мне пофиг
mne pofig
The Russian phrase мне пофиг (mne pofig) is an informal way to say "idc" (I don't care).
мне пофиг is used to convey indifference or to say that you are not interested in something. It carries a blunt, slightly dismissive tone similar to saying "I don't give a damn" in English.
Which one should you use?
While мне пофиг is blunt and informal, мне всё равно is a more neutral and polite way to say "it doesn't matter to me". For a formal context, you should use Мне безразлично, which means "I am indifferent."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
мне пофиг is informal. If you need to be formal, use Мне безразлично. For a different informal expression that literally means "I spit," you can use Мне плевать.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the dative case of the pronoun "me" (мне), which indicates that the state of indifference is being "given" to the speaker, translating roughly to "to me it is indifferent."
How do you pronounce it?
mne pofig
Did you know?
- In many parts of Russia, if you want to be even more dismissive, you might use the phrase мне до лампочки, which literally translates to 'it is up to the lightbulb to me'.
- While мне пофиг is blunt, you can express the same indifference by saying мне фиолетово, which literally means 'to me it is purple'.
- The root of the word фиг actually refers to a hand gesture where the thumb is tucked between the index and middle fingers, known in English as the 'fig sign'.
Examples in context
- Вопрос о цвете конференц-зала мне безразличен.The question about the color of the conference hall is of no concern to me.
- Какую игру на телевидении выберем? Мне плевать на все!What game shall we choose on TV? I couldn't care less about any of them!
- Какой фильм смотреть вечером? Мне пофиг, решайте вы.Which movie should we watch tonight? I'm not interested, you decide.
- Мне пофиг, что он сказал.Mne pofig, chto on skazal.I don't care what he said.
- Мне пофиг на погоду сегодня.Mne pofig na pogodu segodnya.I don't care about the weather today.
Example conversation
Dmitry and Ekaterina are discussing a movie review.
- Дмитрий DmitryКритиков это очень расстроило.Kritikov eto ochen' rasstroilo.It upset the critics a lot.
- Екатерина EkaterinaМне пофиг на их мнение.Mne pofig na ikh mneniye.I don't care about their opinion.
- Дмитрий DmitryТы действительно такая равнодушная?Ty deystvitel'no takaya ravnodushnaya?Are you really that indifferent?
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, мне просто всё равно.Da, mne prosto vsyo ravno.Yes, I just don't care.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries мне, пофиг, CC BY-SA 4.0.
