Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dragă | /ˈdra.ɡə/ | feminine |
| drag | [draɡ] (narrow) | masculine |
| iubit | [juˈbit] (narrow) | masculine |
| iubită | [juˈbi.tə] (narrow) | feminine |
In Romanian, these terms are used as affectionate forms of address for someone very dear. dragă also functions as a versatile term meaning 'dear' and is commonly used as a neutral or formal way to begin letters or emails, such as 'Dear Maria'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the gender of the person being addressed and the specific nature of the relationship. drag and dragă are general terms for someone dear. In contrast, iubit (masculine) and iubită (feminine) specifically refer to a romantic partner, such as a boyfriend or beloved. For an even more informal and endearing way to say 'my cutie' or 'my sweetheart', you can use drăgălașul meu for a male or drăgălașa mea for a female.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a female directly as 'my darling', you will often see the feminine form dragă paired with the possessive pronoun mea to create the phrase draga mea.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of dragă is /ˈdra.ɡə/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- If you call a stranger dragă in a Romanian market, it is often a friendly colloquialism used by vendors to build rapport, rather than a sign of actual romantic affection.
- The root of drag comes from the Proto-Slavic *dorgъ, which is the same ancestor for words meaning 'expensive' or 'precious' in many related languages.
- In formal Romanian correspondence, using dragă can sometimes feel slightly too intimate if you do not know the recipient well, as it carries a weight of personal closeness.
Examples in context
- Dragule, ce oră este?Darling, what time is it?This sentence uses drag to ask what time it is.Tatoeba #14025864 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #14025862 by Ioan_Cristian
- La mulți ani, dragul meu!Happy birthday, my darling!This sentence uses drag to wish someone a happy birthday.Tatoeba #13954147 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #13954145 by Ioan_Cristian
- Dragule, când pleci în Spania?Darling, when are you leaving for Spain?This sentence uses drag to ask about travel plans.Tatoeba #14024446 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #14024444 by Ioan_Cristian
- Scumpa mea, cât de mult te iubesc!My dear, how much I love you!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Andrei are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- ElenaBună, dragă! Ce vrei să mâncăm?Hi, darling! What do you want to eat?
- AndreiNu știu, Elena. Tu ce vrei?I don't know, Elena. What do you want?
- ElenaHai să comandăm pizza, dragă.Let's order pizza, darling.
- AndreiE o idee excelentă!That's an excellent idea!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “darling” translations and entries dragă, drag, iubit, iubită, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries drag, dragă, iubit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
