Learn Hardcore Romanian: Deși coada la casă este lungă, geanta mea este ușoară. - Although the queue at the checkout is long, my bag is light.

deși is a subordinating conjunction meaning “although” or “even though.” It introduces a concessive clause (something surprising or contrary to expectation). Here it signals that despite the long line, the second fact still holds true.

Why is there a comma after lungă?

In Romanian, when a subordinate clause (introduced by deși) comes before the main clause, you normally separate them with a comma. So you write:
Deși coada la casă este lungă, geanta mea este ușoară.

What does coada la casă literally mean, and how do I translate it naturally?

coada = “the queue” or “the line.”
la casă = “at the checkout” or “at the cash register.”
Literally it’s “the queue at the checkout,” which in natural English is “the line at the register.”

Why is casă not translated as “house” here?

In Romanian, casă also means “cash register” or “checkout” (from casă de marcat). Context tells you it isn’t a dwelling but the place where you pay.

Why don’t we say casa (with a definite article) in la casă?