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Welcome! Read more about the Romanian language course for Nigerian workers in Romania. We are here to support you.

If you are coming from Nigeria to work in Romania, you may be wondering how hard Romanian will be. Here is some good news to start with: as an English speaker, you already have advantages that many other newcomers do not. Whether you are looking for a practical Romanian language course for Nigerian workers or simply want to know what to expect, this guide is for you.

Romanian is not as hard as it looks on your first day, and it is not magic either. It is a language you can learn step by step, especially the practical Romanian you actually need for work and daily life. You do not need perfect Romanian. You need useful Romanian.

Your English is a real head start

English is an official language in Nigeria, and that gives you several advantages most other foreign workers do not have.

You already read the Latin alphabet. Romanian uses the same letters as English. You are not learning a new writing system — you only need to learn five extra letters (ă, â, î, ș, ț), each with a fixed sound. That is a small addition, not a fresh start.

Many words will look familiar. English and Romanian share a huge number of words that come from Latin and French. Once you start learning, you will keep noticing words you almost recognise: informație (information), problemă (problem), important (important), familie (family), direcție (direction). This shared vocabulary grows the more you learn.

You can use English while you learn. In the early weeks, English helps you ask for help, understand explanations and check meanings. It is a bridge — useful at the start, while you build enough Romanian to rely on less and less over time.

Romanian is spelled as it sounds. Unlike English — where “through”, “though” and “tough” look alike but sound different — Romanian is consistent. Once you know how each letter sounds, you can read almost any word. After English spelling, this will feel like a relief.

What takes more practice

It would be dishonest to say everything is easy. A few things need patience.

Romanian nouns have a gender — masculine, feminine or neuter — and words change their endings depending on the situation. English does not really do this, so it is the part that takes the most time. The good news: at work, people will understand you even when the endings are not perfect. You can be useful long before you are correct.

Pronunciation has a few new sounds, but most Romanian sounds are close to ones you already use in English. You do not need a perfect accent to be understood — clear is enough.

The key idea is this: do not try to master grammar before you speak. Start speaking with simple, correct-enough Romanian, and let accuracy grow with time.

Start with the words you will hear every day

In your first weeks, a small number of words will do most of the work. Learn these first, because you will hear and need them constantly.

For safety and the workplace: atenție (attention / careful), pericol (danger), stop (stop), ajutor (help), ieșire (exit), pauză (break), nu atingeți (do not touch).

For asking and understanding: Nu înțeleg (I don’t understand), Puteți repeta? (Can you repeat?), Unde este…? (Where is…?), Am nevoie de ajutor (I need help), Am terminat (I have finished).

For being polite: Bună ziua (good day / hello), Mulțumesc (thank you), Vă rog (please), Scuzați (excuse me), Da / Nu (yes / no).

These are not “beginner toys”. They are the words that keep you safe, help you ask questions and show your colleagues that you are trying. Effort is noticed, and it changes how people treat you.

Consistency matters more than talent

Many people believe they are “bad at languages”. Usually that is not true. The real difference is not talent — it is regular practice.

Ten or fifteen minutes a day, connected to real situations, works better than one long study session that you forget by the next week. Learn a few words, use them the same day at work, and they will stay with you. A word you use is a word you keep.

You are also learning in the best possible place: surrounded by Romanian, every day. Every shift is practice. Every short conversation is a lesson. This is an advantage you would not have if you were learning Romanian back home.

What the first months can look like

In the first month, Romanian may feel like background noise. That is normal. You start by recognising repeated words and connecting them to actions.

By the second and third month, short phrases begin to work for you. You can ask a question, say you did not understand, ask for help. You stop guessing as much.

By the fourth, fifth and sixth month, you understand more of the instructions around you, talk a little with colleagues and feel less dependent on others. You will still make mistakes. That is fine. Mistakes are part of learning, not a sign of failure.

Nobody expects you to be fluent in six months while also working full time. The realistic goal is confidence: understanding and using Romanian in the situations that matter for your work and daily life.

New in Romania? Start with the basics.

Download a short guide with practical Romanian phrases and first-month tips for foreign workers.

Choosing a Romanian language course for Nigerian workers

Romanian is learnable, and your English makes the start easier. What makes the real difference is the kind of course you follow. A good Romanian language course for Nigerian workers is built around real situations — work, safety, shopping, the doctor, daily conversations — so you can use Romanian from the start, instead of memorising abstract grammar.

At INDORA, we focus on practical Romanian for foreign workers, taught in a way that respects where you are starting from. Our work is shaped by direct experience with migrant and newcomer communities, so we understand the real barriers — and how to get past them step by step.

You do not need to be afraid of Romanian. You need a clear path, a little practice every day, and words you can use today. The rest grows from there.

Read more about our Romanian language course for Nigerian workers in Romania. We are here to support you.