Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ско́лько э́то сто́ит | skólʹko éto stóit | ||
| почём | počóm | [pɐˈt͡ɕɵm] (narrow) | informal |
When asking about the cost or price of an item, you use these phrases to find out how much something is. The word сколько itself can also mean "how much" or "how many" when used as a determiner for quantities.
What does it mean word for word?
The informal word почём is a contraction of the preposition по (meaning "at" or "by") and the pronoun чём (the prepositional case of "what"), so it literally translates to "at what price".
Which one should you use?
Сколько is a general word for "how much" or "how many" used for both countable and uncountable quantities. For asking prices, ско́лько э́то сто́ит is the standard phrasing, while почём is a more direct and casual way to ask about the cost of specific items.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word почём is considered informal and is typically used in casual settings like markets or shops.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word сколько is versatile and can be used for both countable and uncountable quantities, functioning much like "how much" and "how many" in English. Additionally, the word насколько can be used to mean "to what extent".
How do you pronounce it?
skólʹko éto stóit
Did you know?
- While ско́лько э́то сто́ит is the standard way to ask a price, using почём in a high-end boutique or luxury hotel might be perceived as overly blunt or inappropriately rural.
- In a traditional Russian market, asking почём is often the start of a social negotiation, signaling to the vendor that you are a savvy buyer who might haggle.
- The word сто́ит comes from the verb 'to stand'. In Russian, when you ask how much something costs, you are literally asking how much it 'stands'.
Examples in context
- Почём билет на поезд?How much is a train ticket?This sentence shows how to use почём to ask about the price of a train ticket.Tatoeba #5958716 by Selena777, translation #5958713 by mailohilohi
- Почём билет на автобус?How much is a bus ticket?This sentence shows how to use почём to ask about the price of a bus ticket.Tatoeba #5958718 by Selena777, translation #5958712 by mailohilohi
- Почём эти чёрные брюки и эти красные рубашки?How much are these black trousers and these red shirts?This sentence shows how to use почём to ask about the price of multiple clothing items.Tatoeba #4275731 by odexed, translation #1310718 by Eldad
- Извините, сколько это стоит?Excuse me, how much does this cost?
- Не могли бы вы сказать, сколько это будет стоить?Can you tell me how much this will cost?
- Эй, сколько это стоит?Hey, how much does this cost?
- Сколько это обычно стоит?How much does this usually cost?
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anastasia and Andrey are shopping for a gift in a boutique.
- Анастасия AnastasiaАндре́й, как ты ду́маешь, ско́лько э́то сто́ит?Andrey, kak ty dumayesh', skol'ko eto stoit?Andrey, how much do you think this costs?
- Андрей AndreyНе зна́ю, но, ка́жется, о́чень до́рого.Ne znayu, no, kazhetsya, ochen' dorogo.I don't know, but it seems very expensive.
- Анастасия AnastasiaДава́й спроси́м у продавца́.Davay sprosim u prodavtsa.Let's ask the shop assistant.
- Андрей AndreyХорошо́, дава́й спроси́м.Khorosho, davay sprosim.Okay, let's ask.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “how much” translations and entries почём, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
