Problem
You are in a restaurant and keep hearing the same phrases. What do they mean?
Answers
Romanian - English
0 - a
buna - good
d i m i n e a t a - morning
ea - she
el - he
l i m b a - language (both words start with letter l and contain the letter a; m and n are adjacent letters, and b looks like a g upside down)
n o a p t e - night
p o f t a - stomach , appetite (think of it as pigging yourself out - be a happy pig - enjoy your meal)
z i - day
z i u i a - afternoon (The word z i u i a looks like a longer word than day which is zi in Romanian. Similarly the word afternoon is longer than day in English. The last letter of ziuia and first letter of afternoon are the same; afternoon has two letter o vowels and ziuia has two i letters.)
English - Romanian
a - o
day - z i
evening - s e a r a
good - bona
he - el
she - ea
Flashcards For Languages
I keep getting messages that Duolingo is developing flash cards. Sounds good. You can create flashcards for any language, or indeed any subject. But I have not yet managed to access and create my flash cards.
In theory I could make flashcards to carry in my pocket of all new words. Just cut up old white envelopes to a certain size. How to get them all the same size? Use an out of date cards of credit card size.
Make a hole through one corner and thread them together with a piece of cotton (from a hotel sewing kit), a piece of wool, or a rubber band. Tie a slip knot so you can untie and reorganise the cards.
Alternatively use one of those key rings which open easily.
You can write both words on the same side as a simple memory aid. Keep them in alphabetical order. Alternatively arrange by subject.
If you want to test yourself, write the word on opposite sides, such as Romanian on the front and english on the back. If possible use different colours.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker, language teacher.
