like this / like that / that way
Manner: pointing at how something is done, often with a gesture.
Fă așa.
Do it like this.
De ce vorbești așa?
Why do you talk like that?
#43 · Adverb
așa
In Romanian, așa means “like this / like that / that way”. It’s the #43 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Meaning & Use
așa is the 43rd most frequent Romanian word and one of the hardest-working: "like this", "so", "that's right", "okay then". It is invariable, so there is nothing to conjugate or agree — the whole job is learning its patterns: așa e (that's right), nu-i așa? (isn't it?), așa că (so, therefore), și așa mai departe (and so on).
neutralso / such (intensifier before an adjective)
Before an adjective or adverb it means "so": așa bun, așa repede. Slightly warmer and more spoken than atât de.
E așa frumos!
It's so beautiful!
Nu e așa greu.
It's not that hard.
that's right / yes, exactly (așa e)
A standalone agreement token — the everyday way of confirming what someone just said.
Așa e!
That's right!
Așa cred și eu.
I think so too.
so / therefore (așa că)
With că it becomes a connector introducing a consequence — extremely common in speech.
Era târziu, așa că am plecat.
It was late, so I left.
right then / okay (discourse marker)
Opening a turn, așa signals "right, let's get on with it" — like English "so…" or "okay…".
Așa, hai să începem.
Right, let's begin.
Forms you’ll actually hear
Ranked by how often each form shows up in spoken Romanian. The top form cover about 100% of everyday use — learn these first.
așa100%
Patterns
Invariable and mobile: before an adjective it intensifies (așa bun), after a verb it describes manner (vorbește așa), and alone at the start of a turn it works as a discourse marker. In speech e așa contracts to îi așa and the tag is heard as nu-i așa.
așa de / așa + adjective = so …
Both are correct; așa de is a touch more emphatic. atât de is the more formal equivalent.
E așa de scump!
It's so expensive!
nu-i așa? = tag question
One invariable tag covers every English tag question, regardless of the verb or tense of the main clause.
Ai venit cu mașina, nu-i așa?
You came by car, didn't you?
așa că = so / therefore
Joins a cause to its result inside one sentence, like English "so".
Nu aveam bani, așa că am rămas acasă.
I had no money, so I stayed home.
și așa mai departe = and so on
The fixed Romanian equivalent of "etc." in speech, abbreviated ș.a.m.d. in writing.
Pâine, lapte, ouă și așa mai departe.
Bread, milk, eggs and so on.
Examples
Nu se face așa.
That's not how it's done.
așa - Impersonal reflexive se face plus așa — the standard way to say "one does not do it like that".
E frig, nu-i așa?
It's cold, isn't it?
nu-i așa - Romanian has one fixed tag question for every sentence — nu-i așa? — instead of English's dozen.
Am întârziat, așa că am luat un taxi.
I was late, so I took a taxi.
așa că - așa că introduces the result. Do not confuse it with așa cum, which introduces a comparison.
Era așa de obosit încât a adormit.
He was so tired that he fell asleep.
așa de - așa de + adjective is the spoken twin of atât de; încât then introduces the consequence.
Vreau și eu așa ceva.
I want something like that too.
așa ceva - așa ceva = "such a thing / something like that", a fixed pair worth memorising whole.
Keep așa că ("so, therefore") apart from așa cum ("just as, the way that"). Era târziu, așa că am plecat = I left because it was late; Am făcut așa cum ai spus = I did it the way you said.
In expressions
Common phrases built around așa — worth learning as whole units.
așa că— so, therefore
lit. “so that”
Nu-i așa?— Isn't it? / Right?
lit. “not-is so”
așa ceva— something like that; such a thing
lit. “so something”
așa de— so (+ adjective) [colloquial]
lit. “so of”
așa cum— just as, the way (that)
lit. “so how”
Așa e.— That's right. / That's how it is.
lit. “so is”
Chiar așa?— Really? / Is that so?
lit. “really so”