Ways to say it
| Romanian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| unu | /ˈu.nu/ | ||
| una | /ˈuna/ | ||
| уну | unu | Cyrillic |
The word is used as the cardinal number 1. It can also function as a noun meaning a digit or figure. Related forms include unul and una, which act as impersonal pronouns meaning 'one thing' or 'one person'.
Which one should you use?
The form unu is used for masculine nouns or when counting in isolation. The form уну is a Cyrillic script variant of unu.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' before a masculine noun, the form unu shortens to un. For example, in the phrase Am cumpărat un telefon (I bought one phone), the masculine singular form is used. For feminine singular nouns, such as in Am cumpărat o carte (I bought one book), the article changes accordingly. Additionally, unul is the masculine definite article used to mean 'the one', while una is the feminine definite article used to mean 'the one'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈu.nu/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The expression la unu is often used in Romanian music and dance to signal the start of a beat or a synchronized movement.
- The Romanian word for 'one', unu, is a direct descendant of the Latin 'ūnus', making it a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'one'.
- In certain historical or religious contexts, you might see the word written in Cyrillic script as уну instead of the standard Latin alphabet.
Examples in context
- Vreau unul și eu.I want one, too.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for the masculine form of 'one'.Tatoeba #3270293 by radubradu, translation #2011308 by CK
- Adu-mi și mie una.Bring one for me, too.This sentence is useful for requesting the feminine form of 'one'.Tatoeba #6857538 by CataG, translation #6582022 by Hybrid
- Trebuie să iau una.I need to get one.This sentence is useful for expressing a need for the feminine form of 'one'.Tatoeba #5212689 by fathe, translation #955008 by CM
- Copilul a desenat o singură floare.The child drew one single flower.
- Gătesc doar unica rețetă a bunicii.I cook only my grandmother's one and only recipe.
- Am fost la unica petrecere a anului.I went to the one and only party of the year.
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Andrei are counting objects on a table.
- ElenaCâte mere avem aici?How many apples do we have here?
- AndreiAvem doar unu.We only have one.
- ElenaDoar unu? Nu e suficient.Only one? It's not enough.
- AndreiMai cumpărăm unul mai târziu.We'll buy another one later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “one” translations and entries unu, una, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries unu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
