then / at that time
Points back to a moment already established in the conversation.
Atunci eram copil.
I was a child then.
De atunci nu l-am mai văzut.
I haven't seen him since then.
#82 · Adverb
atunci
In Romanian, atunci means “then / at that time”. It’s the #82 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Meaning & Use
Atunci is "then", rank 82, invariable, and it does the same two jobs as the English word: "at that time" (Atunci eram copil) and "in that case" (Atunci vin și eu). It also closes the dacă … atunci pair — the Romanian if-then — and combines into de atunci "since then" and până atunci "until then".
neutralin that case / so then
Draws a conclusion from what was just said. Very common at the start of a reply.
Atunci vin și eu.
In that case I'll come too.
Atunci ne vedem mâine.
Then we'll see each other tomorrow.
then (completing dacă)
The second half of a conditional. Romanian often leaves it out, exactly as English does.
Dacă vrei, atunci mergem.
If you want, then we'll go.
when (atunci când)
atunci când is a slightly heavier, more emphatic "when" than plain când.
atunci când vrei tu
whenever you want
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.
atunci100%
Patterns
Invariable. It stands at the start of a clause for the "in that case" sense and next to the verb for the time sense. It combines freely with prepositions — de atunci, până atunci, de atunci încoace — and each pairing is fixed rather than optional.
Atunci … (opening a reply)
Draws the consequence of what the other person just said.
Atunci hai mâine.
Then let's go tomorrow.
de atunci
Since then — the starting point of a stretch of time.
De atunci e mai bine.
It's been better since then.
până atunci
Until then — the end point.
Până atunci, ai grijă.
Until then, take care.
atunci când
An emphatic "when", heavier than plain când.
Vino atunci când poți.
Come whenever you can.
dacă … atunci
The if-then pair, with atunci optional.
Dacă e așa, atunci accept.
If that's how it is, then I accept.
Examples
Atunci ne vedem la șapte.
Then we'll meet at seven.
atunci - The "in that case" sense, opening a reply. Romanian puts it first, just as English does.
Atunci era altfel.
Things were different then.
atunci - The time sense with the imperfect era — the tense for describing how things used to be.
De atunci nu am mai vorbit.
We haven't spoken since then.
de atunci - de atunci marks the starting point. The mai inside the negation adds "any more".
Până atunci mai e timp.
There's still time until then.
până atunci - până atunci sets the deadline. mai here means "still", one of that small word’s many jobs.
Dacă nu poți, atunci spune-mi.
If you can't, then tell me.
atunci - The if-then pair. atunci is optional — the sentence works without it — but it makes the consequence explicit.
Atunci is "then" in the sense of "at that time" or "in that case". It is never the "then" of a sequence — for "first this, then that" Romanian uses apoi or după aceea. Saying *Mănânc, atunci plec sounds like a conclusion, not a schedule.
In expressions
Common phrases built around atunci — worth learning as whole units.
atunci când— when, at the moment when
lit. “then when”