ce faci?
The Romanian phrase for "what are you doing?" is ce faci?
While it literally asks what someone is doing, ce faci? is most commonly used as a greeting meaning "How are you?" If you want to ask specifically about an action in a certain location, you can say ce faci acolo? to mean "What are you doing there?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ce, which means "what" and faci, which means "you do" or "are doing".
Which one should you use?
Use ce faceți? instead of ce faci? when addressing more than one person or when using the formal "you" to show respect.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Transylvania, you might hear the word bre used as a casual term to address someone, similar to "dude" or "mate".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ce faci?, the verb a face (to do/make) is conjugated in the second person singular present tense.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you ce faci?, a standard and polite way to respond is Bine, mulțumesc, which means "Fine, thank you."
Did you know?
- In some regions, a common colloquial response to ce faci? is Unde vreau or Cum vreau, which translates to 'however I want' or 'where I want', used as a playful or cheeky way to avoid a real answer.
- The word ce descends from the Latin word quid, which is the same root used in the English phrase 'quid pro quo'.
- Depending on the tone, ce faci? can shift from a friendly greeting to an expression of shock or disapproval, similar to the English 'What are you doing?!' when someone is making a mistake.
Examples in context
- Salut, ce faci?Hi, how are you?
Example conversation
Andrei and Elena bump into each other on the street.
- AndreiBună, Elena! Ce faci?Hi, Elena! How are you?
- ElenaBună, Andrei! Bine, mulțumesc.Hi, Andrei! I'm good, thanks.
- AndreiMă bucur să te văd.I'm glad to see you.
- ElenaȘi eu mă bucur!Me too!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ce, CC BY-SA 4.0.
