porc
/pork/masculine
The Romanian word for pig is porc.
The word porc refers to the mammal of the family Suidae. When referring specifically to the meat, the phrase carne de porc is used. To describe a pig farm, you can use either fermă de porci or fermă porcină.
Meaning: mammal of family Suidae (noun)
Which one should you use?
While porc is the general term, purcel is used specifically to refer to a piglet or a young pig. Additionally, porcușor is a diminutive form used for small or cute pigs.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of porc is porci. To indicate a specific pig (the pig), you add the definite article suffix -ul to the end of the word to get porcul.
How do you pronounce it?
/pork/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse porc with bursuc, which primarily means badger in Romanian.
Did you know?
- In Romanian rural culture, the annual tradition of Ignat refers to the traditional day for slaughtering the porc to provide meat for the winter.
- The Romanian word porc shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'pig', stemming from the Proto-Indo-European root *pórḱos.
- The term porc is used in the expression a fi porc la mâncat, describing someone who eats greedily or without manners.
Examples in context
- Ești un porc scârbos.You're a disgusting pig.This sentence shows how porc can be used as an insult to describe someone as disgusting.Tatoeba #10450422 by Simply_Sardine, translation #3723741 by CM
- Porcul este roz.The pig is pink.This sentence uses porc to describe the color of the animal.Tatoeba #8762596 by elenacristina260, translation #2504051 by Ricardo14
- Am văzut un porc mare în grădina zoologică.I saw a big pig at the zoo.
- Am cumpărat un porcușor simpatic ca animal de companie.I bought a cute little pig as a pet.
- Am văzut un porc mare la fermă.I saw a big pig at the farm.
Example conversation
Andrei and Andreea are visiting a farm.
- AndreiUite, acolo este un porc!Look, there is a pig!
- AndreeaEste foarte mare și roz.It is very big and pink.
- AndreiCrezi că porcul este fomegos?Do you think the pig is hungry?
- AndreeaDa, cred că vrea mâncare.Yes, I think it wants food.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pig” translations and entries porc, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries porc, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
