Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| durere | /duˈre.re/ | feminine |
| chin | /kin/ | neuter |
durere is the most general term for pain in Romanian and can describe both physical pain and emotional distress. For example, the phrase durere de cap is used to mean 'headache'. If you want to describe a sensation of burning pain, you can use the verb a arde, which literally means 'to burn'. While durere is the standard term, you might use suferința to describe severe or emotional suffering or mâhnire to convey grief or sadness.
Which one should you use?
durere is a feminine noun, while chin is a neuter noun. In many contexts, durere serves as the standard term for both physical and emotional pain.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of durere is dureri. To express 'the pain' (the definite form), you add the suffix -a to the word, resulting in durerea. The related adjective 'painful' is dureros.
How do you pronounce it?
durere is pronounced /duˈre.re/ with the stress on the second of three syllables.
Did you know?
- The word chin was borrowed from the Hungarian word kín.
- To describe a 'sharp pain', Romanian speakers use durere ascuțită, where ascuțită literally means 'sharpened' as if referring to a knife.
- In Romanian, the word for 'painful' is dureros, but this word cannot be used to describe a person who is 'a pain' or annoying to be around.
Examples in context
- Tom are o durere la umăr.Tom has a pain in the shoulder.This sentence shows how to use durere to describe a location of pain.Tatoeba #5220298 by fathe, translation #1025464 by CK
- Durerea era de nesuportat.The pain was unbearable.This sentence uses durere to describe the intensity of the pain.Tatoeba #5210514 by fathe, translation #967767 by CM
- Ai ceva să-mi dai pentru durere?Is there anything you can give me for the pain?This sentence shows how to ask for something to alleviate durere.Tatoeba #12482669 by ridisegnandone, translation #3412971 by CK
- Am o durere de capI have a headache
- Am dureri de spateI have back pains
- Suferința mea este greu de exprimatMy suffering is hard to express
- Sunt în mâhnire profundăI am in deep pain
- Mi-a rămas un moment dureros în inimăA painful moment remains in my heart
- Simt cum mă arde pieleaI feel my skin burning
- Simt o durere în gâtI feel a sore throat
- Am dureri musculare după antrenamentI have muscle aches after exercising
- Mă doare capul de la prea mult stresMy head hurts from too much stress
- Alergarea mi-a cauzat o durere ascuțită în genunchiRunning caused a sharp pain in my knee
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ioana and Alexandru are talking in their living room about a medical appointment.
- IoanaAlexandru, simți vreo durere în braț?Alexandru, do you feel any pain in your arm?
- AlexandruNu, nu am nicio durere acum.No, I have no pain right now.
- IoanaE bine că durerea a dispărut.It is good that the pain has disappeared.
- AlexandruDa, mă simt mult mai bine.Yes, I feel much better.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pain” translations and entries durere, chin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chin, durere, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
