so much / that much
Refers back to an amount already established in the conversation.
Nu costă atât.
It doesn't cost that much.
Atât am.
That's all I have.
#101 · Adverb
atât
In Romanian, atât means “so much / that much”. It’s the #101 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Meaning & Use
Atât is "so much" or "that much" — the amount word that points at a quantity already understood. Rank 101. Its two workhorse patterns are atât de plus an adjective ("so beautiful") and atât … cât ("as much as"). On its own, Atât! closes a list: "That’s all".
neutralso (atât de + adjective)
The intensifier. Where prea complains and foarte approves, atât de simply amplifies.
E atât de frumos!
It's so beautiful!
atât de greu
so difficult
as much as (atât … cât)
The comparison of equality.
Ia atât cât vrei.
Take as much as you want.
that's all (Atât!)
A one-word close, used to finish an order or a list.
Atât, mulțumesc.
That's all, thank you.
both … and (atât … cât și)
A slightly formal way of joining two items, common in writing.
atât eu, cât și el
both I and he
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.
atât100%
Patterns
Invariable as an adverb. Before a noun it usually appears as atâta and may agree — atâția oameni, atâtea zile. It requires de before an adjective or another adverb, and takes none before a verb.
atât de + adjective
So + adjective. The de is obligatory.
E atât de bun!
It's so good!
verb + atât
That much, with no de.
Nu mânca atât.
Don't eat that much.
atât … cât
As much as — the comparison of equality.
Dă-mi atât cât îți trebuie.
Give me as much as you need.
Atât! (closing)
That's all — finishing a list or an order.
O cafea. Atât.
One coffee. That's all.
atât … cât și
Both … and, a little formal.
atât în teorie, cât și în practică
both in theory and in practice
Examples
E atât de cald!
It's so hot!
atât de - The intensifier before an adjective. The de cannot be dropped — *atât cald is not Romanian.
Nu am atât timp.
I don't have that much time.
atât - Pointing at an amount already mentioned. With a noun it can also appear as atâta timp.
Atât, mulțumesc.
That's all, thank you.
atât - The one-word close, standard when you finish ordering.
Muncește atât cât poate.
He works as much as he can.
atât - The atât … cât pair for equality. Both halves are needed.
De ce ai întârziat atât?
Why were you so late?
atât - Modifying a verb directly, with no de — the de is only required before an adjective or an adverb.
Before an adjective the de is compulsory: atât de bun, never *atât bun. Before a verb it is dropped: am muncit atât. Getting this backwards is the one error this word reliably produces.
In expressions
Common phrases built around atât — worth learning as whole units.
atât de— so (+ adjective)
lit. “so much of”