that (demonstrative determiner, masculine singular)
Used before a noun to indicate a specific item/person, often more distant or more precisely identified.
acel om
that man
acel moment
that moment
acel oraș
that city
#167 · Determiner / article · DET
In Romanian, acel means “that (demonstrative determiner, masculine singular)”. It’s the #167 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Determiner used for pointing to a specific person or thing, usually one that is farther away, already known from context, or mentioned before. It often corresponds to English “that” or “that one,” and it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
neutralUsed before a noun to indicate a specific item/person, often more distant or more precisely identified.
that man
that moment
that city
When used substantively, it can point to a previously known or singled-out person/thing.
I want that one.
The one on the right is mine.
Ranked by how often each form shows up in spoken Romanian. The top 3 forms cover about 86% of everyday use — learn these first.
| masculine singular | acel | Before masculine singular nouns: acel om. |
|---|---|---|
| feminine singular | acea | Before feminine singular nouns: acea casă. |
| masculine plural | acei | Before masculine plural nouns: acei oameni. |
| feminine plural | acele | Before feminine plural nouns: acele case. |
vs. cel
acel is the longer demonstrative form used before nouns; cel is the shorter form often used in combinations like cel bun or as part of the definite article system.
acel om / cel mai bun om
that man / the best man
vs. acesta
acel usually points farther away or to something more distant in context; acesta points to something nearer or more immediate.
acesta aici, dar acel acolo
this one here, but that one there
Acel copil a venit mai devreme.
That child came earlier.
acel - Demonstrative before a masculine singular noun.
Nu-mi place acel răspuns.
I don't like that answer.
acel - Points to a specific, known answer.
Acel din fotografie este bunicul meu.
The one in the photo is my grandfather.
acel - Used substantively: “that one.”