trei

trei is the Romanian word for the number three. It functions as a cardinal numeral and as an attributive modifier before nouns. It is pronounced roughly like “trey.” In everyday use, trei appears in counting and in expressions such as three people (trei oameni) or three kilometers (trei kilometri). When used before a noun, trei does not change for the noun’s gender and remains trei, while the noun itself carries the appropriate article or agreement.

In Romanian grammar, cardinal numbers such as trei typically precede the noun they modify. They are used in ranges, quantities, and dates, and can form composite numbers (for example, trei sute for three hundred). The numeral agrees with standard Romanian syntax, and it can appear in both neutral and emphatic contexts.

Etymology and cognates: trei is derived from Latin tres and is part of the Romance-language family. It shares roots with other Romance words for the number three, such as French trois, Spanish tres, and Italian tre, though Romanian phonology has produced its own distinct form. The Romanian form reflects characteristic sound changes in the language while maintaining the same basic meaning as its Romance relatives.

See also: Romanian numerals, Romani language influence on Romanian numbers, Romance languages.