that (reporting a statement or fact)
After verbs of knowing, saying, thinking, hoping. Obligatory where English can omit "that".
Cred că ai dreptate.
I think (that) you are right.
A spus că vine.
He said (that) he is coming.
#11 · Subordinating conjunction
că
In Romanian, că means “that (reporting a statement or fact)”. It’s the #11 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Meaning & Use
The Romanian "that" which introduces a reported fact — Știu că vine ("I know that he's coming"). Unlike English, it can almost never be dropped. Its opposite number is să: că reports something real, să introduces something merely wanted or possible.
neutralbecause (colloquial)
In speech că often replaces pentru că — casual, and very common.
Nu vin, că sunt obosit.
I'm not coming, because I'm tired.
part of compound conjunctions
că is the building block of pentru că, deoarece-style linkers, fiindcă, măcar că, deși-type concessives.
pentru că
because
în afară de faptul că
apart from the fact that
Forms you’ll actually hear
Ranked by how often each form shows up in spoken Romanian. The top form cover about 99% of everyday use — learn these first.
că99%
Show 1 more form
c-1%
Grammar Behavior
verb of saying/knowing + că + indicative clause
The standard reported-speech frame; the verb stays in the indicative.
Sper că ești bine.
I hope you are well.
pentru că + clause
The full, neutral "because".
Am întârziat pentru că a plouat.
I was late because it rained.
c- before a vowel
Contraction typical of speech and informal writing.
Zice c-a plecat.
He says he left.
vs. să
că reports something real and takes the indicative; să introduces something wished or not yet real and takes the subjunctive.
Știu că vine. / Vreau să vină.
I know he is coming. / I want him to come.
vs. ca (ca să)
ca să expresses purpose ("so that"), că expresses a fact or a cause.
Am venit ca să te ajut.
I came in order to help you.
vs. dacă
dacă is "if / whether"; că states, dacă hypothesizes.
Nu știu dacă vine.
I don't know whether he's coming.
Examples
Știu că e adevărat.
I know (that) it's true.
că - Romanian keeps că where English drops "that" — leaving it out sounds broken.
Îmi pare rău că n-am putut veni.
I'm sorry I couldn't come.
că - că after an expression of feeling; the clause states a real fact.
C-am uitat, îmi pare rău.
That I forgot — I am sorry.
c- - Before a vowel, că contracts to c-: c-am, c-ai, c-a.
Vreau să vii, dar știu că nu poți.
I want you to come, but I know you can't.
că - The two side by side: să for the wish, că for the known fact.
că (with the breve) is "that"; ca (plain a) is "as / like" and also forms ca să ("so that"). They are different words, and mixing them up changes the sentence entirely.