brânză
/ˈbrɨn.zə/feminine
The English word cheese is brânză in Romanian. Wiktionary also lists caș and cașcaval.
Meaning: dairy product (noun)
Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| brânză | /ˈbrɨn.zə/ | feminine |
| caș | /kaʃ/ | neuter |
| cașcaval | /kaʃ.kaˈval/ | neuter |
Depending on the texture and color of the cheese, different words are used to be precise.
Which one should you use?
While brânză is the generic term for cheese, it specifically refers to white, soft or traditional sheep/cow cheeses in a Romanian culinary context. The word cașcaval is used specifically for yellow, semi-hard cheeses, whereas brânză is used for white or soft cheeses. The word caș refers specifically to fresh, soft cheese curds or a very soft, unripened cheese.
How does it change in a sentence?
brânză is a feminine noun, so adjectives describing it must also be in the feminine form. cașcaval is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbrɨn.zə/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- One theory suggests brânză comes from the Albanian word for 'intestines', because early cheeses were cured inside a sheep's stomach.
- In Romanian culture, brânză often implies a salty, tangy flavor profile typical of sheep's milk, which differs from the mild 'cheese' often found in English-speaking supermarkets.
Examples in context
- Cât costă acea brânză?How much does that cheese cost?This is useful for asking about the price of brânză.Tatoeba #9287995 by elenacristina260, translation #9169251 by DJ_Saidez
- Am întins brânză pe pâine.I spread cheese on bread.This shows how to describe spreading brânză on bread.Tatoeba #4839643 by AlbertaJ, translation #4837281 by AlanF_US
- Luna este făcută din brânză.The moon is made out of cheese.This is a playful way to use brânză in a sentence.Tatoeba #2633389 by elenacristina260, translation #2633388 by ddnktr
- Dă-mi un pic de brânză.Give me some cheese.
- Brânză de burdufBurduf cheese
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alexandru are preparing a snack in the kitchen.
- ElenaVrei brânză în sandviș?Do you want cheese in the sandwich?
- AlexandruDa, te rog, pune multă brânză.Yes, please, put a lot of cheese.
- ElenaAvem brânză de capră sau de vacă?Do we have goat cheese or cow cheese?
- AlexandruCred că avem doar brânză de vacă.I think we only have cow cheese.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheese” translations and entries brânză, caș, cașcaval, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brânză, caș, cașcaval, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
