Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| подшучивать | podšučivatʹ | [pɐt͡ʂˈʂut͡ɕɪvətʲ] (narrow) |
| разы́грывать | razýgryvatʹ |
Both terms describe teasing, but they differ in the nature of the interaction. Use подшучивать for lighthearted teasing or making jokes about a person or a situation. Use разы́грывать when you are playing a trick or a practical joke on someone, such as making them believe something false.
Which one should you use?
The difference between the two lies in the level of action. подшучивать is used for lighthearted teasing or making light of something. In contrast, разы́грывать implies a more active prank or a practical joke.
How does it change in a sentence?
Russian verbs have aspectual pairs. Use the perfective form подшутить when referring to a completed act of teasing. Similarly, use the perfective form разыграть when referring to a completed act of playing a prank.
How do you pronounce it?
podšučivatʹ
Did you know?
- If someone is being 'joshed' too much, they might respond with хватит прикалываться, using a slang term derived from the word for 'pinning' or 'staking' something.
- The word разы́грывать can also be used in gambling to mean 'drawing a prize' in a lottery, sharing the same root as playing a prank.
- The verb подшучивать is built upon the root шут, which refers to a 'jester' or 'fool'. This links the act of light teasing directly to the historical figure of the court clown.
Examples in context
- Он любит подшучивать над друзьями.On lyubit podshuchivat' nad druz'yami.He likes to tease his friends.
- Не стоит подшучивать над ней.Ne stoit podshuchivat' nad ney.You shouldn't tease her.
Example conversation
Dmitry and Maria are talking during a break at work.
- Дмитрий DmitryТы правда веришь во всё это, Мария?Ty pravda verish vo vsyo eto, Mariya?Do you really believe all this, Maria?
- Мария MariaДа, это кажется очень правдоподобным.Da, eto kazhetsya ochen' pravdopodobnym.Yes, it seems very plausible.
- Дмитрий DmitryПрости, я решил над тобой подшучивать!Prosti, ya reshil nad toboy podshuchivat'!Sorry, I decided to tease you!
- Мария MariaОх, Дмитрий, ты меня совсем запутал.Oh, Dmitriy, ty menya sovsem zaputal.Oh, Dmitry, you completely confused me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “josh” translations and entries подшучивать, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries подшучивать, CC BY-SA 4.0.
