When entering a new market, understanding the language is just as crucial as understanding the culture. For businesses expanding into Romania—or MLVs handling Romanian translation—grasping the idiomatic expressions that shape everyday communication can make a significant difference.

Idioms are more than just words strung together; they carry history, humor, and cultural depth. Translating them word-for-word rarely works, but adapting them effectively can help brands connect with their audience in a more authentic way.

Here’s a look at some of Romania’s most fascinating idioms, what they mean, and why they can either delight or baffle international clients.

Why Idioms Matter in Translation and Localization

For MLVs and businesses alike, idioms can either elevate or derail a translation. A campaign slogan, a website tagline, or even customer service communication can lose impact and meaning if idioms aren’t properly adapted.

Consider the difference between:
✅ Cultural adaptation → The message makes sense to the target audience.
❌ Literal translation → The message becomes confusing or meaningless.

Example:

• English: It’s raining cats and dogs.
• Romanian literal translation: Plouă cu pisici și câini. ❌ (Makes no sense!)
• Correct Romanian equivalent: Plouă cu găleata! ✅ (“It’s raining buckets!”)

For companies marketing in Romania, using well-placed idioms can make content feel more natural and engaging.

Romanian Idioms That Deserve a Spotlight

1. “A freca menta”

Literal translation: “To rub the mint”
Meaning: To waste time doing nothing productive.

Imagine someone at work pretending to be busy while actually scrolling through social media—they’re rubbing the mint! Businesses dealing with productivity, efficiency, or work culture may find this idiom useful when localizing campaigns for Romanian audiences.

2. “A umbla cu cioara vopsită”

Literal translation: “To walk around with a painted crow”
Meaning: To try to deceive someone with a trick or lie.

For brands in marketing, this is an idiom to keep in mind. It reflects consumer skepticism and can be useful when localizing content related to trust and transparency in business.

3. “Te plouă în gură”

Literal translation: “It’s raining in your mouth”
Meaning: You’re craving something delicious.

A perfect idiom for the food & beverage industry! If a Romanian says this, they’re excited about a meal—not experiencing bad weather! Restaurants, food blogs, or culinary brands targeting Romanian customers could creatively use this phrase.

4. “A vinde gogoși”

Literal translation: “To sell donuts”
Meaning: “To deceive someone” or “to tell lies”

This idiom is often used in marketing, sales, and consumer trust discussions. A company promising unrealistic results in its advertising might be accused of vânzând gogoși!

5. “A face din țânțar armăsar”

Literal translation: “To make a stallion out of a mosquito”
Meaning: To exaggerate a small problem.

If your business deals with customer support, conflict resolution, or social media, understanding how Romanians express overreacting to minor issues can be valuable in content adaptation.

6. “Lupul își schimbă părul, dar năravul ba”

Literal translation: “The wolf changes its fur, but not its habits.”
Meaning: People don’t truly change their nature.

This idiom is common in business negotiations and leadership discussions, making it relevant for HR, consulting, and corporate communications.

How Businesses Can Use Idioms Effectively

For brands expanding into Romania, idioms offer a way to:
✅ Make marketing more relatable – A localized campaign that plays with familiar expressions can resonate more with Romanian audiences.
✅ Strengthen brand personality – Companies that understand cultural nuances appear more authentic and engaging.
✅ Avoid awkward mistranslations – Without proper adaptation, idioms can lead to embarrassing misunderstandings.

When to Avoid Using Idioms in Translation

While idioms can add flair to marketing and branding, they aren’t always suitable for technical or legal translations.

❌ Legal contracts – Precision matters; idioms could cause ambiguity.
❌ Medical or scientific content – Clear, straightforward language is essential.
❌ User manuals and technical documentation – Instructions should be universally understood.

For these types of translations, accuracy takes priority over cultural creativity.

The Value of Professional Adaptation

For MLVs handling Romanian translation projects, working with native linguists is essential to ensure idioms are used correctly and strategically. For businesses entering the Romanian market, investing in localization professionals ensures messaging feels natural, not forced.

The right balance of authenticity and clarity can make all the difference in how a brand is perceived in a new linguistic and cultural environment.

Final Thoughts

Idioms aren’t just linguistic quirks—they are windows into a culture. Whether you’re an MLV refining Romanian translations or a business expanding into the market, understanding local expressions can be a game-changer for engaging with Romanian-speaking audiences.

When used effectively, idioms enrich communication, enhance relatability, and create memorable brand interactions—but only if they are properly adapted, not just translated.

So, next time you encounter an idiom like a face din țânțar armăsar, you’ll know it’s not about livestock—it’s about seeing things in the right proportion.

Interested in having a local partner for Romanian translation services?

At Penini Translations, we work closely with MLVs and multinational companies in Europe and U.S. covering over 40 languages with native, certified Romanian translators, specialised in 30 industry fields.

Contact us:

by e-mail: office@peniniglobal.com

by telephone: 0040720825462

Follow us:

LinkedIn     www.linkedin.com/company/penini-translations

Instagram   www.instagram.com/penini_translations/

Facebook     www.facebook.com/peniniglobal/