фу
fu[fu]
The Russian expression for "ew" is фу (fu). Wiktionary also lists тьфу (tʹfu) and фе (fe).
Meaning: expression of disgust or nausea (intj)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| фу | fu | [fu] (narrow) |
| тьфу | tʹfu | [tʲfu] (narrow) [tfu] (narrow) |
| фе | fe | |
| бе | be | |
| бр-р | br-r | [brː] (narrow) |
| буэ́ | bué |
These words are used to express disgust or nausea. фу is the most versatile and common way to say "ew" or "yuck" in response to bad smells, bad tastes or unpleasant sights.
Which one should you use?
While фу expresses disgust, тьфу mimics the sound of spitting and is used to express contempt or to dismiss something as worthless. бе is often used by adults when speaking to children to express mild disgust or to scold them for something "yucky".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word 'Фу!' is an informal way to say 'Ew!' The form бр-р is colloquial.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
fu
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, тьфу can be used as a superstitious gesture to ward off the 'evil eye' or to prevent bad luck after a boastful statement.
- The word фу is the standard command used to tell a dog to stop or to move away from something it should not touch.
- While бе is often used with children, it is derived from the sound a sheep makes, suggesting a 'bleating' or childish quality to the disgust.
Examples in context
- Фу.Ew.This sentence is useful for practicing the short expression of disgust фу.Tatoeba #11575520 by Katie_Yves, translation #9868315 by shekitten
- Фу, тараканы!Ew, cockroaches!This sentence shows how to use фу when encountering something unpleasant like cockroaches.Tatoeba #11151546 by ZegPhig, translation #11151676 by ddnktr
- Фу, какой неприятный запах!Fu, kakoy nepriyatnyy zapakh!Ew, what an unpleasant smell!
Example conversation
Anastasia is showing Alexander some old food in the fridge.
- Александр AleksandrЧто это за запах?Chto eto za zapakh?What is that smell?
- Анастасия AnastasiaЭто суп с прошлой недели.Eto sup s proshloy nedeli.This is soup from last week.
- Александр AleksandrФу, выброси это немедленно!Fu, vybrosi eto nemedlenno!Ew, throw it away immediately!
- Анастасия AnastasiaХорошо, я сейчас уберу.Khorosho, ya seychas uberu.Okay, I will clean it up now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ew” translations and entries фу, тьфу, бр-р, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
