How they speak across the Prut

A glossary of Moldovan speech

Romanian is the language spoken in the Republic of Moldova, but the local speech has a flavour of its own — old words kept alive in the villages, and borrowings from the neighbours. Here are some you will hear often.

Moldovan speech is part of the Romanian language and is found on both banks of the Prut. Many of these words are not „mistakes" but old forms preserved in village life, or terms taken from Ukrainian, Russian or Turkish neighbours. To that add a distinctive music: in everyday speech „e" is often heard as „i" (bine becomes „ghini"), and the tone rises at the end of a phrase. Below is a small dictionary — with no academic pretensions, but with the words you will pick up most often.

From the garden and the table

poamă: grape (hence „vin de poamă", wine made from grapes)
păpușoi: maize
perjă (perje): plum
harbuz: watermelon
zămos: melon
curechi: cabbage
barabule: potatoes
bostan: pumpkin
chiperi: peppers
pătlăgele: tomatoes (pătlăgele roșii)
bureți: mushrooms
agud: mulberry tree (and its fruit)
huște: fermented bran, used to sour borș
chișleag: soured, curdled milk
tocmagi: home-made noodles

Around the house and yard

mâță: cat
poloboc: large barrel
ogheal: quilt, duvet
colțuni: woollen socks
chiatră: stone, boulder
hudiță: alleyway, narrow lane
zămnic: cellar, cool storage cellar
prispă: low platform running around a peasant house

Verbs and expressions

oleacă: a little, a bit („mai stai oleacă" — stay a little longer)
amu (acmu): now
iaca: look, here you are
mata: you (polite form)
a stuchi: to spit
a hălădui: to find one’s place, to live freely
Numa’ ghini!: very good, excellent
Hai noroc!: both a greeting and a toast

Colloquial Russianisms

Words taken from Russian that have entered everyday speech, mostly in the towns. They are not part of the literary language, but you hear them often.

davai: come on, let’s go
maladeț: well done (молодец)
nacealnic: boss (начальник)
scoci: sticky tape
praznic: feast, celebration

Note: speech varies from one area to another, and some words carry slightly different meanings in the north, the centre and the south of the country. The glossary is indicative and is added to over time.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about Moldovan speech

What language is spoken in the Republic of Moldova?

Romanian. Since 2023, the legislation of the Republic of Moldova has officially used the name „limba română" (the Romanian language). The local speech is part of that same language, with its own vocabulary and pronunciation.

What does „poamă" mean in Moldova?

In Moldovan speech, „poamă" means grape. Hence the expressions „vin de poamă" and „vie de poamă".

What is „păpușoi"?

Păpușoi is the Moldovan word for maize, in wide everyday use.

Why do Moldovans use Russian words?

After almost a century of Russian and Soviet administration, some Russian words entered colloquial speech, mostly in the towns. They are not part of the literary language.

Will I understand a Moldovan if I speak Romanian?

Yes, without difficulty. It is the same language; you will only notice a few regional words and a pronunciation with a charm of its own.