I remember when my aunt told me that the Argentinian comic book character always said, “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome.” Well, she must have said a Spanish equivalent, which has been translated into other languages.
Anyway, the FICT book fair really picked up by Friday. They still have cool coats and rocks, and card games (some games are fifty percent off, great deal), but the books are very popular now. Apparently, people who can read are attracted by the weekend or the free buses. (There was also a free rock show in the basement of the art museum. Gemstones and all that. Worth a look.)
So, when you buy a book, you might want to be like Mafalda. But, we don’t always use the same words for please, thanks, or you’re welcome.
Please
There are two common versions in Romanian. Formal, is “vă rog.” and familiar, “te rog.”
To say, “pretty please” use “te rog frumos.” When are you going to say that at the book fair? You probably don’t need to, unless you’re a child asking your parents to buy a Steven King novel, or one of those comic books. Yes, those comic books, not Mafalda, those other ones where the characters are not so polite.
I would like… “Aș dori…”
Could you…. “puteți
Could I…. “Pot să…” or “îmi dați voie să…” or “Aș putea să…”
Thank you
Mersi is like ta, or thanks. It is less formal, but still used. You’re not likely to hear it at the book fair, unless you know the merchant, or they think you’re French, but you might hear it from a colleague or someone who lives in your block.
(vă) Mulțumesc is “I thank you.” Literally, it is something like “I am grateful.”
(vă) Mulțumim is “we thank you.” This is pretty cool, if you go to a shop, they can say “mulțumim.” The entire Kaufland family thanks you. KFC, all the franchisees and employees everywhere, thank you. Or, maybe it just makes the thanks less personal, so if you hate your job, you can still thank the clients on behalf of your boss.
If you buy street food, and most of the family are already eating it by the time you get a chance to thank the vendor, you can also say, “mulțumim” on behalf of the whole family.
“Thank you very much” is “mulțumesc frumos.” A little more formal, and more literal, “mulțumesc mult.”
You’re Welcome
This is more complicated. If you’ve seen Moana in Romanian, you’ll notice that the “You’re Welcome” song seems very different.
cu placere
This is my favorite. It literally means, “with pleasure.” In English, you’d be more likely to say, “it was my pleasure.” Something you might hear at a fancy restaurant or hotel. I don’t know why I like to use it so much, I guess the words just cheer me up.
cu drag
This literally means, with “love.” But, don’t read too much into it. It just means “you’re welcome.” I mean, it’s just a reply to “thank you.”
You could also think of it as Christian love. We are commanded to “love” others as we love ourselves. Or, maybe like how people in parts of England call everyone, especially strangers, “love” or “duck.” (In Wales, it’s “Cariad.”) It sounds much nicer than “dude” or “buddy,” but it basically is just a placeholder for a name you don’t know.
“Cu drag,” is probably the easiest way of saying, “you’re welcome.” We didn’t hear it much at the book fair this time.
(Vă mulțumesc) și eu
If someone says “mulțumesc” you can reply with “și eu mulțumesc,” or “mulțumesc și eu.” “And I am grateful.” This can be shortened to “și eu.” Is it the same as, “the pleasure is all mine?” Well, languages have their own nuances. It is somewhat formal and polite, but can also be used in informal settings. I haven’t heard, “mersi și eu” but I wouldn’t say that is wrong.
(Vă mulțumesc) la fel
If you can’t hear what someone says, you can try “mulțumesc la fel,” but shorten it to “la fel.” Without the mulțumesc, it literally means, “the same” as in, “The same to you.” So, if you think you’re being thanked, but you’re really being insulted, “la fel” has you covered. It can get awkward if someone is asking the time, and you say, “la fel” but then you can always fix things later in the conversation.
(pentru) puțin
Pentru puțin is like the french “de rien.” Instead of saying “it was nothing,” Romanians will recognise it was something, and say “for little.” Sometimes this will be shortened to “puțin.” This is less common in Cluj, but we heard it at the book fair. You’ll hear it in old Romanian plays.
Pentru nimic
Okay, there is also the direct translation. mot-a-mot, “pentru nimic” it’s “for nothing.” But it’s nothing like the English, “thanks for nothing.” No, no, no, almost the opposite. In sentiment it is more like, “It was nothing.” or even “any time.” I don’t really hear this outside of literature, but it is in the guide books.
Enjoy your meal
No, you can’t get food at the book fair, but you can get recipe books, or guide books that tell you where to find the best restaurants.
You know how great chefs say things like “Bon apetit,” or “enjoy your meal” or “smaakelijk eten,” when they give you food? There are at least two phrases that are commonly used by the great chefs of Cluj.
“Poftă bună,” literally good appetite and, as Mircea Bravo says, “poftă mare,” big appetite.
Excuse me
If someone is in the way, or you almost bump into someone, “Pardon. Scuză. Scuzați-mă.” If someone didn’t hear you, “Poftiți?” Poftiți can also be, “how may I help.” “Pardon” is a good one, it works in Romania, Hungary, France, Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, in fact most of Europe.
A good bilingual dictionary might have six pages full of just translations, without explanations, of polite expressions. Those are some basic ones.