Romanian Consonants Pronunciation: Tricky Sounds (R, Ș, Ț, J) Explained

TL;DR

• Romanian consonants pronunciation is mostly regular, but a few sounds need focused practice.
• The biggest challenges are rolled R, Ș /ʃ/, Ț /ts/, and J /ʒ/.
• Most consonants are pronounced consistently, similar to Italian.
• Learning the sound rules early makes Romanian reading much easier.
• This guide shows how each tricky consonant sounds, with examples and practice tips.

Romanian alphabet pronunciation hub

If you want the full system behind these sounds, see the Romanian alphabet pronunciation hub

Explore the practice hub →

What makes Romanian consonants pronunciation tricky?

Romanian consonants pronunciation is highly phonetic, meaning letters usually match one sound.
The difficulty comes from a small group of consonants that don’t exist in English or behave differently.

If you can pronounce R, Ș, Ț, and J correctly, the rest of the Romanian alphabet becomes much easier.

Romanian consonant chart (quick reference)

Most Romanian consonants sound familiar to English speakers.

The sounds above rarely change, which is why Romanian pronunciation is often described as predictable.For spelling structure and letter reference, the Romanian alphabet chart helps connect sound.

Or you can visit the 3D interactive Romanian Pronunciation tool page.

How do you pronounce the Romanian rolled R?

Question: How is Romanian R pronounced?
Answer: Romanian R is a trilled or tapped sound, similar to Spanish or Italian.

• It is never silent
• It is never English-style
• It must be clearly articulated

Examples

• roșu (red)
• mare (big)
• România

Practice tip

Start with a single tongue tap (like the Spanish pero), then move toward a light roll.
Avoid the English “r” sound entirely.

Ș vs Ț: the most common confusion

Question: What’s the difference between Ș and Ț in Romanian pronunciation?
Answer: Ș sounds like sh, while Ț sounds like ts.

Ș /ʃ/ — “sh”

• Like sh in shoe
• Example: școală (school), așa (so)

Ț /ts/ — “ts”

• Like ts in cats
• Example: țară (country), viață (life)

Minimal pair

• șapte (seven)
• țapte ❌ (not a real word)

This contrast is phonemic, meaning mixing them up can change meaning or create non-words.

How is Romanian J pronounced?

Question: Is Romanian J pronounced like English J?
Answer: No. Romanian J sounds like the “s” in “measure”.

• IPA: /ʒ/
• Similar to French j

Examples

• jos (down)
• joc (game)
• major

This sound feels unfamiliar at first, but it appears often in common Romanian words.

Special consonant rules you should know

Romanian consonants are mostly stable, but a few rules matter:

C and G before E or I

• ce / ci → “ch” sound
• ge / gi → soft “j” sound

Examples:

• cer → “chair”-like sound
• ginere → soft “j”

CH / GH combinations

Used to preserve hard sounds before e and i:

• cheie → /k/
• ghid → /g/

Practice sentences (say them out loud)

Try reading these slowly and clearly:

• Șapte țări sunt aici.
• Radu are roșii.
• Viața este scurtă.
• Jocul începe acum.

Focus on clarity, not speed. Romanian favors clean articulation.

Why Romanian consonants are easier than English

Romanian consonants:

• Rarely change sound
• Are pronounced fully
• Follow predictable rules

Once you master the small group of difficult sounds, Romanian pronunciation becomes much more intuitive than English.

What to practice next

To build confidence quickly, continue with:

• Romanian alphabet pronunciation — full sound system
• Romanian vowel sounds (A, Ă, Â/Î)
• Stress placement and rhythm

Consistent listening + repetition is the fastest way to sound natural.

Final note

Good Romanian consonants pronunciation isn’t about perfection — it’s about clarity.
If each sound is distinct, native speakers will understand you easily, even with an accent.