vorbi
/vor.ˈbi/
The English verb 'speak' is translated into Romanian as vorbi.
vorbi is used to mean the ability to communicate in a language, but it is also the general verb for 'to talk' or 'to chat'.
Meaning: to be able to communicate in a language (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The infinitive form vorbi is identical to the future tense marker for the first person singular. In the present tense, vorbesc is used for the first, second and third person singular (I speak, you speak, he/she/it speaks), while vorbim is used for the first person plural (we speak). The second person plural present tense form is vorbiți. To describe a continuous or repeated action in the past, use the imperfect tense form vorbeau (they spoke / they were speaking).
How do you pronounce it?
/vor.ˈbi/
Did you know?
- In Romanian, the phrase a vorbi în limba de lemn literally means 'to speak in a wooden language'. It refers to a specific style of bureaucratic or political jargon used to avoid giving a direct answer.
- A common Romanian idiom is a vorbi pe lângă țintă, which means 'to speak beside the target' when someone fails to address the main point of a conversation.
- In Romanian, the verb vorbi is used to describe the physical act of talking, but the word vorbă can also refer to a promise, such as in the expression cu vorba mea meaning 'on my word'.
Examples in context
- Ai vorbit cu el?Did you speak with him?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has spoken with him using vorbi.Tatoeba #6586191 by CataG, translation #3903422 by CH
- Cu cine ai vorbit?Who did you speak with?This sentence is useful for asking who someone has spoken with using vorbi.Tatoeba #5123486 by fathe, translation #1042639 by GPHemsley
- Câte limbi poți vorbi?How many languages can you speak?This sentence is useful for asking how many languages one can speak using vorbi.Tatoeba #8871994 by CataG, translation #25006 by CK
- Vorbiți limba română foarte bineYou speak Romanian very well
- Vorbiți românește aiciYou all speak Romanian here
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ioana and Gabriel are meeting for the first time.
- IoanaBună! Poți vorbi în engleză?Hello! Can you speak in English?
- GabrielDa, dar vreau să învăț româna.Yes, but I want to learn Romanian.
- IoanaPutem vorbi puțin în română atunci.We can speak a little in Romanian then.
- GabrielMulțumesc, Ioana! E o idee bună.Thank you, Ioana! It's a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “speak” translations and entries vorbi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
