Romanian Occupation Definitions - English Translations
Compiled by: Paula Zieselman & Terry Lasky
The following list of occupations in the Romanian language was compiled
by Paula Zieselman and Terry Lasky, with assistance from Susanna Vendel,
Marcel Bratu, and Prof. Ladislau Gyemant.
This list was compiled in the course of entering the data for the
Tabele Barbitalor
(1942 census of Jewish males), which now resides in the
JewishGen Romania Database.
Some of these are archaic or obscure terms, no longer current.
Romanian diacritics have not been used. Please note that the Romanian
terms have been entered exactly as the clerks wrote them in 1942.
They are therefore subject to any mispellings, etc., that they might have
used at that time. When the correct spelling is known it is also
shown following a slash (/).
Romanian |
English |
absolvent (abs.) |
graduate |
acad. |
academy |
achizitor |
buyer |
acrobat |
acrobat |
adjunet (ad.) / adjunct |
assistant |
administrar (adm.) |
administrator |
adunator |
gatherer, collector |
af. intampl.
(afaceri intimplatoare) |
occasional business |
agent (ag.) |
agent, broker |
agentura |
agency |
agricultor (agric.) |
farmer |
agronom |
agronomist, farmer |
ajutar / ajutor |
assistant |
ajutor |
assistant |
alamar |
brass worker |
alienat |
lunatic |
alunar |
hazelnut dealer |
ambalage / ambalajor |
packer |
ambulant |
itinerant |
angajat |
employee |
anticar |
second hand bookseller |
antreprenor |
contractor |
apar |
water carrier |
apreteur |
laundry worker |
aramar |
copper worker |
architect / arhitect |
architect |
arendas |
leaseholder |
argintar |
silversmith |
arhitect |
architect |
arhivar |
archivist |
armator |
ship owner |
artist |
artist |
ascutitor |
sharpener |
asfaltor |
asphalt producer |
asigurare (asig.) |
insurance |
asistent (asist.) |
assistant |
atelier |
artist's studio, workshop |
atelier de sat. |
village workshop |
autodidact |
self-taught |
autor |
author |
autorizat |
authorized |
avocat |
lawyer |
bacal |
merchant |
bacalaureat |
graduate |
bacanist |
grocer |
baiat (de) pravalie |
shopboy |
baie |
bathhouse |
banca |
bank |
bancher |
banker |
barbier |
barber, hairdresser |
bastonar |
walking stick maker |
bauturi |
liquor |
belfer |
teacher (primary) |
bibliotecar |
librarian |
bijutier |
jeweler |
binoclu |
binoculars, opera glasses |
birjar |
cabman |
birou |
agency, bureau |
birtas |
innkeeper |
bis (following a number) |
bis |
blanar |
furrier |
blat |
plasterer |
boccegui / (boceagiu, boccegiu) |
peddler |
boiangiu |
dyer |
bolnav |
invalid |
bomboana |
sweets |
botagiu |
wine cask maker |
bragagiu bulgar |
braga (soft drink) seller |
bricicar |
barber |
broder |
embroiderer |
broder militar |
military embroiderer |
brodeur |
embroiderer |
brutar |
baker |
bucatar |
cook |
buccegui / (boceagiu, boccegiu) |
peddler |
bufetier |
bartender |
bumbacar |
cotton goods merchant |
buretar |
mushroom seller |
bursa |
stockmarket |
butmar / butnar |
cooper |
caciular |
cap maker |
cadastru |
survey |
cafanea / cafenea |
café |
cafenea |
café |
cafengiu / cafegiu |
coffeehouse owner |
caingui de tuitun |
tobacco seller |
calatori |
travel |
caldarar |
coppersmith |
caldarariu |
coppersmith |
calfa |
journeyman, craftsman |
camatar |
money-lender, usurer |
camionagiu |
carter, drayman |
camionar |
truck driver |
cantibil / contabil |
bookkeeper |
cantor |
cantor |
capras |
goatkeeper |
caramidar |
brickmaker |
caraus |
carter |
carbunarita |
(female) coal merchant |
carciumar |
tavern-keeper, publican |
carnatar |
sausage maker |
carnetar / carnatar |
sausage maker |
carte |
book, card |
carton |
cardboard |
cartonagist |
cardboard maker |
cartonagiu |
cardboard maker |
carucar |
wagoneer |
carutas |
wagoneer, carter |
casap |
butcher |
casier |
cashier |
casnica |
housewife |
catifea |
velvet |
catihet |
religious teacher |
caufeur CFR |
engine driver |
cazangui |
boiler maker |
ceaprazar |
makes lace, ribbons, tassels for military uniforms |
ceasornicar |
watchmaker |
ceaus |
low level clerk, minor official |
cenzor / censor |
censor |
cepegar |
hatter |
ceprezar |
beret maker |
ceramicar |
ceramist |
cereale |
grain |
CFR / C. F. R. |
railroad |
chelner |
waiter |
chemist / chimist |
chemist |
cherestea |
timber |
cherestigiu / cherestegiu |
timber merchant |
chimie |
chemistry |
chimist |
chemist |
chiosc de zaile / chiosc de ziare |
newsstand |
chiristigiu / cherestegiu |
timber merchant |
chirug / chirurg |
surgeon |
chirurg |
surgeon |
ciment |
cement |
cimitir |
cemetery |
cinematografist |
cinematographer |
cioclu |
undertaker, grave-digger |
cioplitor piatra |
stone cutter |
ciorar / ciurar |
sieve maker |
circiumar / carciumar |
tavern-keeper, publican |
cirnatar / carnatar |
sausage maker |
cismar / cizmar |
shoemaker |
ciubotar |
bootmaker |
ciubucciu |
pipe maker |
ciuntu |
crippled |
ciurar |
sieve maker |
civila |
civil |
civile |
civilian |
cizmar |
shoemaker |
coafor |
hairdresser |
cofetar |
confectioner |
cojocar |
furrier |
colecta |
collection |
colector |
collector |
colector metali reforma |
reprocessed metals collector |
colorist |
dyer |
colportat / colportor |
peddler |
Com. Ort. Tim. |
Community Orthodox Temple |
comediant |
comedian |
comerc (com) |
merchant (when alone), commercial (when with another word) |
comercial |
commercial |
comerciant |
merchant |
comert |
trade, commerce |
comert conf. decl. |
trade conference lecturer |
comic. voiajar / coml. voiajor |
commercial traveller |
comisionar |
messenger |
comista |
agent |
compactor |
bookbinder |
comptabil |
bookkeeper |
comunitate |
community |
concesionar |
lessee, concessionaire |
cond. fabrica |
factory manager |
cond. intrep. |
director |
cond. technic / cond. tehnic |
foreman |
cond. tehnic |
foreman |
conduc. prava |
shop chief |
conducator (cond.) |
leader |
confectioner |
ready made clothes maker, designer |
conferentiar (confer) |
lecturer |
cons. |
construction or consultant |
cons. tehnic |
technical consultant |
conservator |
museum employee |
conserve |
canned food |
consilier |
consultant |
consiliu |
council |
constructor |
builder |
contabil (cont.) |
bookkeeper |
conzor / censor |
censor |
coproprietor / coproprietar |
joint owner |
cordonier |
girdle maker |
corector |
proofreader |
corespondent |
correspondent |
corsetier |
girdle maker |
cositor |
tin |
cotingar / (cotigar, cotiugar) |
wheelbarrow transporter |
covrigar |
bretzel (pretzel) maker |
cravatier |
necktie maker |
crescator |
breeder |
crismar |
coachman, innkeeper |
crohmalagiu |
starch maker |
croitor |
tailor |
croitoreasa |
tailoress, seamstress |
croitor de straie jidovesti |
tailor of Jewish clothes |
crupar |
confectioner |
cu |
with |
cufar |
chest |
cufarar |
chest maker |
cuferar / cufarar |
chest maker |
cupeur |
cutter |
curatita |
cleaner |
curelar |
leather strip maker |
cusatorita de camasi |
seamstress of shirts |
cutitar |
knifemaker |
dactilograf (dact.) |
typist |
daracitor de lina |
wool carder |
dascal |
schoolmaster |
de ocazie |
second hand |
debit de tutun |
tobacconist, newsstand |
delegat |
deputy |
dentar |
dental |
dentist |
dentist |
Dep. Saci |
warehouse for sacks |
desenator |
draftsman |
dir. scoala |
school principal |
director (dir.) |
manager |
director liceu |
lyceum principal |
director salar |
manager of wage-earners |
distilator |
distiller |
distrib. ziare |
newspaper distributor |
doctor (Dr.) |
doctor (of) |
doctorand |
doctoral candidate |
doctylo |
typist |
dogar |
cooper |
drept |
law |
dricar |
undertaker |
droghist |
druggist |
droguist / droghist |
druggist |
drojdier |
yeast maker |
dulgher |
carpenter |
economie (econ.) |
economist, economy |
electrician |
electrician |
electromec |
electromechanic |
elev |
student |
elogar / elogiar |
eulogist |
epistat |
police overseer |
epitru. bis |
synagogue administrator |
expeditor |
shipper |
expert (exp.) |
specialist |
expert vamal |
customs specialist |
exploatator |
entrepreneur |
export |
exporter |
export oua |
egg exporter |
extern spital |
non-resident medical student/ hospital assistant |
fabrica |
factory |
fabricant |
manufacturer |
facator |
maker, agent |
face negutatorii de producturi |
merchant of foodstuff |
face speculation din picioare |
street merchant |
faclar / faclier |
torch maker |
faclier |
torch maker |
factura (fact.) |
bill, invoice |
faiantar |
faience producer |
faina |
flour |
fainare |
miller |
falm de (falim) |
bankrupt |
fara |
without; uneducated (when school related) |
fara meserie |
without trade |
fara spiculatie |
speculator |
farmacie |
pharmacy |
farmacist |
pharmacist |
faur |
blacksmith |
ferar / fierar |
ironmonger, blacksmith |
ferastrau / ferestrau |
saw, sawmill |
feredier |
bathhouse attendant |
ferma |
farm |
fier |
iron |
fier vechi |
scrap iron |
fierar |
ironmonger, blacksmith |
fieronar de trasuru |
ironmaker for carriages |
filator |
spinning mill operator |
filatura |
spinning mill |
filisaj |
screw cutter |
filosofie / filozofie |
philosophy |
filtrar vinuri |
wine filterer |
filtrator |
filterer |
finisaj |
finishing |
flasnetar |
organ grinder |
fochist |
stoker, fireman |
fost (f.) |
former |
fost com |
former merchant |
fotograf |
photographer |
franghier |
rope maker |
freca |
rub, massage |
fringhiar |
rope maker |
frizer |
barber |
fruct |
fruit |
funct de legatie |
consular worker |
functionar (funct.) |
office worker |
furnizor |
purveyor |
galanterie |
haberdashery |
galvanizator |
galvanizer |
gardian |
guard, policeman |
gaterist |
sawmill operator |
gazetar |
journalist |
geambas |
horse dealer |
geamciu / geamgiu |
glazier |
geamgui |
glazier |
geamant. |
suitcase |
gheata |
boot |
giambas de cai / geambas de cai |
horse trader |
giamgiu / geamgiu |
glazier |
giuvaergiu |
jeweler |
gospodar |
householder, landlord |
gradinar |
gardener |
gramatic |
grammar teacher |
granar |
granary, corn dealer |
grataragiu |
griller |
gravor |
engraver |
grefier |
court clerk |
gropar |
gravedigger |
haham |
kosher butcher |
haine |
clothes |
hamal |
porter |
hangiu |
innkeeper |
harabagiu |
carter, wagoneer |
heliografist |
photocopier |
hotelier |
hotel keeper |
impletitor sarma |
wire winder |
importator |
importer |
imprimeur |
printer |
inapt |
unfit |
incaltaminte |
footwear |
incarcator |
loader |
incasator |
ticket collector |
inconstient |
unconscious |
indrumator |
guide |
industrial (ind.) |
industrial |
industrias |
manufacturer |
infirm |
crippled, disabled |
ing(iner) chimist |
chemical engineer |
ing(iner) constr. |
civil engineer |
ing(iner) electric |
electrical engineer |
ing(iner) electr mec |
electromechanical engineer |
ing(iner) electroteh |
electrotechnical engineer |
ing(iner) fizician |
physicist |
ing(iner) ind. |
industrial engineer |
ing(iner) mecanic |
mechanical engineer |
ing(iner) metal |
metallurgist |
ing(iner) mine |
mining engineer |
ing(iner) Naval |
Naval engineer |
ing(iner) radio |
radio engineer |
ing(iner) silvic |
forestry engineer |
ing(iner) textile |
textile engineer |
inginer (ing.) |
engineer |
inspector |
inspector |
instalator |
plumber, fitter |
institutor |
school teacher |
instructor |
teacher |
intendent |
(school) administrator |
intermediar |
intermediary |
invalid |
cripple |
invatatoare |
school teacher (female) |
invatator |
school teacher |
jartericar |
garter maker |
judecator |
judge |
juridic |
judicial |
juvaergiu |
jeweler |
laborant |
laboratory assistant |
lacatus |
locksmith |
laptar |
milkman |
leg. maturi |
broommaker |
legator (de carti) |
bookbinder |
lemn |
wood |
lemnar |
carpenter |
lemne / lemn |
wood |
lenger / lenjerie |
underwear |
lesie |
lye |
liber prof. |
freelancer |
libera |
self employed handyman |
librar |
bookseller |
licentiat (lic.) |
bachelor of |
liceu |
lyceum |
liceul |
lyceum (worker) |
lichidator |
liquidator |
lina / lana |
wool |
linger / lenjerie |
underwear |
litere / literatura |
literature |
litograf |
lithographer |
livada |
orchard |
loterie |
lottery |
lucrator |
laborer |
lumanar / lumanarar |
candlemaker |
lumanor / lumanarar |
candlemaker |
lumenaror / lumanarar |
candlemaker |
lustragiu |
bootblack |
macelar |
butcher |
maestru |
foreman |
maestru dric |
hearse driver |
magazin |
store |
magaziner |
store owner |
magazioner |
store owner |
magina de tocat / masina de tocat |
meat grinder |
magistrat |
magistrate |
maistru / maiestru |
foreman |
mangalagiu |
charcoal maker |
manipulant |
tram driver |
manusa |
glove |
marfa |
merchandise |
marinist |
boatman |
maritim |
maritime, naval |
marochine(rie) |
leather goods |
maruntisuri |
small goods |
masina |
machine |
masini cusut / masina de cusut |
sewing machine |
masinist |
machinist |
matematician |
mathematician |
matriter |
die marker |
mecanic |
mechanic |
medic |
physician |
medic dentist |
dental surgeon |
meditator |
coach, tutor |
mentale |
mental, insane |
mes si arte |
skilled laborer, artisan |
meserias |
handicraftsman |
meserie |
trade |
meserii |
vocational (school), trade |
mester |
master |
metale |
metals |
metalurgist |
metallurgist |
mg. chemist |
chemical warehouseman |
mic |
small |
mijlocitor |
middleman, mediator |
mijlocitor de marfa |
merchandise middleman |
militie ofiteri |
military officer |
minier / minar |
miner, mining |
misit |
agent |
moara |
mill |
moasa |
midwife |
mobila |
furniture |
modelist |
modeller |
montator |
fitter |
monteur |
framer |
morar |
miller |
mosie |
estate |
mosier |
landowner |
muncitor |
worker, laborer |
mungiu |
candlemaker |
murar / morar |
miller |
mutat |
displaced |
muzica |
music |
muzicant |
musician |
ne ste carte / nu stie carte |
illiterate |
negustor |
shopkeeper |
negustor de maruntisuri |
huckster |
nevoias |
pauper |
nichelar |
nickel plater |
nichelator |
nickel plater |
notar |
notary |
nu rec. |
no record |
nu stie carte |
illiterate |
nu, nu are, n'are |
no (education or profession) |
ocazie |
occasional |
oficiant |
government clerk |
oglindor |
mirror maker |
olar |
potter |
om de nevoie |
pauper |
oper. cinema |
cinema operator |
optician |
optician |
oriceni / orice |
anything |
ortopedist |
orthopedist |
ospatar |
waiter |
otel |
steel |
pacura |
fuel oil |
padurar |
forester |
padure |
wood |
palarier |
hatter |
palmas |
handicraftsman |
pantafar / pantofar |
shoemaker |
pantalonar |
pantsmaker |
pantofar |
shoemaker |
papetarie |
stationery, paper-trade |
parfumier |
perfumer |
particular (part.) |
private |
pascar pietrar |
stone mason |
patron |
employer |
pazitor |
guard |
paznic |
watchman |
pecetar |
seal maker |
pedagog |
educator |
penitenciar |
prison |
pens militar |
military pensioner |
perceptor |
tax collector |
perier |
brushmaker |
pescar |
fisherman |
petrol |
oil |
petrolist |
oil merchant |
pianist |
pianist |
piata |
market |
pictor |
painter |
pictor de firme |
sign painter |
pictor desenator |
one who makes sketches |
pielar |
leather-trade |
pietrar |
stoneworker |
pitar |
bread maker |
pivnicer |
wine cellar keeper |
pivnita |
wine cellar |
placintariul |
pastry shop owner |
plapumar / plapomar |
blanket maker, quilter |
plapunor / plapomar |
quilter |
plasator |
usher |
plasator marfe |
salesman |
plugar |
ploughman |
podgorie |
vineyard |
poduri |
bridges |
politist |
policeman |
porcar |
swineherd |
portar |
doorman, janitor |
posta |
post office |
practicant |
practitioner |
prada |
plunder |
prajitor cafea |
coffee roaster |
precupet |
huckster, produce seller |
prelim. |
prior |
procurist |
proxy |
prof liber |
freelancer |
prof muzica |
music teacher |
prof partic |
private tutor |
prof primar |
primary school teacher |
prof sec |
secondary teacher |
prof univers |
university professor |
profesoara de liceu |
lyceum teacher |
profesor (prof.) |
teacher |
propr. case |
landlord |
proprietar |
owner |
psalt |
religious teacher |
publicist |
journalist |
rabin |
rabbi |
rachier |
brandy maker |
radio techni |
radio technician |
radiofonist |
radio operator |
radiologie |
radiology |
raion |
section |
randas |
servant |
regla |
regulated |
rentier annuitant |
independent gentleman |
reparatie (repar.) |
repair |
reparator |
repairman |
reprezentant (repr., reprez.) |
representative |
restaurator |
restorer |
revanzator |
retailer, dealer |
richtuitor |
person who prepares leather for shoemaker |
rindis / randas |
servant |
robar |
robe maker |
rotar |
wheelwright |
rufar |
underwear maker |
sacagiu |
water carrier |
saidacar / saidecar |
saddlemaker |
salahor |
day laborer |
salariat |
wage-earner |
sanita |
sanitary |
santier constr. |
building site |
sapgar |
cap maker |
sapunar |
soapmaker |
sarac |
beggar |
sat |
village |
satar |
meat chopper |
scarmana |
card (wool), thrash |
scaun |
chair |
scoala primara |
primary school |
scolar |
school boy |
scortar |
small rug maker |
scriitor |
writer |
sculptor |
sculptor |
sculptor modelator |
sculptor modeller |
secrator / secretar |
secretary |
secretar |
secretary |
secundare |
secondary |
sef |
chief |
sef (de) atelier |
headman |
sef orchestra |
orchestra conductor |
sepcar / sapcar |
capmaker |
seral |
evening |
serv. |
servant |
servitor |
man servant |
sforar / sfoarar |
rope maker |
si |
and |
sifonar |
sodawater bottle maker |
sin |
son of |
sinagoga |
synagogue |
slefuitor |
polisher |
sluga |
servant |
smukler |
lacemaker |
sobar |
stove maker |
socetate (soc.) / societate |
company |
sofer |
chauffeur |
sofeur / sofer |
chauffeur |
somer |
unemployed |
spalator |
washer |
spalator chem. |
dry cleaner |
spalator de lina |
washer of wool |
spalator haine |
clothes washer |
specialist (spec.) |
specialist |
spediteur / expeditor |
transporter, shipper |
speditor / expeditor |
transporter, shipper |
spiculant |
speculator |
spirt |
alcohol (wine) |
spital (spit.) |
hospital |
spiter |
pharmacist |
spitular |
pharmacist, chemist |
statisticean / statistician |
statistician |
steclar / sticlar |
bottlemaker |
stenograf |
stenographer |
sticlar |
bottlemaker |
sticlarie |
glassworks |
stie carte |
literate |
stiinta |
science |
stiinte / stiinta |
science |
stiute cantorale (institute) |
cantorial institute |
stoler |
carpenter, cabinet maker |
straie jidovesti |
tailor of Jewish clothes |
strungar |
turner |
student |
student |
sub |
under (deputy) |
subcolector |
deputy collector |
subdirector |
deputy manager |
subofiter |
non-commissioned officer |
sudar / sudor |
welder |
sudor galv |
electroplater |
sufus strain / supus strain |
foreign subject |
superior (sup.) |
senior |
supraveghetor |
supervisor, overseer |
supus strain |
foreign subject |
surdomut |
deaf mute |
tabacar |
tanner |
taetor geamuri |
glazier |
taetor lemne |
woodcutter |
taljalar |
solemaker |
tamplar |
carpenter |
tapiter |
upholsterer |
tarifer |
makes schedules or rates |
teatru |
theater |
tech. dentist |
dental technician |
technician |
technician |
tehnic |
technical |
tejghetar de carne |
butcher |
telal |
peddler |
teolog |
theologian |
teologie |
divinity, theology |
tesator |
weaver |
tesetor / tesator |
weaver |
teslar |
carpenter |
teslar de harabagiu |
wagon maker |
textile (text.) |
textile or textile plant |
textilist |
textile worker |
theater vatav |
theater manager |
tichare |
ticket taker |
timplar |
cabinet maker |
tine circima |
publican |
tinichigiu |
tinsmith, tinker |
tipograf |
printer |
tiutungui / tutungui |
tobacconist |
tobosar |
drummer |
tocilar |
whetstone grinder |
tolbas |
quiver maker |
torcator |
spinner |
traducator |
translator |
traieste cu milostenie |
livelihood from charity |
transport |
transportation |
transporturi |
transporter |
trasuru |
carriage |
tricotaje |
knitwear |
tricoter |
knitter |
tunator / turnator |
foundry worker |
turnator oglinzi |
caster of mirrors |
turtar |
cake maker |
tutungui / tutungiu |
tobacconist |
ucenic |
apprentice |
ulei |
oil |
umbrelar |
umbrella maker |
vagonet |
truck |
vamal |
custom-house |
vames |
customs clerk, toll collector |
vanzator |
vendor |
vanzator la piata |
vendor at market |
var |
lime |
vatalar |
cotton-wool maker |
vatav |
manager, bailiff |
vechi |
old |
veterinar |
veterinarian |
vezetiu / vizitiu |
coachman |
vie |
vineyard |
vinzator / vanzator |
vendor |
violinist |
violinist |
vite |
cattle |
viztiu / vizitiu |
coachman |
voiajor |
traveller |
vopsele |
dye, paint |
vopsitor |
dyer, painter |
vulcanizator |
vulcanizer |
zaraf |
money changer |
zarzavagiu |
greengrocer |
zdrenta / sdrenta |
rag |
zetar |
compositer |
ziar |
newspaper |
ziarist |
journalist |
zidar |
bricklayer |
zilier |
day laborer |
zis |
also known as (A.K.A.) |
ziua |
day |
ziuas |
day worker |
zofer / sofer |
chauffeur |
zugrav |
house painter |
zuias / ziuas |
day worker |
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