so / therefore (drawing a conclusion)
Links a result to what was just said. The logical use.
Deci nu vii.
So you aren't coming.
Deci ce facem?
So what do we do?
#114 · Coordinating conjunction
deci
In Romanian, deci means “so / therefore (drawing a conclusion)”. It’s the #114 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Meaning & Use
Deci is "so" — the word that draws a conclusion. Rank 114, invariable. In speech it does a second job that no dictionary lists: it opens a sentence to gather attention, the way English speakers start with "So…". Both uses are ordinary, and neither is careless.
neutralso… (opening a sentence)
A discourse opener that buys a second of thought. Extremely common in speech.
Deci, uite cum e.
So, here's how it is.
in short / so then (summing up)
Closing a stretch of talk with its upshot.
Deci, rămâne pe mâine.
So, it's settled for tomorrow.
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.
deci100%
Grammar Behavior
clause, deci clause
Joins a statement to its consequence, with a comma.
E târziu, deci plec.
It's late, so I'm leaving.
Deci … (sentence-initial)
A discourse opener, gathering attention.
Deci, începem?
So, shall we start?
deci + question
Turns the conclusion into a check.
Deci ne vedem mâine?
So we meet tomorrow?
vs. pentru că
pentru că gives the reason; deci gives the result. They point in opposite directions.
Rămân pentru că plouă. / Plouă, deci rămân.
I'm staying because it's raining. / It's raining, so I'm staying.
vs. așadar
așadar is the formal, written counterpart of deci. Same meaning, heavier register.
Așadar, concluzia e clară.
Therefore, the conclusion is clear.
vs. atunci
atunci also concludes, but it leans on the situation ("in that case"); deci leans on the logic.
Atunci vin și eu. / Deci vin și eu.
Then I'll come too. / So I'm coming too.
Examples
Deci ai terminat?
So you have finished?
deci - Drawing the conclusion from what the other person just said. Romanian needs no change of word order to make it a question.
Plouă, deci rămânem acasă.
It's raining, so we're staying home.
deci - Joining two clauses, with a comma before it. The second clause states the consequence.
Deci, ce zici?
So, what do you think?
deci - The opener, set off by a comma. It signals that the real question is coming.
Nu a sunat, deci nu vine.
He didn't call, so he isn't coming.
deci - An inference rather than a cause. For the cause itself Romanian uses pentru că.
Deci states a consequence, not a cause. Nu vine pentru că e bolnav says why he is not coming; E bolnav, deci nu vine draws the conclusion from it. Swapping them reverses the logic of the sentence.