atât

Atât is a Romanian quantifier and adverb used to express extent or quantity. It roughly means “that much” or “so much” and can function in several grammatical roles: as a determiner before a noun, as a pronoun referring to an amount, and as part of degree constructions with adjectives or verbs.

Usage and constructions

- As a degree intensifier, often with de to form a scale: “atât de frumos” (so beautiful), “atât de greu” (so hard). The phrase “atât de … încât” introduces a consequence or result: “Este atât de frumos încât toți se opresc să privescă.”

- With negation to limit quantity: “Nu am atât timp” (I don’t have that much time).

- In correlative comparisons: “Am muncit atât cât am putut” (I worked as much as I could).

- In phrases meaning “more than that”: “Nu vreau mai mult decât atât” (I don’t want more than that).

- In broader use, it can accompany nouns and adjectives to indicate a non-specified but substantial amount or degree, with the precise form adapting to the grammatical context of what it modifies.

Etymology and relation

Atât derives from a Proto-Romance root linked to quantity and extent, with cognates in related Romance languages reflecting the sense of “that much.” It forms part of a family of Romanian quantifiers and participates in several fixed constructions that express degree and limit.

Notes

The word is common in everyday Romanian, appearing in spoken and written language across registers. Its core function is to convey a sense of magnitude without giving an exact number, making it a versatile tool for expressing emphasis, limits, and comparisons.