Romanian English, English Romanian: Dictionary & Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary and Phrasebooks)

Customer Reviews:

Nice book!.......2005-11-01

Although it may seem funny, I bought this book to improve my English (I am a native speaker of Romanian) and found it helpful. However, if you want more than elementary Romanian I would suggest to buy some English-Romanian/ Romanian-English dictionaries, phrase books, and grammar books published in Romania which are far more complete and accurate (there are now many Romanian online bookstores, just google "editura").

What a waste of time and money.......2005-01-03

If you're looking for a comprehensive English-Romanian dictionary, look no further! This is one.

However, if you're a little more picky, and you actually want to be able find the translations for common words, you might want to look elsewhere. This book is sorely lacking.

A Handy Guide for Beginning to Intermediate Speakers.......2004-12-02

After living several years in Romania and studying the language and doing my best to get by each day, I have waded through many Romanian language texts and found most to be cumbersome and trying at the very best. I have encountered a number that were not written by native speakers of Romanian and thus contained numerous grammatical and spelling mistakes which could badly mislead an unsuspecting beginner. Most of the dictionaries I have seen are written for a speaker of Romanian who is studying English rather than vice versa and this makes a big difference when it comes to interpreting the definitions given. Many dictionaries are full of terms that are not applicable to everyday conversation and activity but were added just to impress the buyer with the broad scope (however irrelevant)of the text.

I cannot comment on how easy to understand the grammar and pronounciation guides are in this particular book because I found this book only after I already had a thorough understanding of those two things. I can say, however, that the phrases in this book are very accurate and very natural to Romanian conversation and will come in handy to any traveller whether you are in Romania for business or pleasure. I have shown this book to my Romanian friends for further confirmation and they have agreed with me in full. I still refer to this book myself from time to time when I am writing emails or letters and can't think of exactly the right way to put something. The dictionary may be small, but I think it is more than enough to provide an adequate beginner's vocabulary which you can build on as you learn more. For serious study of the language, this book is only a basic introduction and can never take the place of a real live instructor. But if you just want to know the basics before you step off the plane in Otopeni, I advise you to pick up a copy of this one.

But a couple more words of advice if you are planning a trip to Romania: Do NOT trust guide books or cab drivers. ;)

Complicated.......2004-08-13

I bought this book for an upcoming trip to Romania. It advertises itself as a grammar book, dictionary and phrase book.

The grammar section is overly complicated and not at all well-laid out. I became so frustrated that I could barely make my way through the section.

The dictionary part seems adequate.

The phrase section is handy but there are no pronounciation guides. The pronounciation was laid out in the beginning of the book, but I kept having to refer back which was annoying. Still, I am unsure of most of the pronounciation.

I got the feeling that this was based off of British guide book models from the 1960s. Very proper, overly complicated and not very well-laid out.

Colloquial Romanian: The Complete Course for Beginners (Colloquial Series)

Average customer rating:

Solid vocabulary, seen one major problem though
Colloquial Doesn't Mean Conversational
So disappointed...
Great book to learn Romanian
Great!

Colloquial Romanian: The Complete Course for Beginners (Colloquial Series)
Denis Deletant
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

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ASIN: 0415288037

Customer Reviews:

Solid vocabulary, seen one major problem though.......2007-09-12

The book comprises a lot of useful vocabulary and grammar information. However, the authors should have spent time by adding the pronunciation of every word. They do explain how every letter is pronunced at the beginning of the book. Yet it is very difficult for a beginner to have to go back and remind himself the sound of every other letter in a word.

Colloquial Doesn't Mean Conversational.......2007-08-21

Most of the Romanian language books I've purchased (college textbooks and travel guides) focus on the things you might need as a tourist. These books also favor a formal form of speech that you seldom hear when speaking with the average Romanian (though they'll certainly understand the formal version). When I saw the title of this book, I thought it might emphasize "conversational" Romanian, the kind friends might use. The fact that it didn't was a bit disappointing. Still, it is a good introduction to the language and will help me catch a train, stay at a hotel, find my way around, go shopping, or eat at a restaurant ... all very valuable lessons.

So disappointed..........2006-02-17

I was so excited to get this book and start on the task of learning some Romanian. However, I found it to be very unhelpful. There is almost no guidance on the tapes for pronounciation. The book does provide useful vocabulary and grammar lessons, but what good are they if no one will understand you when you speak?

Great book to learn Romanian.......2005-11-08

While there are not many books on the market to learn Romanian, Colloquial Romanian is one of the better ones. Grammar is easily explained, and one can learn much from the dialoques. New grammar is introduced inside the dialogues, so that one can understand the grammar easier. This is great book; however, one the best tools to learn a lanague is Pimsleur. I highly recommend Pimsleur language courses.

Great!.......2004-02-24

It is a very good book covering all the structures to live in Romania, and now to travel. It contains all the grammar, verbs, conjunctions, prepositions, etc. It lacks only the useful vocabulary to travel as how to buy tickets to catch a train, how to find out an address, to get a taxi an so forth.
I recommend this book to all who want to acquire romanian language to a full level. The tapes are good, except for the fact there are only three different voices (and two of then of old people. The young people have better voice!).
The glossary is not complete. The book has about 1.300 words.
It is a good purchase.

Eastern European 12 Language Phrasebook (Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian and Ukrainian)(Phrasebooks S.)

Average customer rating:

Handy, Compact Guidebook for Multiple Languages.

Eastern European 12 Language Phrasebook (Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian and Ukrainian)(Phrasebooks S.)
Thomas Cook Publishing
Manufacturer: Thomas Cook Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841575011

Customer Reviews:

Handy, Compact Guidebook for Multiple Languages........2007-02-03

This guidebook is a handy, compact reference for simple survival and simple courtesy-based conversation. It is suited for the traveler who intends to visit the countries that feature these 12 languages, but not for the student who is trying to learn one particular language. Alternatively, the book will serve well the student of a language who needs a quick reference for simple phrases, should he stumble.

The book features simple greetings and situational phrases, such as at the airport or the restaurant, along with a brief history of each language. It also has a section devoted to telling time, which I found lacking, since it did not cover all the times of the day (just the times within 9 o'clock, and how to say "noon," "afternoon," and "evening," for example). One of the book's strengths is its phonetic pronunciations for each translated phrase. Although I found some pronunciations were incorrect (in the Lithuanian section), it will help you in a bind.

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Eyewitness Travel Phrasebook: Romanian
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0789451840

Book Description

Featuring pronunciation, a menu guide, a mini-dictionary, hotel information, and emergency phrases.

Whether you're trying to order dinner or get back to your hotel, you cannot make your way without knowing what to say, and the Eyewitness Travel Guide Phrase Books are the perfect guide for tongue-tied tourists. These compact, user-friendly books fit right into your pocket or purse, and meet the communications needs of the tourist and business traveler alike. Based on an innovative system of imitated pronunciation, phrases are organized into logical and practical divisions, including time; food and drink; air travel; bus, taxi, and subway information; shopping; health and medical care; and much more. Typical replies to questions you may be asked, as well as signs and instructions you're likely to see or hear, are also given. The guides also include a carefully selected mini-dictionary, and useful conversion tables translating distance, clothing sizes, and weight.

Average customer rating:

A Great Introduction to the Language

some course

The Best Available

Good and efficient

Easy and clear

Colloquial Romanian (Colloquial Series)
Denis Deletant
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415128986

Book Description

A new edition of this critically acclaimed course by one of europe's leading authorities on Romanian language and culture. The text presents updated material alongside the new Romanian ethnography. The cassettes have been re-recorded with new material on two 60-minute tapes.

This paperback in the Colloquial Language Learning Series is available individually here or as part of a cassette pack. To purchase the book and the cassettes, please refer to the cassette pack listing for this language.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Introduction to the Language.......2004-12-02

Before my first visit to Romania, I purchased this book along with its accompanying cassettes and thus began my study in the Romanian language. My goal then was to learn a bit of the basics before my arrival in the country. With this book, I was able to do just that. By carefully making my way through the exercises and listening to the tapes for the pronounciation, I not only learned some key phrases, I gained a decent foundation in grammar and vocabulary. In fact, I was able to surprise my Romanian hosts with my ability. Of course, for an in-depth understanding of the language, there is nothing that can take the place of a real live instructor. But now, after living for several years in Romania, immersed in the language, I can look back and know that I had a pretty good head-start because of this course. The only real problems I can report are that this book does use an older spelling system with regard to certain vowels that was changed a while back, but this is nothing that would damage your pronounciation or understandability. I do strongly advise that you get the cassettes to go with the book so that you don't have to rely on the written explanations of pronounciation, which, though correct from a British standpoint, are a bit awkward.

some course.......2004-08-20

When I read that "a" was similar to the Standard English vowel sound in "bud", "come", "done" and "put", I needed not go further! The vowel in "put"??? Does this fancy author know any English?
So hard to find specialists in teaching foreign languages...

The Best Available.......2002-04-19

Dennis Deletant has provided an invaluable resource for anyone who wishes to truly learn the language, especially in self-study. The book enables you to learn how to conduct many affairs in Romanian daily life.
I recomend that you purchase the the book and cassette pack, the cassettes are definately a great aid. They will increase your comprehension twofold.
There are several versions of the book available, the complete course (ISBN 0415129001) is the best buy. It includes the tapes and costs about 30 to 40 dollars.

Good and efficient.......2000-11-27

I enjoyed doing the course. The author claims that you will be able to use Romanian as used in daily life. This is true for the most but do not expect to be able to translate poems or read specialist articles. Depending on your language background you have to learn a lot more words. This can not be expected from a short course. I am however able to go around in Romania, do my shopping, make myself clear in conversations and not feel totally helpless. This book does not waist time on useless practices. In fact every excercise is usefull and should be taken. It also serves as a very good reference guide on Romanian language after completion of the course. The accompanying tapes have been a great help.

Easy and clear.......2000-10-08

I found that the tapes are very helpful and teaching is carried out in a slow and systematic manner. I have been listening to the tapes while driving and they are very easy to follow. However I feel that since some of the words are different and difficult to follow by merely listening to them, having the paperback edition will help. But I will highly reccommend these.

English-Romanian Phrasebook with Useful Wordlist

Average customer rating:

English-Romanian Phrasebook with Useful Wordlist
Nguyen Hy Quang , and Us State Dep Bureau of Refugee Programs
Manufacturer: Jeffrey Norton Publishers, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1579700896

Berlitz Romanian Phrase Book & Dictionary (Berlitz Phrase Books)

Average customer rating:

Indeed useful, though with some quirks
Berlitz Romanian: Phrase Book & Dictionary
A dictionary NOT

Berlitz Romanian Phrase Book & Dictionary (Berlitz Phrase Books)

Manufacturer: Berlitz Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2831577373

Book Description

This best selling phrase book series contains a color-coded system that makes words and phrases easy to find. It is broken down by basic expressions, arrival, hotel, eating out, sightseeing, relaxing, shopping guide, bank, mail, telephone, doctor, reference sections, grammar and dictionary. It also includes handy travel information, tips and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Indeed useful, though with some quirks.......2007-06-25

The ROMANIAN PHRASE BOOK & DICTIONARY from Berlitz is a standard entry in this line from the publisher. It features phrases for every situation a tourist could imagine themselves in, colour-coded for quick access, with both the Romanian text and a phonetic transcription for English speakers. At the end one can find a small dictionary, and a brief grammar. Romanian is an exceedingly easy language, and someone with previous knowledge of a Romance language could pick it up in two weeks, but if for whatever reason you'll be dependent on a phrase book during your time there, this is certainly the best phrase book around.

However, the phrase book does have some weaknesses. The information on Romanian culture often discusses matters limited to one particular region of this very diverse country without warning the reader that the words or concepts discussed aren't applicable for other parts of the country. The phonetic transcription is for speakers of British English, and were an American to unwittingly read from the transcription, being understood may be difficult. Editions of the book prior to the 2006 inexplicably continued to use the Communist-era orthography long after it was revised by a 1993 language reform. Finally, there are a few misprints, though I should think that these are not serious enough to deter communication.

Nonetheless, in spite of these quirks the Berlitz is the phrase book to get for Romanian--certainly avoid at all costs the Hippocrene ones.

Berlitz Romanian: Phrase Book & Dictionary.......2006-08-09

I got the book within several days and it was in excellent condition. I was very happy with it and used it a lot while in Romania. Romanian nationals were even impressed with the book!

A dictionary NOT.......2002-11-14

This book may be helpful to the casual tourist, but it is NOT a dictionary. If you're trying to look up words, skip this altogether.

Average customer rating:

English-Romanian Phrasebook with Useful Wordlist
Cal
Manufacturer: Center for Applied Linguistics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0685169340

Average customer rating:

Nothing new

Really great book

Renovate: What the Pros Know About Giving New Life to Your House, Loft, Condo or Apartment
Fred A. Bernstein
Manufacturer: Filipacchi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Decorate: Insider's Tips from Top Interior Designers

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ASIN: 2850188484

Book Description

High real estate prices can force homebuyers into settling for second or third best. Views are sacrificed for space, style takes a backseat to location.-No matter.-"Renovate" proves that even the drabbest digs can find new life. From a minimalist Chicago loft to a cozy Los Angeles bungalow, these 30 homes were all lackluster dwellings that have reemerged as fabulous places to live. Each makeover, from the highly pragmatic to the purely aesthetic, is well illustrated with before and after photos, and all include floor plans. Divided into seven style-specific chapters, including lofts, ranch houses, apartments, and suburban homes, the book presents homeowners with a wealth of helpful, easily implemented design lessons and provides creative solutions to renovation problems. It is truly "What the Pros Know" about going from gut to glory.

Customer Reviews:

Nothing new.......2005-07-22

If you already have a subscription to Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful, and/or House and Garden, you've seen all the pictures from this publication before. I guess it's nice to have them all in one book if that's important to you.

Really great book.......2004-11-16

Among all books on renovations I purchased this Fall, this one is my favorite. The photography is outstanding, the text really insightful. While I didn't really find how-tos, the What the pros Know tips put me on the right track while contemplating my own renovation. I highly recommend it!

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