как сказать
The English phrase "how to say" is translated into Russian as как сказать.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb как (how) and the infinitive verb сказать (to say/to tell).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb сказать is the perfective aspect of говорить, implying the completion of a single utterance or the act of conveying a specific piece of information.
Did you know?
- The root of сказать is also found in the word сказка, which means 'fairy tale', literally meaning a 'told story'.
- While сказать means 'to say', it shares a root with the word казаться, which means 'to seem'. Both originate from an ancient root meaning 'to show' or 'to make visible'.
- In casual speech, Russians often replace the full phrase как сказать with a filler word like как бы, which functions similarly to 'like' or 'sort of' in English.
Examples in context
- Я не знал, как сказать нет.I didn't know how to say no.Tatoeba #7139908 by marafon, translation #5737364 by CM
- Я не знаю, как сказать это, не то что ты!I don't know how to say it, let alone you!Tatoeba #13702055 by gregoryguy, translation #8454496 by gleki
- Том не знал, как сказать "спасибо" по-французски.Tom didn't know how to say "thank you" in French.Tatoeba #4709437 by marafon, translation #4663027 by CK
- ПриветHello
- Как дела?How are you?
- СпасибоThank you
- Я тебя люблюI love you
- До свиданияGoodbye
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are studying a foreign language together.
- Сергей SergeyКатя, а как сказать «привет» на испанском?Katya, a kak skazat' "privet" na ispanskom?Katya, how do you say "hello" in Spanish?
- Екатерина EkaterinaЭто очень просто: «hola».Eto ochen' prosto: "hola".It's very simple: "hola".
- Сергей SergeyА как сказать «до свидания»?A kak skazat' "do svidaniya"?And how do you say "goodbye"?
- Екатерина EkaterinaНужно сказать «adiós».Nuzhno skazat' "adiós".You need to say "adiós".
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
