Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| чёрт побери́ | čort poberí |
| ёлки-па́лки | jólki-pálki |
чёрт побери́ is used to express annoyance, frustration or sudden realization, similar to the English 'damn it' or 'bloody hell'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase чёрт побери́ literally translates to 'devil take it' or 'may the devil take it'.
Which one should you use?
While чёрт побери́ is a direct expression of frustration, ёлки-па́лки is a much milder, euphemistic exclamation used to avoid using actual swear words. The latter translates literally to 'fir trees and sticks'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ёлки-па́лки is a safe, colloquial way to express frustration or surprise without being offensive, whereas чёрт побери́ is an informal way to convey frustration similar to 'damn it'. For an even more informal way to express frustration, one might use Блин!, which translates to 'Darn!' or 'Shoot!'
How do you pronounce it?
čort poberí
Did you know?
- Russian has a vast system of 'mat' (profanity) where one root can create hundreds of words. Блин and ёлки-па́лки exist specifically to navigate this strict social divide between 'clean' and 'dirty' speech.
- In Russian culture, calling upon the чёрт (devil) in phrases like чёрт побери́ is common and lacks the heavy religious taboo found in some English-speaking contexts.
- The phrase ёлки-па́лки is frequently used by older generations and in classic Soviet cinema to portray a character who is flustered but disciplined.
Examples in context
- Черт побери! Забыл включить вай-фай!Damn it! I forgot to turn on the Wi-Fi!
- Чёрт побери́, я опять забыл ключи!Chort poberi, ya opyat' zabyl klyuchi!Bloody hell, I forgot my keys again!
- Чёрт побери́, это слишком дорого.Chort poberi, eto slishkom dorogo.Bloody hell, that is too expensive.
- Опять эта машина не заводится, чёрт побери́!Opyat' eta mashina ne zavoditsya, chort poberi!This car won't start again, bloody hell!
Example conversation
Andrey is struggling to assemble a piece of furniture.
- Мария MariaАндрей, у тебя всё в порядке?Andrey, u tebya vsyo v poryadke?Andrey, are you okay?
- Андрей AndreyЧёрт побери́, эта деталь не подходит!Chort poberi, eta detal' ne podkhodit!Bloody hell, this part doesn't fit!
- Мария MariaДай я помогу тебе, пожалуйста.Day ya pomogu tebe, pozhaluysta.Let me help you, please.
- Андрей AndreyСпасибо, Мария, я совсем запутался.Spasibo, Mariya, ya sovsem zaputalsya.Thanks, Maria, I am completely confused.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bloody hell” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
