Romanian Numbers - Fractional Numbers

Fractional Numbers

Numbers expressed as parts of a unit (such as "two thirds") are named using the cardinal number, in its masculine form, with the suffix -ime. Other morphological changes take place, as shown below.

A number like 3/5 is expressed as trei cincimi "three fifths". Since all the fractional number names behave like feminine nouns, when the numerator is 1, 2, or any other number with a distinct feminine form, that form must be used: două treimi (2/3). The preposition de is used depending also on the numerator: douăzeci de sutimi (20/100), o sută zece miimi (110/1000).

In music several other such words are frequently used for note lengths:

• şaisprezecime "sixteenth note";
• trezecişidoime "thirty-second note" - often pronounced treijdoime (informal);
• şaizecişipătrime "sixty-fourth note" - often pronounced şaişpătrime (informal).

Fractions involving larger numbers tend to become hard to read. Especially in mathematics it is common to read fractions only using cardinal numbers and the words pe or supra ("on", "over"). For example două treimi "two thirds" becomes doi pe trei or doi supra trei.