B1 Conjunctions & Connectors 6 min read Médio

Conjunctions of Concession

Use deși to show that an action happens despite an obstacle, creating contrast and nuance in your Romanian.
Marcar como aprendido
Pratique

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use concessive conjunctions to link two ideas where the second happens despite the first one trying to stop it.

  • Use 'deși' for 'although' followed by the indicative mood: 'Deși plouă, ies.'
  • Use 'chiar dacă' for 'even if' to express hypothetical or real obstacles.
  • Place a comma between the concessive clause and the main clause for clarity.
Obstacle (deși/chiar dacă) + Result (Main Clause) = 🤷‍♂️ Success anyway!

Overview

Ever felt like life is full of yes, but moments? You want to go for a run, but it's raining. You love that spicy shawarma, but you know it’s a bad idea for your stomach.
In Romanian, we use Conjunctions of Concession to express these contradictory situations. These words allow you to link two ideas that seem to clash. One part of the sentence sets a condition, and the other part ignores it.
Think of it as the rebel of Romanian grammar. It acknowledges a fact but decides to do the opposite anyway. It’s like saying,
I see the obstacle, and I’m jumping over it.
This is essential for B1 learners.
It moves you past simple sentences into real-world storytelling. You’ll sound more nuanced, more persuasive, and definitely more like a local. Plus, it’s easier than it looks!
Most of these conjunctions play nicely with the standard Indicative mood. No scary grammar monsters here.

How This Grammar Works

Concession is all about an unexpected result. Usually, if it’s midnight, you go to sleep. But if you say,
Even though it’s midnight, I’m still studying,
that’s concession.
In Romanian, the main star is deși. It acts just like the English although or even though. You have two clauses. The first clause introduces a hurdle.
The second clause tells us the hurdle didn't stop anything. You can put the concession part at the beginning or in the middle. If you start with it, you usually need a comma to let the sentence breathe.
Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener,
Wait, something surprising is coming next!
It’s a way to add depth to your conversations. Instead of two short, choppy sentences, you create one elegant thought.
It’s the difference between
It is cold. I am outside.
and
Even though it is cold, I am outside.

Formation Pattern

1
Using these conjunctions follows a very predictable recipe. You don't need to change the whole sentence structure. Just follow these steps:
2
Choose your connector. For 90% of situations, deși or cu toate că are your best friends.
3
Place the connector before the obstacle clause.
4
Use the Indicative mood for facts. If it's actually happening, use the normal present, past, or future tense.
5
Add your main action. This is the part that happens despite the obstacle.
6
Check your commas. If the sentence starts with deși, use a comma before the second part.
7
Example: Deși (Connector) + sunt obosit (Obstacle) + , (Pause) + merg la sală (Action).
8
Total: Deși sunt obosit, merg la sală. (Although I'm tired, I'm going to the gym).
9
It’s like building with Lego bricks. You just snap the connector onto the front of the fact.

When To Use It

Use concession when you want to show contrast or resilience. It’s perfect for real-life scenarios. Imagine you are in a job interview.
You might say, "Even though I don't have much experience, I learn very fast." In Romanian: Deși nu am multă experiență, învăț foarte repede. It makes you sound humble yet confident. Or maybe you're ordering food at a restaurant in Bucharest. "Even though I'm on a diet, I'll take the papanăși." (Deși sunt la dietă, iau papanăși.) We’ve all been there!
Use it when asking for directions: "Even though I have a map, I'm lost.
(Deși am o hartă, sunt pierdut.) It’s also great for complaining about the weather (a national pastime!).
Even though it's summer, it's freezing.
Use it whenever the second half of your sentence
wins" against the first half. It's the grammar of overcoming obstacles.

When Not To Use It

Don't confuse concession with a simple but (dar). While they are cousins, they aren't twins. Don't use deși if there is no conflict.
If two things just happen together, use și (and). Also, avoid using concession words when you are stating a cause. If you stayed home *because* it rained, that’s not concession.
That’s just logic! Concession is for when logic gets tossed out the window. Don't use deși with the Subjunctive mood (the ones with să).
That’s a common trap. Deși loves the Indicative. If you find yourself wanting to say Even if for a hypothetical future (something that hasn't happened yet), you might prefer chiar dacă.
If the situation is 100% impossible or imaginary, you’re moving into conditional territory. Keep deși for things that are actually true or highly likely.

Common Mistakes

One of the biggest Oops! moments for learners is using deși and dar in the same sentence. In English, we don't say "Although it's raining, but I'm going out.
Romanian is the same. Pick one! Either Deși plouă, ies. or Plouă, dar ies. Using both is like wearing two hats at once—it’s just too much. Another mistake is forgetting the comma when deși starts the sentence. It helps the listener distinguish where the obstacle ends and the action begins. Also, watch out for cu toate că. It’s a bit longer, but it means the exact same thing as deși. Some people try to shorten it to just cu toate, but that means
with all." You need that că to make it work. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they're in a rush, but you're better than that!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

How does deși compare to dar or totuși? Think of dar (but) as a balanced scale. It just joins two facts.
Deși (although) puts the emphasis on the second part. It makes the second part feel like a victory. Then there’s totuși (still/nevertheless).
You usually put totuși in the second part of the sentence for extra punch. Plouă, dar totuși ies. (It's raining, but I'm still going out). There is also în ciuda (despite).
This one is a bit fancy because it needs a noun, not a whole verb phrase. În ciuda ploii, am ieșit. (Despite the rain, I went out). Use deși when you have a verb, and în ciuda when you have a noun.
It's like choosing between a screwdriver and a hammer—both fix the problem, but they use different parts.

Quick FAQ

Q

Is deși formal?

It’s neutral! You can use it with your boss or your grandma.

Q

Can I use chiar dacă instead?

Yes, but chiar dacă is slightly more informal and can feel more hypothetical.

Q

Does the verb change?

Nope! Keep it in the normal Indicative for facts.

Q

Where does the comma go?

Usually after the first clause if you start with deși.

Q

Can I end a sentence with deși?

Not really. It needs a buddy (the main clause) to make sense. It's a connector, not a finisher!

Common Concessive Conjunctions and Their Moods

Conjunction English Equivalent Mood Required Example
Deși
Although / Even though
Indicative
Deși plouă...
Cu toate că
Even though
Indicative
Cu toate că știe...
Chiar dacă
Even if
Indicative / Conditional
Chiar dacă vine / ar veni...
Măcar că
Even though (informal)
Indicative
Măcar că e mic...
În ciuda faptului că
Despite the fact that
Indicative
În ciuda faptului că a nins...
Fără să
Without / Even without
Subjunctive
Fără să vrea...

Meanings

Concessive conjunctions introduce a subordinate clause that expresses a circumstance which might have prevented the action in the main clause but did not.

1

Standard Concession

Expressing a real fact that acts as an ineffective obstacle.

“Deși am mâncat, mi-e foame.”

“Cu toate că e târziu, te aștept.”

2

Hypothetical Concession

Expressing a possible or imagined obstacle using 'even if'.

“Chiar dacă ar ploua, tot aș veni.”

“Chiar dacă nu vrei, trebuie să mergi.”

3

Formal/Emphatic Concession

Using complex phrases for stronger emphasis in writing or formal speech.

“În ciuda faptului că a pierdut, a zâmbit.”

“Fără să vrea, a acceptat invitația.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Conjunctions of Concession
Conjunction English Equivalent Verb Mood Tone
deși
although / even though
Indicative
Neutral / Common
cu toate că
despite the fact that
Indicative
Slightly formal
chiar dacă
even if / even though
Indicative / Subjunctive
Informal / Versatile
măcar că
at least that / although
Indicative
Colloquial / Regional
fără să
without (even though)
Subjunctive
Neutral
chit că
even if / although
Indicative
Very informal / Slangy

Espectro de formalidade

Formal
În ciuda lipsei de fonduri, voi achiziționa acest produs.

În ciuda lipsei de fonduri, voi achiziționa acest produs. (shopping)

Neutro
Deși nu am bani, îl cumpăr.

Deși nu am bani, îl cumpăr. (shopping)

Informal
Măcar că n-am un leu, tot mi-l iau.

Măcar că n-am un leu, tot mi-l iau. (shopping)

Gíria
N-am un sfanț, da' tot îl combin.

N-am un sfanț, da' tot îl combin. (shopping)

Mapping Concession in Romanian

Concession

Common (Facts)

  • Deși Although
  • Cu toate că Despite the fact

Hypothetical

  • Chiar dacă Even if

Informal

  • Chit că Even though (slang)

Deși vs. Dar

Deși (Concession)
Starts the sentence Deși plouă, ies.
Focus on resilience Success despite obstacles
Dar (Contrast)
Middle of sentence Plouă, dar ies.
Simple balance Two opposing facts

Choosing Your Connector

1

Is it a proven fact?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'Chiar dacă' + Subjunctive
2

Is the tone formal?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'Deși' or 'Chit că'
3

Is it a long sentence?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'Deși'

Concession Cheat Sheet

✅

The Go-To

  • • deși
  • • cu toate că
❓

The 'What if'

  • • chiar dacă
  • • chiar de
🗣️

The Slang

  • • chit că
  • • măcar că
📎

The Noun Follower

  • • în ciuda (+ Genitive)
  • • peste

Exemplos por nível

1

Deși e frig, ies afară.

Although it's cold, I'm going out.

2

Sunt vesel, deși sunt obosit.

I am cheerful, although I am tired.

3

Ea învață, deși e duminică.

She is studying, although it is Sunday.

4

Deși nu am bani, sunt fericit.

Although I don't have money, I am happy.

1

Chiar dacă plouă, mergem la plimbare.

Even if it rains, we are going for a walk.

2

Deși nu știe bine româna, el vorbește mult.

Although he doesn't know Romanian well, he talks a lot.

3

Mergem la film, chiar dacă e târziu.

We are going to the movie, even if it's late.

4

Deși e mică, mașina e rapidă.

Although it's small, the car is fast.

1

Cu toate că am repetat, am făcut greșeli.

Even though I practiced, I made mistakes.

2

Chiar dacă aș avea timp, nu m-aș duce acolo.

Even if I had time, I wouldn't go there.

3

Deși prețurile au crescut, oamenii cumpără.

Although prices have risen, people are buying.

4

Voi termina proiectul, chiar dacă trebuie să stau peste program.

I will finish the project, even if I have to stay late.

1

În ciuda faptului că a fost avertizat, a riscat totul.

Despite the fact that he was warned, he risked everything.

2

Deși pare o soluție simplă, realitatea este complexă.

Although it seems like a simple solution, reality is complex.

3

Chiar dacă nu ne-am înțeles mereu, îl respect.

Even if we didn't always get along, I respect him.

4

Măcar că nu-i place sportul, merge la sală zilnic.

Even though he doesn't like sports, he goes to the gym daily.

1

Oricât de greu ar fi, nu voi renunța la visul meu.

No matter how hard it may be, I will not give up on my dream.

2

Fie și numai pentru o zi, tot aș vrea să vizitez Parisul.

Even if only for a day, I would still want to visit Paris.

3

Deși s-au făcut progrese, discrepanțele rămân majore.

Although progress has been made, discrepancies remain major.

4

Cu tot efortul depus, rezultatul a fost dezamăgitor.

Despite all the effort put in, the result was disappointing.

1

Măcar că sorții îi erau potrivnici, el a izbândit.

Even though the fates were against him, he prevailed.

2

Să fi fost și rege, și tot nu l-ar fi iertat.

Had he been a king, she still wouldn't have forgiven him.

3

Deși conștient de consecințe, a ales calea cea mai grea.

Though aware of the consequences, he chose the hardest path.

4

În pofida tuturor evidențelor, el continuă să creadă în nevinovăția ei.

Despite all evidence, he continues to believe in her innocence.

Fácil de confundir

Conjunctions of Concession vs Deși vs. Dar

Learners use both in the same sentence or swap them incorrectly.

Conjunctions of Concession vs Chiar dacă vs. Dacă

Learners forget the 'chiar' which changes 'if' to 'even if'.

Conjunctions of Concession vs Cu toate că vs. În ciuda

Mixing up the prepositional phrase with the conjunction.

Erros comuns

✗

Deși plouă dar ies.

✓

Deși plouă, ies.

Don't use 'deși' and 'dar' together. It's redundant.
✗

Eu merg deși e frig.

✓

Merg, deși e frig.

Missing the comma before 'deși' when it's in the middle of the sentence.
✗

Deși este frig, dar eu merg.

✓

Deși este frig, merg.

Redundant use of 'dar'.
✗

Deși plouă, totuși ies.

✓

Deși plouă, ies.

While 'totuși' can be used for emphasis, it's often redundant for beginners.
✗

Chiar dacă plouă, eu voi merg.

✓

Chiar dacă plouă, voi merge.

Incorrect future tense formation after the conjunction.
✗

Deși să fie greu, învăț.

✓

Deși este greu, învăț.

Using Subjunctive instead of Indicative.
✗

Chiar dacă aș avea bani, merg.

✓

Chiar dacă aș avea bani, aș merge.

Mood mismatch: Conditional in the first clause requires Conditional in the second.
✗

În ciuda că e târziu...

✓

În ciuda faptului că e târziu...

'În ciuda' must be followed by 'faptului că' if a clause follows.
✗

Deși obosită, ea lucrat.

✓

Deși obosită, ea a lucrat.

Forgetting the auxiliary verb in the main clause when using a shortened concessive phrase.
✗

Cu toate că el a venit, dar n-a stat.

✓

Cu toate că el a venit, n-a stat.

Double connector error with 'cu toate că'.
✗

Oricât de greu este, voi reuși.

✓

Oricât de greu ar fi, voi reuși.

'Oricât de' usually sounds better with the Subjunctive or Conditional in formal Romanian.

Padrões de frases

Deși ___, totuși ___.

___, chiar dacă ___.

Cu toate că ___, ___.

În ciuda faptului că ___, ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend very common

Vin, chiar dacă întârzii 5 minute.

Job Interview common

Deși sunt la început, am multă energie.

News Report constant

Deși negocierile continuă, nu s-a ajuns la un acord.

Weather Forecast common

Chiar dacă va ploua, temperaturile rămân ridicate.

Social Media Caption very common

Fericire, deși e luni! ☕

Travel / Booking occasional

Am rezervat camera, deși nu are balcon.

⚠️

Double Trouble

Never use 'deși' and 'dar' in the same sentence. It's a classic learner mistake. It sounds like you're trying to say 'Although... but...' which is redundant.
🎯

The Comma Rule

If you start a sentence with 'Deși', always put a comma before the second clause. It acts like a speed bump to help the listener process the contrast.
💬

Street Romanian

If you want to sound like a local in a casual setting, use 'chit că'. It’s very common in Bucharest when people are complaining or being stubborn.
💡

Mood Booster

Don't overthink the verb. For 99% of your B1 conversations, just use the normal present or past tense after 'deși'. It’s simpler than you think!

Smart Tips

Start your sentence with 'Cu toate că' to acknowledge the other person's point before you give your counter-argument.

Ai dreptate, dar eu cred altceva. → Cu toate că ai dreptate în această privință, eu cred că...

Use 'În ciuda faptului că' instead of 'deși' to increase the formality of your request or explanation.

Deși am trimis actele, nu am primit răspuns. → În ciuda faptului că am trimis documentele necesare, nu am primit încă un răspuns.

Don't panic! It's just a shortened version of 'deși este [word]'.

Deși el este mic, e curajos. → Deși mic, e curajos.

If you can replace it with 'if', use the conditional. If you can replace it with 'although', use the indicative.

Chiar dacă plouă (fact), vin. → Chiar dacă ar ploua (hypothetical), aș veni.

Pronúncia

/deʃʲ/

The 'ș' in 'deși'

Pronounced like 'sh' in 'shoe'. The 'i' at the end is a short, soft 'i', not a full vowel.

Deși plouă (rise), [pause] ies afară (fall).

Intonation of the comma

There is usually a slight rise in pitch at the end of the 'deși' clause, followed by a brief pause.

Concessive Rise-Fall

Deși e greu ↑, voi reuși ↓.

Shows the contrast between the obstacle and the result.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Remember 'DEȘI' as 'Despite Every Single Impediment'.

Associação visual

Imagine a person walking through a brick wall. The wall is the 'deși' clause (the obstacle), and the person walking through is the main clause (the result).

Rhyme

Deși plouă, deși ninge, Dorința mea nu se stinge.

Story

Dan wants to go to the beach. DEȘI (Although) it is cloudy, he packs his bag. CU TOATE CĂ (Even though) his mom says no, he leaves. CHIAR DACĂ (Even if) it starts to rain, he will stay there. He is the master of concession!

Word Web

deșichiar dacăcu toate cămăcar cătotușiînsădar

Desafio

Write 3 sentences about your day using 'deși', 'cu toate că', and 'chiar dacă'. Try to make one of them about something you did despite being tired!

Notas culturais

Romanians often use 'deși' to express a sense of 'doing it anyway' (a face în ciudă), which reflects a cultural trait of resilience.

In the Moldova region, you might hear 'măcar că' or 'chiar dacă' used more frequently in informal speech than in Bucharest.

Speakers in Transylvania might use 'no' as a filler before a concessive sentence for emphasis.

Most Romanian concessive conjunctions are internal formations. 'Deși' comes from 'de' + 'și' (if and).

Iniciadores de conversa

“

Ce faci de obicei deși ești foarte obosit?

“

Ai cumpărat vreodată ceva deși era prea scump?

“

Chiar dacă ai câștiga la loto, ai continua să lucrezi?

“

Ce oraș ai vizita chiar dacă drumul ar fi foarte lung?

“

Deși tehnologia ne ajută, crezi că ne și îndepărtează?

Temas para diário

Scrie despre o zi în care totul a mers prost, dar ai reușit să fii fericit. Folosește 'deși'.
Descrie un obiect pe care îl iubești, deși are multe defecte.
Argumentează pro sau contra: 'Chiar dacă educația este gratuită, nu toți au acces egal la ea'.
Scrie o scrisoare formală în care refuzi o ofertă, deși este tentantă.

Erros comuns

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Test Yourself

Choose the correct conjunction to show contrast in this factual situation.

___ nu am dormit mult, mă simt plin de energie.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deși
We need a concession conjunction because sleeping little usually makes you tired, but here the result is the opposite.
Which phrase correctly completes the formal sentence?

___ a nins toată noaptea, drumurile sunt curate.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Cu toate că
'Cu toate că' is the correct multi-word conjunction for concession. 'Dar' cannot start the sentence this way.
Identify the incorrect double-connector usage.

Deși am mâncat deja, ___ îmi este foame.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: totuși
While 'dar' is forbidden with 'deși', 'totuși' (still/nevertheless) is perfectly fine and adds emphasis.

Score: /3

Exercicios praticos

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct conjunction (deși / chiar dacă).

___ am mâncat mult, încă mi-e foame.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deși
We use 'deși' because eating a lot is a real fact in this context.
Choose the grammatically correct sentence. Múltipla escolha

Which one is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deși e frig, port tricou.
It uses the comma and avoids the redundant 'dar'.
Correct the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Deși să fie târziu, el citește.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deși e târziu, el citește.
'Deși' requires the indicative mood (e), not the subjunctive (să fie).
Rewrite the sentence using 'Deși' instead of 'Dar'. Sentence Transformation

E bolnav, dar merge la muncă.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deși e bolnav, merge la muncă.
The logic remains the same, but the structure changes to subordination.
Match the beginning of the sentence with the correct ending. Match Pairs

1. Deși plouă... / 2. Chiar dacă aș avea bani... / 3. Cu toate că e mic...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-ies, 2-n-aș cumpăra, 3-e curajos
Matches the logic and the mood (conditional for 'chiar dacă aș avea').
Is the following rule true or false? True False Rule

In Romanian, you must always use the subjunctive mood after 'deși'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
'Deși' takes the indicative mood.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Mergi la munte? B: Da, ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: toate variantele
Both 'deși' and 'chiar dacă' work depending on whether it's already snowing or might snow.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Building

obosit / deși / sunt / lucrez / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deși sunt obosit, lucrez.
Standard concessive structure.

Score: /8

Perguntas frequentes (8)

No, this is a common mistake. Use only one: `Deși plouă, ies` or `Plouă, dar ies`.

They are almost identical in meaning. `Cu toate că` is slightly more emphatic and formal.

No. Use indicative for real things (`Chiar dacă plouă acum...`) and conditional for hypothetical things (`Chiar dacă ar ploua mâine...`).

The comma always separates the concessive clause from the main clause, regardless of which one comes first.

Rarely. It is more common in speech or older literature. Stick to `deși` for formal writing.

Yes, in formal Romanian: `Deși obosit, a continuat.` (Although tired, he continued).

It means 'despite'. It's usually followed by a noun in the genitive case: `în ciuda ploii`.

Use `chiar dacă` + future or present indicative: `Chiar dacă va ploua, mergem.`

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

aunque

Romanian 'deși' almost exclusively uses the indicative for real facts.

French moderate

bien que

The mood requirement (Indicative in RO vs Subjunctive in FR).

German high

obwohl

Verb position in the clause.

Japanese partial

~noni / ~keredomo

Conjunction placement (beginning vs end of clause).

Arabic moderate

raghma (رغم)

Arabic often uses a nominal structure.

Chinese moderate

suīrán (虽然)

Romanian forbids the 'double connector' pattern used in Chinese.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Conjunctions of Purpose
Next
Logical Flow

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