips | Russu (Alb.) | Cf Albanian shale (thigh), Alternative etymology: Latin sella (seat). |
| şiră | spine | Hasdeu, Russu | |
| şopîrlă | lizard | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb.), Vraciu | |
| şoric | pig skin | Russu | |
| şut | hornless | Russu (Alb.) | Albanian: shyt (same meaning) |
| tare | hard | Russu | |
| traistă | bag | Hasdeu | Albanian trastë, trajstë (same meaning), cf. Romanian synonym straiţă and Albanian strajcë |
| tulei | (young) whiskers | Hasdeu | |
| ţap | he-goat | Russu (Alb.) | Albanian: cjap (ibex, billy-goat) |
| ţarc | pen, fold (fenced enclosure for animals) | Russu (Alb.), Olteanu | Cf. Albanian cark or thark (?). |
| ţarină | country | Russu | |
| ţăruş | pole, pale, picket | Russu | |
| ţîmburuş (today ţumburuş) | a small, usually round, protrusion on a surface, nub | Olteanu | Cf. Albanian thumbullë (?) and cf. Romanian sâmbure. |
| ţundră | . | Hasdeu | |
| ţurcă | traditional Romanian game | Hasdeu | |
| (a se) uita | look | Russu | Altern. etym. Latin *oblitare (to forget). |
| undrea | sewing needle | Russu | current form: andrea |
| urca | climb | Russu | |
| urcior | eyesore | Russu | Altern. etym. hordeolus (eyesore). |
| urdă | cottage cheese | Hasdeu, Russu, Vraciu | |
| urdina | . | Russu | Altern. etym. Latin ordinare (to set in order). |
| urdoare | Gelatinous ocular secretion | Russu | Altern. etym. Latin *horridor (rough, horrible). |
| vatră | hearth, home, fireplace | Hasdeu, Russu (Alb). | Albanian vatre (fireplace) (Vraciu), Serbian vatra (fire) |
| vătăma | to hurt, to injure | Russu | Altern. etym. Latin victimare (to sacrifice). |
| vătui | one year old kid (goat & doe); hare | Russu (Alb.) | Latin vitellus (a little calf). |
| viezure (archaic form viedzure) | badger | Russu (Alb.), Olteanu | Cf. Albanian vjedhullë (the thief, from the verb vjeth, to steal). |
| viscol | blizzard | Russu | |
| zară | buttermilk | Russu | Albanian dhallë (same meaning), cf. Romanian zăr, zer below |
| zăr (today zer) | whey | Russu, Olteanu | Cf. Albanian dhallë (sour milk, diluted yogurt). |
| zburda | jump around, prance, frolic | Russu | |
| zestre | wedding gift, or wealth | Russu. | Similar to the Bulgarian word зестра (zestra). |
| zgardă | collar | Russu (Alb.) | Cf. Albanian shkardhë |
| zgîria | scratch | Russu (Alb.?) | Altern. etym. Latin *scaberare < scaber (itchy) |
| zgîrma | scratch (searching for something) | Russu | cf. Romanian scurma above |
| zîmbru, zâmbru | a coniferous tree, Pinus cembra | Hasdeu, Vraciu | (zimbru is a different word, meaning bufalo, i.e., Bison bonasus) |
| zîrnă, zârnă | black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) | Hasdeu | Altern. etym. Old Slavic zrŭno |