Progressive Comparisons: "More and More"
To describe an ongoing change—when something is getting "more and more" or "increasingly" a certain way—Romanian uses two common phrases.
The first is din ce în ce mai, placed directly before the adjective or adverb. It is often paired with verbs like a fi (to be) or a deveni (to become).
| Summer is getting hotter and hotter. | Vara devine din ce în ce mai caldă. |
| The weather is getting colder and colder. | Vremea este din ce în ce mai rece. |
The Shorter Alternative: "Tot mai"
The second option is tot mai. It means exactly the same thing but is shorter and extremely popular in everyday speech.
| The days are getting shorter and shorter in autumn. | Zilele sunt tot mai scurte toamna. |
| People are increasingly busy today. | Oamenii sunt tot mai ocupați astăzi. |
Adjective Agreement
Whether you use din ce în ce mai or tot mai, the adjective that follows must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes.
| The weather is becoming more and more unpredictable. | Vremea devine din ce în ce mai imprevizibilă. |
| This drought is becoming increasingly severe. | Această secetă devine tot mai gravă. |
You can also use these phrases with adverbs to describe how the frequency or manner of an action is changing. Unlike adjectives, adverbs never change their form.
| It is raining more and more often here. | Plouă din ce în ce mai des aici. |
Describing Modern Lifestyles
These constructions are perfect for discussing modern trends and habits. Just remember to match the adjective to the subject!
| The child is becoming more and more dependent on the screen. | Copilul devine din ce în ce mai dependent de ecran. |
| They have an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. | Ei au un stil de viață tot mai sedentar. |
| My job is more and more stressful. | Serviciul meu este din ce în ce mai stresant. |