some; a few; several
The most common use: introduces an indefinite quantity with plural nouns.
am cumpărat niște mere
I bought some apples
niște oameni așteptau afară
Some people were waiting outside
mai am nevoie de niște timp
I need some more time
#198 · Determiner / article · DET
In Romanian, niște means “some; a few; several”. It’s the #198 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Indefinite determiner used with plural count nouns, roughly meaning "some" or "a few." It often implies an unspecified quantity and can sound neutral, vague, or modest depending on context.
neutralThe most common use: introduces an indefinite quantity with plural nouns.
I bought some apples
Some people were waiting outside
I need some more time
Used before abstract nouns or in vaguer, less exact statements.
There was some stress at work
He has some health problems
Ranked by how often each form shows up in spoken Romanian. The top form cover about 100% of everyday use — learn these first.
| invariable | niște | Does not change form. |
|---|---|---|
| used with | plural nouns | Most common and standard use. |
| case/gender agreement | none | It does not agree like a normal adjective. |
vs. unii / unele
niște is an indefinite determiner meaning 'some'; unii/unele can mean 'some people/ones' and behaves more like a pronoun or adjective, often with a more specific reference.
Niște elevi au lipsit. / Unii elevi au lipsit.
Some students were absent. / Some of the students were absent.
vs. câțiva / câteva
câțiva/câteva usually means a small, countable number ('a few'); niște is less precise and can mean 'some' without implying a small number.
Am văzut niște oameni. / Am văzut câțiva oameni.
I saw some people. / I saw a few people.
Am cumpărat niște mere și niște pâine.
I bought some apples and some bread.
niște - Indefinite quantity with plural noun.
Niște copii se joacă în parc.
Some children are playing in the park.
niște - Unspecified group.
Mai am nevoie de niște timp.
I need some more time.
niște - Vague amount with an abstract noun.