cândva

Cândva is a Romanian word that functions as an adverb. It is primarily used to indicate a past time that is indefinite, vague, or distant. It is often translated into English as "once," "sometime," "formerly," or "long ago."

The word "cândva" can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, it might be used to refer to an event that happened in the unspecified past, such as "Cândva, am locuit în alt oraș" (Once, I lived in another city). It can also denote a period of time that has passed, implying that things were different then, as in "Cândva, acest loc era plin de viață" (Formerly, this place was full of life).

In literature and storytelling, "cândva" is frequently employed to establish a fairy tale-like atmosphere or to begin a narrative about a past event. For instance, a common opening for folk tales is "A fost odată ca niciodată..." which translates to "Once upon a time..." Here, "odată" is related to "cândva" in its function of indicating a past, indefinite time.

The precise nuance of "cândva" can depend on the surrounding words and the overall context of the sentence. It carries a sense of nostalgia or a general reference to the past without specifying a particular date or moment.