Oricât de abrupt este urcușul, nu alergăm.

not

Breakdown of Oricât de abrupt este urcușul, nu alergăm.

• a fi: to be
• a alerga: to run
• urcușul: the ascent; uphill section

Questions & Answers about Oricât de abrupt este urcușul, nu alergăm.

What does oricât de mean here?

Oricât de is a very common Romanian pattern meaning no matter how / however before an adjective or adverb.

So:

• oricât de abrupt = no matter how steep
• literally, it is something like however steep

This structure is often used to introduce a contrast:

• Oricât de greu este, continuăm. = No matter how hard it is, we continue.
• Oricât de târziu e, plecăm. = No matter how late it is, we are leaving.

In your sentence, it sets up the idea: even if the climb is very steep, we do not run.

Why is it abrupt and not abruptă?

Because abrupt agrees with urcușul, and urcuș is a masculine singular noun.

• un urcuș abrupt = a steep climb
• urcușul este abrupt = the climb is steep

If the noun were feminine, the adjective would usually change:

• o pantă abruptă = a steep slope

So in the sentence:

• urcușul = masculine singular
• therefore abrupt = masculine singular form

What exactly is urcușul?