35+ Romanian Expressions that Sound Really Funny in English

We have already learned how to say various things in Romanian – from Hello to I love you to Merry Christmas – but what about some phrases and expressions that are unique to the Romanian language?

That’s what we’re going to talk about in today’s article: over 35 Romanian expressions that make absolutely no sense in English and which will, most likely, make you laugh. Or at least smile.

I am sure this is going to be a fun read! It’s going to be fun to write too, since many of these unique Romanian expressions are really difficult to translate and might seem completely illogical in English.

But each language has its own share of such expressions and it proves just how creative people can get – and how a simple word can get a completely different meaning just like that.

Funny Romanian phrases & idioms

Let’s get started with a new Romanian lesson for things you never thought you’d need in your life – and most likely, you don’t! But it’s still fun!

1. Ești beton = You are concrete!

This might not sound like it, but when something or somebody is “concrete,” it means that they’re really good. To keep it in context (kind of), we could say that it’s somewhat similar to “You rock!”

So a very cool guy or girl is “concrete,” a song can be “concrete” and even a food that’s concrete is actually good. Probably the lack of quality roads in the past made this “concrete” be such a praised element here. Ha!

2. Ești varză = You are a cabbage

The total opposite of “concrete”. Being a cabbage is really bad. Like really, really bad. Which is strange, because cabbage is a vital ingredient in one of the most appreciated Romanian foods – sarmale.

This usually goes just for people though – so a food can’t be “cabbage”. But a person can – either when they don’t know anything about a topic, or are plain stupid.

But don’t use this wrong! You can also turn yourself into a cabbage (te faci varza), which means that you are completely wasted. There’s also a nice song about this: Varza, performed by Vita De Vie (Grapevine). Oh my God, so many foods!

3. Faci din țânțar armăsar = Turning a mosquito into a stallion

Do you have a friend that keeps exaggerating everything? Well, it means that they’re trying to turn a mosquito into a stallion. Seems impossible, but the Romanians are experts at doing so! Fishermen, too.

4. Ca baba cu mitraliera = Like the old lady with the machine gun

Can you picture this image? An old lady sporting a machine gun? It sure doesn’t sound like a good fit and this is exactly when you can use this expression.

When something doesn’t fit or doesn’t seem right, you can say that it’s as fit as handing a machine gun to an old lady.

5. Tai frunze la câini = You cut leaves for the dogs

Just imagine how pointless this is – spending time to cut leaves for the dogs. Nope, they would not eat them, meaning that you’re just wasting time.

So whenever you see someone being lazy, pretending to work but actually slacking off or just being unproductive, you can say that they’re cutting leaves for the dogs.

6. Îți pică fisa = Your coin drops

This is actually a good thing. It means that you finally have a breakthrough moment or understand something.

Just like those machines where you used to put a coin in and you got something nice in return. So having your coin drop is like having that “Eureka!” moment after a long wait.

7. Îți sare muștarul = Your mustard jumps

Dropping coins are good, jumping mustard – not so much. When this happens, it means that you get really angry. So try not to make anybody have their mustard jumping, it’s not nice!

8. Frecție la piciorul de lemn = Rubbing the wooden leg

Just like the expression itself sounds, rubbing somebody’s wooden leg is absolutely pointless.

So whenever you’re doing something that makes no sense, it’s completely useless or can’t help your situation in any way, it’s like rubbing a wooden leg.

Almost like me trying to explain these expressions that only make sense in Romanian.

9. Îți iei inima în dinți = You take your heart into your teeth

There are other more interesting ways to describe somebody getting courageous enough to do something, but Romanians take their hearts into their teeth.

It’s not pleasant, you don’t really enjoy doing it, but it has to be done. So squeeze tight and just do it!

10. Te simți cu musca pe căciulă = You feel the fly on your hat

Whenever that fly lands on your cap, it’s not a good thing. It means you did something wrong.

You don’t really admit it and people might not know that you did that horrible thing, but you do know.

And that fly weighs a ton. So it’s not good to feel the fly on your head – instead, just admit that you did something wrong before somebody finds out and their mustard jumps!

11. La Paștele cailor = The horses’ Easter

In English, you say “When pigs fly”. In Romanian, for the same thing, you use “Pastele cailor”. Might sound interesting, but it will never happen. There’s no such thing as the horses’ Easter!

But the real Easter is really fun in Romania. Make sure to read my article about our traditional Easter foods.

12. Ești dus cu pluta = You’re gone with the raft

Going rafting might sound like fun, but the truth is that it’s not good to be gone with the raft. This means you’re a little bit crazy.

Or more so, although it can be also said in a playful way when you suggest doing something out of the ordinary.

13. Freci menta = You are rubbing a mint leaf

There are few things as pointless as rubbing a mint leaf. It’s like doing nothing (or like cutting leaves for the dogs, as we’ve seen above) – and exactly this is what the expression means.

When you’re just doing nothing – or doing something completely useless (like browsing Facebook), you can say that you’re rubbing a mint leaf. Just wasting time.

14. Ai un morcov în fund = You have a carrot up your ass [Slang]

This doesn’t sound good and in this case, it really is as it sounds. Having a carrot up your ass is bad: it means that you are guilty of doing something really bad or expect something really bad to happen and you’re extremely worried.

It’s students who have the carrot usually, right before exams or important interviews.

You can go as far as saying to somebody who clearly has a carrot in their ass something like: “Run! There’s a bunny coming!” and they’ll know what you’re talking about.

15. Dai cu mucii-n fasole = You throw the buggers into the beans

Remember spending all the time boiling the beans and preparing a delicious meal only to throw your buggers in at the end. It’s not good and it means that you just blew it. Don’t eat the beans!

16. Plimbă ursul! = Walk the bear!

When you want to tell somebody to eff off, you tell them to go walk the bear. It’s a bit more polite. Just like that!

17. Ai pitici pe creier = You have dwarves on your brain

Just like going with the raft, having dwarves on your brain isn’t really good. You’re not necessarily crazy if you get them – you might just have an obsession, but it’s definitely not a good thing to have.

I mean… a dwarf might be OK, but more? That’s a definite NO-NO!

18. Te îmbeți cu apă rece = You get drunk with cold water

You might try to fool yourself that you can do it – getting drunk drinking cold water, but it’s not going to happen!

So whenever you’re trying to do this – or somebody else is – it means that they’re just lying to themselves.

And it’s usually friends who have to tell you that you’re doing it. And hopefully stop you from doing it!

19. Te scoate din pepeni = It pulls you out of your watermelons

When somebody pulls you out of your watermelons, things are really bad. It’s even worse than having your mustard jump!

That’s like the ultimate thing in terms of annoyance. So try to never drive somebody as crazy as it is when you pull them out of their watermelons!

I mean, just admit it: it happened to you before. You were chilling in the watermelons and somebody, out of nowhere, just popped up and pulled you out. Remember how angry you were and you’ll know what this expression is all about!

20. Îți vinde gogoși = He/she is selling you donuts

This one was modified over the years and as it is, it doesn’t really make sense in Romanian either. Because if somebody tries to sell you donuts, they’re actually trying to tell you lies or fool you in a way or another.

But why donuts? Well, in a region of Romania, there is some fried dough that’s called “Minciunele” – which translates as “little lies”.

So the original expression was that somebody is trying to sell you minciunele… but since “gogosi” is shorter, it turned into that over the years.

Many don’t even know where it has all started, but everybody knows that selling donuts means you’re lying.

More funny Romanian idioms, expressions and insults

Since publishing this article, I have received plenty of new suggestions for expressions that I originally missed.

So… I’m writing the wrongs by sharing them (and more) with you below.

21. Faci din rahat bici = You turn poop into a whip

Talk about creativity! This expression is used when somebody manages to accomplish something great with limited resources.

Or in a situation that’s not favorable. A “winning against all odds” kind of thing. But way better said, ha!

22. Ține-mi pumnii = Hold my fists

Nope, you’re not about to prevent a fight! Instead, when you’re holding your fists actually for somebody, it means that you are rooting for that person, hoping that they will be successful in whatever they need the fists for.

So it’s basically “fingers crossed” – but in the Romanian language it’s done with clenched fists.

23. Te caută moartea pe-acasă = Death is looking for you at your home

This is used to tell older people (or of old people) that they’re doing something that seems age-inappropriate.

For example: Death is looking for you at your home and you’re here doing bungee jumping.

24. Visezi cai verzi pe pereți = You’re dreaming of green horses on the walls

Whenever somebody is thinking of doing something completely crazy (or impossible), it’s like they’re dreaming of green horses on the walls. It’s just not going to happen!

25. Prostul nu e prost destul dacă nu e și fudul = A stupid person will always be arrogant

This is a very relative translation, but that’s actually the meaning of this insult. It’s usually said about somebody who does something stupid, but doesn’t realize it and brags about it.

26. Mi-a picat fața = my face has fallen off

When your face falls off (figuratively, fortunately), it means that you are extremely surprised. Similarly to the jaw-drops in English.

27. Te uiți ca vițelul la poarta nouă = You’re looking like a veal looks at a new gate

When you’re asked something you’re expected to know but you don’t and you respond with that blank stare… well, that’s when Romanians will tell you that you’re looking back at them like a veal would look at a new gate.

28. E la mama naibii – It’s at the devil’s mother

Romanians will use this funny expression to tell you that something’s really far. So when the distance is too big, that thig is at the devil’s mother.

Strange that we don’t have anything about vampires….

29. Îmi bag picioarele! = I’m sticking my legs into it [Slang]

Yup, it’s a sort of a rage quit mechanic here. When a Romanian decides to give up on something or stop doing something (but they’re also a bit angry/upset over it), they’re not just quitting – they’re sticking their legs into that.

30. Ai luat țeapă = you took a spike

I’m not sure if this is related to Vlad Tepes aka Dracula (probably not), but taking the spike means that you were scammed of fooled.

So if somebody “iti trage teapa” (gives you the spike) or when you took the spike, it’s not good.

31. O faci de oaie = You make it of sheep

In Romanian, there’s nothing worse than making it of sheep. “It” can be anything that becomes a huge mistake.

From completely failing a presentation to destroying something you were trying to fix – making it of sheep is the highest form of failuer.

32. Bate șaua să priceapă iapa = Beat the saddle so the mare understands

This one is all about nuance. You’re speaking to one person, but clearly directing what you say to the other. Just like hitting the saddle to make the mare move forward.

So, instead of addressing the person you want to hear what you say, you loudly say this to the wall or a third person – it doesn’t really matter, as long as your message is heard by the one intended to hear it. And you will hear this often in cafes or restaurants, or shops or anything related to services.

33. Îl faci cu ou și cu oțet = You make him with egg and vinegar

While this sounds like an interesting dressing for a salad, it probably doesn’t work. And in Romanian, scolding or insulting someone terribly is when you make them with egg and vinegar.

34. Umblă cu cioara vopsită = He/She is walking around with a painted crow

We have plenty of people who walk with a painted crow here in Romania – and I’m sure every country has them. And I think that the visual comedy of this line is enough to make you understand what it’s all about.

Yes, it’s about those people who are trying to deceive others with false appearances or fake luxury goods, who try to create an impression about themselves that is completely broken from reality.

35. Îți lipsește o doagă = You are missing a stave

Since Romanians enjoy wine so much, we have a different saying for “a shingle short”. It’s not that bad though, but if you’re missing a stave you’re at least acting eccentric, if not slightly crazy.

When a friend behaves completely irrationally or lacking common sense, this is what you tell them.

Bonus: Orice șut în fund e un pas înainte = Every kick in the butt results in a step forward.

I just remembered this while writing a different article on the website. I think it’s pretty self-explanatory, similar in concept to the “when life throws you lemons…” one.

Basically, it says that whenever life throws difficult things your way, it just pushes you forward. Learn from your mistakes and move on!

Wrapping up

These would be all the funny Romanian expressions that I could think of for now.

I am sure that there are even more such expressions in the Romanian language – expressions that make little sense if you are to translate them in English. So if you have additional ones that I haven’t mentioned, don’t hesitate to share in the comments section below.

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