Basic Romanian Phrases and Etiquette for Your Semester in Bucharest

It signals effort, and Romanians genuinely appreciate it.

The Phrases Worth Learning

Learn these ten or so and you'll be able to handle cafés, taxis, and small talk with your neighbors without ever feeling completely lost.

A Fun One to Know: The Nod Rule

Quick but useful fact — unlike in neighboring Bulgaria, where nodding can mean "no" and shaking your head can mean "yes," Romania follows the standard European convention: nod for yes, shake for no. Worth knowing if you're planning any trips across the border, since the mix-up trips people up more often than you'd expect.

Greetings

A handshake is standard for anything formal — meeting a professor, a landlord, or in a business context. Among friends, a light kiss on each cheek is common (usually starting with the right cheek), though this varies by how well you know someone and how comfortable they are with it — when in doubt, let the other person lead. Close friends often hug. Between guys, a handshake (sometimes with a shoulder bump or half-hug) is more typical than cheek kisses.

In Someone's Home

If you're invited to a Romanian home, it's common — and appreciated — to take your shoes off at the door, even if your host doesn't explicitly ask. Bringing a small gift (a bottle of wine, flowers, or something sweet) when visiting for dinner is a nice touch and generally well received.

Eating and Drinking Out

Tipping isn't obligatory, but it is expected in restaurants — around 10% is standard if the service was good; you can round up for smaller bills like coffee or drinks. When toasting with "Noroc!", making eye contact while clinking glasses is a small but genuinely observed tradition — skipping it is sometimes joked about as bad luck.

Directness Isn't Rudeness

Romanians can come across as blunt compared to some other cultures — direct opinions, straightforward feedback, not a lot of small talk padding. This isn't rudeness, it's just a different communication style. Don't take it personally if a comment feels more direct than you're used to; it usually isn't meant as one.

Punctuality

Class times, appointments, and anything official are taken seriously — show up on time. Social plans with friends are a bit more relaxed, and running 10–15 minutes late to meet someone for coffee is generally not a big deal, though it's still polite to give a heads-up if you're running later than that.

Public Transport Manners

Giving up your seat for elderly passengers, pregnant women, or people with small children is a strongly observed norm on the metro and buses — you'll notice locals doing it automatically, and it's expected of you too.

A Little Effort Goes a Long Way

You're not expected to be fluent, and nobody will judge a rough accent or a grammar mistake. What actually lands well is the attempt itself — greeting a shopkeeper in Romanian, thanking your bus driver, trying to order without switching straight to English. It's a small thing that consistently makes people warmer toward you, all semester long.

Settling In Faster

Feeling at home somewhere starts with the basics — knowing how to greet people, how to get around, how to read a room. ErasmusPass handles the practical side (a place to live, flatmates already sorted) so you can spend your energy on the parts that actually make a semester abroad memorable.