Limba noastră

Limba noastră
English: "Our Language"
	Emblem of Limba noastră
	National anthem of Moldova
Lyrics	Alexei Mateevici, 1917
Music	Alexandru Cristea, ext. 1942
Adopted	1994 (unofficial); 1995
Preceded by	"Deșteaptă-te, române!"
Audio sample
	U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (three verses) file; help;

"Limba noastră" ("Our Language"; Romanian pronunciation: [ˈlimba ˈno̯astrə] ^ⓘ) is the national anthem of Moldova. It has been used since 1994 and was officially adopted on 22 July 1995.[1]

Sheet music of "Limba noastră"

For a short period of time in the early 1990s, the national anthem of Moldova was "Deșteaptă-te, române!", which was and remains the national anthem of Romania. The lyrics were written by Alexei Mateevici (1888–1917) a month before his death.[2] Mateevici contributed significantly to the national emancipation of Bessarabia. The music was composed by Alexandru Cristea.

Lyrics

The focus of "Limba noastră" is language; in this case, the national language of Moldova, which is referred to as either Romanian[3] or Moldovan.[lower-alpha 1] It calls for the people to revive the usage of their native language. The poem does not refer to the language by name; it is poetically called "our language".

Codru forests, referred to in the line "Our language is the greenest leaf of the everlasting codrii".

The Dniester river, referred to in the line "Gentle river Dniester’s ripples hiding starlight bright and shining."

"Limba noastră" is based on a twelve-verse poem. For the officially-defined national anthem used today, the verses were selected and reorganised into five verses of four lines each; namely, the first, second, fifth, ninth and twelfth verses, respectively,[5] which are highlighted in bold.

Romanian original[6][7]	Moldovan Cyrillic[8] (official in Transnistria)	IPA transcription[lower-alpha 2]	English translation[9][lower-alpha 3]
I Limba noastră-i o comoară în adîncuri înfundată Un șirag de piatră rară pe moșie revărsată. II Limba noastră-i foc ce arde într-un neam, ce fără veste S-a trezit din somn de moarte ca viteazul din poveste. III Limba noastră-i numai cîntec doina dorurilor noastre Roi de fulgere, ce spintec nouri negri, zări albastre. IV Limba noastră-i graiul pîinii cînd de vînt se mișcă vara În rostirea ei bătrînii cu sudori sfințit-au țara. V Limba noastră-i frunză verde zbuciumul din codrii veșnici Nistrul lin, ce-n valuri pierde ai luceferilor sfeșnici. VI Nu veți plînge-atunci amarnic că vi-i limba prea săracă Și-ți vedea, cît îi de darnic graiul țării noastre dragă. VII Limba noastră-i vechi izvoade povestiri din alte vremuri Și citindu-le ’nșirate te-nfiori adînc și tremuri. VIII Limba noastră îi aleasă să ridice slava-n ceruri Să ne spuie-n hram și-acasă veșnicele adevăruri. IX Limba noastră-i limbă sfîntă limba vechilor cazanii Care-o plîng și care-o cîntă pe la vatra lor țăranii. X Înviați-vă dar graiul ruginit de multă vreme Ștergeți slinul, mucegaiul al uitării ’n care geme. XI Strîngeți piatra lucitoare ce din soare se aprinde Și-ți avea în revărsare un potop nou de cuvinte. XII Răsări-va o comoară în adîncuri înfundată Un șirag de piatră rară pe moșie revărsată.	I Лимба ноастрэ-й о комоарэ ын адынкурь ынфундатэ Ун шираг де пятрэ рарэ пе мошие ревэрсатэ. II Лимба ноастрэ-й фок че арде ынтр-ун ням, че фэрэ весте С-а трезит дин сомн де моарте ка витязул дин повесте. III Лимба ноастрэ-й нумай кынтек дойна дорурилор ноастре Рой де фулӂере, че спинтек ноурь негри, зэрь албастре. IV Лимба ноастрэ-й граюл пыйний кынд де вынт се мишкэ вара Ын ростиря ей бэтрыний ку судорь сфинцит-ау цара. V Лимба ноастрэ-й фрунзэ верде збучумул дин кодрий вешничь Ниструл лин, че-н валурь пиерде ай лучеферилор сфешничь. VI Ну вець плынӂе-атунчь амарник кэ ви-й лимба пря сэракэ Ши-ць ведя, кыт ый де дарник граюл цэрий ноастре драгэ. VII Лимба ноастрэ-й векь извоаде повестирь дин алте времурь Ши читинду-ле ’нширате те-нфиорь адынк ши тремурь. VIII Лимба ноастрэ ый алясэ сэ ридиче слава-н черурь Сэ не спиуе-н храм ши-акасэ вешничеле адевэрурь. IX Лимба ноастрэ-й лимбэ сфынтэ лимба векилор казаний Каре-о плынг ши каре-о кынтэ пе ла ватра лор цэраний. X Ынвиаць-вэ дар граюл руӂинит де мултэ време Штерӂець слинул, мучегаюл ал уйтэрий ’н каре ӂеме. XI Стрынӂець пятра лучитоаре че дин соаре се апринде Ши-ць авя ын ревэрсаре ун потоп ноу де кувинте. XII Рэсэри-ва о комоарэ ын адынкурь ынфундатэ Ун шираг де пятрэ рарэ пе мошие ревэрсатэ.	1 [ˈlim.ba ˈno̯as.trəj o ko.ˈmo̯a.rə] [ɨn a.ˈdɨŋ.kurʲ ɨn.fun.ˈda.tə] [un ʃi.ˈrag de ˈpja.trə ˈra.rə] [pe mo.ˈʃi.e re.vər.ˈsa.tə] 2 [ˈlim.ba ˈno̯as.trəj fok t͡ʃe ˈar.de] [ˈɨn.trun ne̯am t͡ʃe ˈfə.rə ˈves.te] [sa tre.ˈzit din somn de ˈmo̯ar.te] [ka vi.ˈte̯a.zul din po.ˈves.te] 3 [ˈlim.ba ˈno̯as.trəj ˈnu.maj ˈkɨn.tek] [ˈdoj.na ˈdo.ru.ri.lor ˈno̯as.tre] [roj de ˈful.d͡ʒe.re t͡ʃe ˈspin.tek] [ˈno.rurʲ ˈne.ɡri zərʲ al.ˈbas.tre] 4 [ˈlim.ba ˈno̯as.trəj ˈgra.jul ˈpɨj.nij] [kɨnd de vɨnt se ˈmiʃ.kə ˈva.ra] [ɨn ros.ˈti.re̯a jej bə.ˈtrɨ.nij] [ku su.ˈdorʲ sfin.ˈt͡sit.au ˈt͡sa.ra] 5 [ˈlim.ba ˈno̯as.trəj ˈfrun.zə ˈver.de] [ˈzbu.t͡ʃju.mul din ˈkod.rij ˈveʃ.nit͡ʃʲ] [ˈnis.trul lin t͡ʃen ˈva.lurʲ ˈpjer.de] [aj lu.ˈt͡ʃe.fe.ri.lor ˈsfeʃ.nit͡ʃʲ] 6 [nu vet͡sʲ ˈplɨn.d͡ʒe̯a.tunt͡ʃʲ a.ˈmar.nik] [kə vij ˈlim.ba pre̯a sə.ˈra.kə] [ʃit͡sʲ ve.ˈde̯a kɨt ɨj de ˈdar.nik] [ˈgra.jul ˈt͡sə.ri ˈno̯as.tre ˈdra.ɡə] 7 [ˈlim.ba ˈno̯as.trəj vekʲ iz.ˈvo̯a.de] [ˈpo.ves.tirʲ din ˈal.te ˈvre.murʲ] [ʃi t͡ʃi.ˈtin.du.le‿ɨn.ʃi.ˈra.te] [ˈten.fjorʲ a.dɨnk ʃi tre.murʲ] 8 [ˈlim.ba ˈno̯as.trə ɨj a.ˈle̯a.sə] [sə ri.ˈdi.t͡ʃe ˈsla.van ˈt͡ʃe.rurʲ] [sə ne ˈspju.en hram ʃja.ˈka.sə] [ˈveʃ.ni.t͡ʃe.le a.de.ˈvə.rurʲ] 9 [ˈlim.ba ˈno̯as.trəj ˈlim.bə ˈsfɨn.tə] [ˈlim.ba ˈve.ki.lor ka.ˈza.nij] [ˈka.re̯o plɨŋg ʃi ˈka.re̯o ˈkɨn.tə] [pe la ˈvat.ra lor t͡sə.ˈra.nij] 10 [ɨn.vi.ˈa.t͡si.və dar ˈgra.jul] [ru.d͡ʒi.ˈnit de ˈmul.tə ˈvre.me] [ˈʃter.d͡ʒet͡sʲ ˈsli.nul mu.t͡ʃe.ˈga.jul] [al uj.ˈtə.rij‿n ˈka.re ˈd͡ʒe.me] 11 [ˈʃtrɨn.d͡ʒet͡sʲ ˈpja.tra lu.t͡ʃi.ˈto̯a.re] [t͡ʃe din ˈso̯a.re se a.ˈprin.de] [ʃit͡sʲ a.ˈve̯a ɨn re.vər.ˈsa.re] [un po.ˈtop nou̯ de ku.ˈvin.te] 12 [rə.sə.ˈri.va o ko.ˈmo̯a.rə] [ɨn a.ˈdɨŋ.kurʲ ɨn.fun.ˈda.tə] [un ʃi.ˈrag de ˈpja.trə ˈra.rə] [pe mo.ˈʃi.e re.vər.ˈsa.tə]	I Our language is a treasure that surges from deep shadows of the past A necklace of rare gems that scattered all over the domain. II Our language is a burning flame amidst a people that without warning Awoke from the sleep of death like the brave hero of the tales. III Our language is made of songs from our soul’s deepest desires Flash of lightning striking swiftly through dark clouds and blue horizons. IV Our language is the tongue of bread when the winds blow through the summer Uttered by our forefathers who blessed the country through their labour. V Our language is the greenest leaf of the everlasting codrii Gentle river Dniester’s ripples hiding starlight bright and shining. VI Utter no more bitter cries now that your language is too poor And you will see with what abundance flow the words of our precious country. VII Our language is full of legends stories from the days of old Reading one and then another makes one shudder, tremble and moan. VIII Our language is singled out to lift praises up to heaven Uttering with constant fervour truths that never cease to beckon. IX Our language is more than holy words of homilies of old Wept and sung perpetually in the homesteads of our folks. X Resurrect now this our language rusted through the years that have passed Wipe off filth and mould that gathered when forgotten through our land. XI Gather now the sparkling stone catching bright light from the sun You will see the endless flooding of new words that overflow. XII A treasure will spring up swiftly from deep shadows of the past A necklace of rare gems that scattered all over the domain.

Images

Moldovan stamp depicting a Romanian language class. The teacher is explaining the lesson. On the blackboard is written a quatrain from "Limba noastră".
Moldovan stamp bearing the first verses of the anthem.
Mateevici, author of the poem. In the background are written quatrains from "Limba noastră".
A "Limba noastră" social ad in Chișinău (with the word ROMÂNĂ) sprayed onto it.

Notes

The constitution of the Republic of Moldova refers to the country's language as Moldovan, whilst the 1991 Declaration of Independence names the official language Romanian. In December 2013, a decision of the Constitutional Court of Moldova ruled that the Declaration of Independence takes precedence over the Constitution and that the state language is therefore Romanian.[4]
See Help:IPA/Romanian and Romanian phonology.
Source is only for the official verses.

References

"20 de ani fără "Deșteaptă-te, române!"". Adevărul. June 2014.
"De Ziua Limbii Române, "Limba noastră" va răsuna din turnul Primăriei Cluj". Ziua de Cluj. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
"Poezia "Limba noastră", de Alexei Mateevici, a împlinit un secol". 10tv.md. June 2017.
"Moldovan court rules official language is 'Romanian,' replacing Soviet-flavored 'Moldovan'"
"The State Anthem of the Republic of Moldova". Presidency of the Republic of Moldova. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
"Limba noastră". Poezie. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
"Limba noastră". Versuri si Creatii. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
"Лимба матернэ — флоаре етернэ". Лимба молдовеняскэ (in Romanian). 24 April 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
Minahan, James B. (23 December 2009). The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. pp. 468–469. ISBN 978-0-313-34497-8.

External links

Wikisource, "Limba noastră", full text of Mateevici's poem (in Romanian)
State Symbols of the Republic of Moldova – The official page of the Republic of Moldova features a page about the flag and anthem, which include vocal and instrumental versions
President's House – The official website of the President of Moldova has a page with information about the anthem. The Romanian version of the page also contains the music score of the anthem.
Moldova: Limba noastră – Audio of the national anthem of Moldova, with information and lyrics (archive link)
"Romanian Nationalism in the Republic of Moldova" by Andrei Panici, American University in Bulgaria, 2002

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[5] The constitution of the Republic of Moldova refers to the country's language as Moldovan, whilst the 1991 Declaration of Independence names the official language Romanian. In December 2013, a decision of the Constitutional Court of Moldova ruled that the Declaration of Independence takes precedence over the Constitution and that the state language is therefore Romanian.[4]

[10] See Help:IPA/Romanian and Romanian phonology.

[12] Source is only for the official verses.

[1] "20 de ani fără "Deșteaptă-te, române!"". Adevărul. June 2014.

[2] "De Ziua Limbii Române, "Limba noastră" va răsuna din turnul Primăriei Cluj". Ziua de Cluj. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2020.

[3] "Poezia "Limba noastră", de Alexei Mateevici, a împlinit un secol". 10tv.md. June 2017.

[4] "Moldovan court rules official language is 'Romanian,' replacing Soviet-flavored 'Moldovan'"

[6] "The State Anthem of the Republic of Moldova". Presidency of the Republic of Moldova. Retrieved 30 April 2022.

[7] "Limba noastră". Poezie. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2019.

[8] "Limba noastră". Versuri si Creatii. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2022.

[9] "Лимба матернэ — флоаре етернэ". Лимба молдовеняскэ (in Romanian). 24 April 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2019.

[11] Minahan, James B. (23 December 2009). The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. pp. 468–469. ISBN 978-0-313-34497-8.