Concessive adverbs (totuși)

Apartment hunting is all about compromises. A place might be perfectly located, but a little too small. To express these reservations and weigh the pros and cons, Romanian uses the concessive adverb totuși (however / nevertheless).

Like its English equivalents, totuși is flexible and can appear in different positions within a sentence.

Starting a Sentence with "Totuși"

When you want to directly contrast a new thought with the previous sentence, you can place totuși at the very beginning. In this position, it is usually followed by a comma.

Let's look at this while touring an apartment. You'll need the verb a viziona (to view) and the adjective mobilat (furnished).

When discussing the financials, such as avansul (the advance deposit), you might find some wiggle room if it is negociabil (negotiable).

Placing "Totuși" Mid-Sentence

Often, totuși feels more natural tucked inside the sentence, typically right after the verb. Depending on the rhythm of the sentence, it might be framed by commas, or simply woven in without extra punctuation.

Let's see this with a kitchen that is completely utilat (equipped).

Watch how totuși sits seamlessly after the verb without commas to soften the blow of terrible izolația (insulation).

Dealing with Dealbreakers: "Din cauza"

Sometimes the cons outweigh the pros. When explaining why an apartment fails the test, you can use the phrase din cauza (because of). Because this phrase acts as a preposition, the noun that follows it must take the Genitive case.

Let's use this to explain why an apartment might be too întunecos (dark).

Another major dealbreaker is mucegaiul (the mold). Here is how you might use it alongside din cauza to explain why you are refusing to pay întreținerea (the maintenance).

Of course, in a competitive rental market, some renters are willing to overlook even the worst flaws! Let's bring our vocabulary and grammar together for one last look at totuși.