The Romanian Language

Romanian Studies at SSEES | Romania in brief | More about Romania

Romanian is an Eastern Romance language, most closely related to Italian. Today it is the official language of Romania and the Republic of Moldova (where it is known as Moldavian). Latin was first brought to modern-day Romania at the time of the Roman occupation of Dacia and survived in relative isolation in south-eastern Europe before emerging as modern Romanian in the Middle Ages. The geographical position of Romanian has resulted in significant Slavonic, Turkish, Hungarian and Greek influence, to which can be added major French influence in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, and, in the present day, the influence of English.

Given the imminent accession of Romania to the European Union, the Romanian language is in greater demand then ever, thanks to the increasing number of commercial, business and professional connections established between Romania and the international community.

The language also becomes more popular as Romania's tourist industry grows. Each year an ever greater number of tourists visits the country, keen to see the monasteries, the Danube Delta, the university towns and the land of Dracula.

To find out more about the Romanian language click on the links below:

• Romania on Line: www.romania-on-line.net



• Romanian Cultural Institute: www.icr.ro



• Romanian Dictionaries site: www.dictionare.com



• BBC Romanian: www.bbc.co.uk/romanian

This page last modified Wednesday 5 January 2011.