How it happened
Pe neașteptate (unexpectedly, out of the blue) describes something nobody saw coming. Pe loc (on the spot) means there and then, with no delay at all. Like pe de rost and pe ascuns, both are built on pe.
| Grandma came to see us unexpectedly. | Bunica a venit la noi pe neașteptate. |
| I liked the house and bought it on the spot. | Mi-a plăcut casa și am cumpărat-o pe loc. |
Slowly, early, together
Încetul cu încetul (little by little) is a warmer, more conversational treptat. Din timp (in good time) means early enough to be ready; compare la timp (on time) and devreme (early). Cot la cot (side by side), literally elbow to elbow, is about people working or fighting together.
| Little by little, the pain went away. | Încetul cu încetul, durerea a trecut. |
| Buy your tickets ahead of time! | Cumpărați biletele din timp! |
| The soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder. | Soldații au luptat cot la cot. |
Sure and certain
Fără îndoială (without a doubt) and cu adevărat (truly) make a statement stronger. Keep cu adevărat apart from într-adevăr (indeed), which confirms something already said. Firește (naturally, of course) means what bineînțeles means, in a more bookish voice.
| expression | register |
|---|---|
| sigur că da | casual, spoken |
| desigur | neutral |
| bineînțeles | neutral, the most common |
| firește | bookish: novels, articles, careful speech |
| It's undoubtedly the best movie of the year. | Este, fără îndoială, cel mai bun film al anului. |
| He was tired and, naturally, he fell asleep right away. | Era obosit și, firește, a adormit imediat. |
Exactly, or not at all
Întocmai (precisely, to the letter) is a formal exact, often followed by cum or ca. Nicidecum (by no means) is a stronger deloc. It usually comes with nu, but on its own it is a polite, firm "not at all".
| I did exactly as you told me. | Am făcut întocmai cum mi-ai spus. |
| — Am I bothering you? — Not at all! | — Te deranjez? — Nicidecum! |
