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A1 adverb 5 min de lecture

Acum

Q: How do you say 'now' in Romanian?

The most common way to say 'now' in Romanian is acum .

Q: Can 'acum' be used for something happening right at this moment?

Yes, acum is perfect for something happening right this instant. For example, 'Vorbim acum ' (We are talking now).

Q: Is 'acum' formal or informal?

Acum is a neutral word; you can use it in both formal and informal settings.

Q: Are there other words like 'acum'?

While acum is the most direct translation for 'now,' you might also hear 'chiar acum' (right now) for emphasis.

Q: How do I use 'acum' in a sentence?

You can place acum similar to how you'd use 'now' in English. For instance, 'Mănânc acum ' (I am eating now) or ' Acum plec' (Now I'm leaving).

Q: Does 'acum' ever mean 'ago'?

That's a great question! Yes, acum can also mean 'ago' when followed by a period of time. For example, 'acum două zile' (two days ago). But on its own, it means 'now'.

Q: Can I use 'acum' to ask 'When?'

No, acum is an answer to 'when,' not a question word. To ask 'when,' you would use 'Când?'

Q: Is 'acum' used with past tense verbs?

Typically, acum is used with present or future tense verbs when it means 'now.' When it means 'ago,' it's used with past tense verbs. For example, 'Am venit acum o oră' (I came an hour ago).

Q: Can you give me a few more examples of 'acum' in sentences?

Certainly! 'Trebuie să plec acum .' (I have to leave now.) 'Este acum timpul să învățăm.' (Now is the time to learn.) 'Unde ești acum ?' (Where are you now?)

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

Hey there! Let's talk about a super common Romanian word: Acum. It means 'now,' and you'll hear it all the time. Learning how to use it correctly will make your Romanian sound much more natural. It's a simple word, but it's key for understanding when things are happening.

Romanian Word: Acum
Grammar: Adverb
CEFR Level: A1
Definition: At the present time; now.

§ Where you actually hear 'Acum'

You'll hear Acum everywhere. Seriously. It's one of those words that's essential for daily communication. Let's look at some common situations:

At Work

In a work setting, whether it's an office, a shop, or a construction site, you'll hear Acum used for giving instructions, asking about deadlines, or coordinating tasks.

Trebuie să terminăm raportul acum.

(We need to finish the report now.)

Poți să-mi trimiți fișierul acum, te rog?

(Can you send me the file now, please?)

At School

Students and teachers use Acum constantly. Whether it's about starting an activity or asking about homework, it's a staple.

Elevii lucrează la proiect acum.

(The students are working on the project now.)

Profesorul explică lecția acum.

(The teacher is explaining the lesson now.)

In the News

News reports, both written and broadcast, often use Acum to give a sense of urgency or immediate relevance to events.

Evenimentele se desfășoară acum în capitală.

(Events are unfolding now in the capital.)

Guvernul discută propunerea acum.

(The government is discussing the proposal now.)

§ More Examples in Daily Life

Beyond specific contexts, Acum is part of everyday conversations. Here are a few more common uses:

Asking 'What are you doing now?':

Ce faci acum?

(What are you doing now?)
Saying 'I'm busy now':

Sunt ocupat acum.

(I am busy now.)
Referring to 'right now':

Vreau să mănânc acum.

(I want to eat now.)

As you can see, Acum is a small but mighty word. The more you listen to and speak Romanian, the more naturally you'll start using it. Keep practicing, and you'll master it in no time!

§ Understanding 'Acum' and its friends

When you're learning Romanian, words that tell you *when* something is happening are super useful. 'Acum' is one of the most common, meaning 'now'. But like in English, there are a few ways to say 'now' or 'at this moment', and knowing the differences will make your Romanian sound much more natural.

Let's look at 'Acum' first, then compare it to some similar words.

DEFINITION: Acum (adverb): At the present time; now.

'Acum' is straightforward. You use it when you want to say something is happening 'now' or 'at this very moment'.

Ce faci acum? (What are you doing now?)

Trebuie să plec acum. (I have to leave now.)

§ Similar words and when to use them

While 'Acum' is great, Romanian has a few other ways to express similar ideas. Let's look at some key alternatives:

Chiar acum: This means 'right now' or 'exactly now'. It adds emphasis.
Vreau să mănânc chiar acum. (I want to eat right now.)
💡
Use 'chiar acum' when you want to stress the immediacy. It's like saying 'this very second!'
În acest moment / În momentul de față: These phrases literally mean 'at this moment' or 'at the present moment'. They are a bit more formal than 'acum' and can refer to a slightly broader period than just the immediate second.
În acest moment, nu sunt disponibil. (At this moment, I am not available.)
În momentul de față, lucrăm la un proiect nou. (At the present moment, we are working on a new project.)
💡
These are good for more formal contexts or when the 'now' isn't just a fleeting instant, but the current stage of things.
De acum: This means 'from now on' or 'from this moment'. It indicates a change or a starting point for something continuous.
De acum, voi învăța română în fiecare zi. (From now on, I will learn Romanian every day.)
💡
Think of 'de acum' when you're setting a new rule or starting a new habit.
Până acum: This translates to 'until now' or 'so far'. It refers to a period ending at the present moment.
Până acum, totul a mers bine. (Until now, everything has gone well.)
💡
Use 'până acum' when you're talking about something that has been happening up to the present.

§ Putting it all together

The best way to get these straight is to practice. Start by always using 'Acum' for 'now', and then gradually introduce 'chiar acum' when you want to emphasize it. As you get more comfortable, you can start using 'în acest moment' for a slightly more formal touch, and 'de acum' or 'până acum' to talk about spans of time around 'now'.

Don't overthink it at first. 'Acum' is your best friend for simple 'now'. The others are nuances you'll pick up with more exposure.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ˈa.kum/

US /ˈa.kum/

first syllable

Rime avec

fum (smoke) drum (road) scrum (scrum - from English)

Erreurs fréquentes

Mispronouncing the 'u' as in 'cup' instead of 'oo' as in 'moon'.

Exemples par niveau

Acum înțeleg de ce ești atât de entuziasmat de proiect.

Now I understand why you are so excited about the project.

Trebuie să plecăm acum, altfel vom pierde trenul.

We have to leave now, otherwise we will miss the train.

Acum câțiva ani, locuiam într-un alt oraș.

A few years ago, I lived in another city.

Poți să-mi spui acum ce s-a întâmplat?

Can you tell me now what happened?

Situația economică actuală este mult mai bună decât acum un deceniu.

The current economic situation is much better than a decade ago.

Acum, după atâta muncă, merităm o pauză.

Now, after so much work, we deserve a break.

Nu pot vorbi acum, te sun mai târziu.

I can't talk now, I'll call you later.

Acum este momentul perfect să începem să învățăm ceva nou.

Now is the perfect time to start learning something new.

Acum, privind retrospectiv, îmi dau seama cât de naive erau unele dintre convingerile mele de atunci.

Now, looking back, I realize how naive some of my beliefs were back then.

The adverb 'acum' introduces a clause expressing a shift in perspective or a current reflection.

Deși situația e tensionată acum, sunt convins că vom găsi o soluție amiabilă pe termen lung.

Although the situation is tense now, I am convinced that we will find an amicable long-term solution.

'Acum' contrasts with 'pe termen lung' (in the long term), emphasizing the present state.

Acum, odată cu noile reglementări, devine imperativ să ne adaptăm strategiile de afaceri.

Now, with the new regulations, it becomes imperative to adapt our business strategies.

'Acum, odată cu...' indicates a new context or condition that necessitates action.

Nu e vorba despre ce am făcut ieri, ci despre ce putem construi acum pentru viitor.

It's not about what we did yesterday, but about what we can build now for the future.

A clear contrast between past ('ieri') and present ('acum') actions, focusing on immediate impact.

Acum, că am înțeles complexitatea problemei, suntem mai bine echipați să o abordăm.

Now that we have understood the complexity of the problem, we are better equipped to address it.

'Acum, că...' acts as a conjunction, meaning 'now that' or 'since'.

Paradoxal, tocmai acum, când ar trebui să fim uniți, apar cele mai mari disensiuni.

Paradoxically, precisely now, when we should be united, the biggest disagreements arise.

The emphasis 'tocmai acum' highlights the irony or unexpected timing.

Acum, mai mult ca oricând, este esențial să demonstrăm reziliență și adaptabilitate.

Now, more than ever, it is essential to demonstrate resilience and adaptability.

'Acum, mai mult ca oricând' is a common idiom emphasizing the heightened importance of the present moment.

Reflecțiile sale, de o profunzime remarcabilă, par a fi scrise nu acum, ci într-un viitor îndepărtat.

His reflections, of remarkable depth, seem to have been written not now, but in a distant future.

The sentence uses 'acum' in a hypothetical comparison, contrasting the present with an imagined future.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

The most common way to say 'now' in Romanian is acum.

Yes, acum is perfect for something happening right this instant. For example, 'Vorbim acum' (We are talking now).

Acum is a neutral word; you can use it in both formal and informal settings.

While acum is the most direct translation for 'now,' you might also hear 'chiar acum' (right now) for emphasis.

You can place acum similar to how you'd use 'now' in English. For instance, 'Mănânc acum' (I am eating now) or 'Acum plec' (Now I'm leaving).

That's a great question! Yes, acum can also mean 'ago' when followed by a period of time. For example, 'acum două zile' (two days ago). But on its own, it means 'now'.

It's pronounced ah-KOOM. The stress is on the second syllable.

No, acum is an answer to 'when,' not a question word. To ask 'when,' you would use 'Când?'

Typically, acum is used with present or future tense verbs when it means 'now.' When it means 'ago,' it's used with past tense verbs. For example, 'Am venit acum o oră' (I came an hour ago).

Certainly! 'Trebuie să plec acum.' (I have to leave now.) 'Este acum timpul să învățăm.' (Now is the time to learn.) 'Unde ești acum?' (Where are you now?)