буква́льно
bukválʹno
The English word 'literally' is translated into Russian using буква́льно (bukválʹno). Wiktionary also lists досло́вно (doslóvno).
Meaning: in a literal manner (adv)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| буква́льно | bukválʹno |
| досло́вно | doslóvno |
The phrase is used to convey that something is actually true or happening exactly as described, mirroring the English use of 'literally'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word буква́льно is derived from the noun буква, which means 'letter'. The word досло́вно is composed of the prefix до- (to/until), the root слов- (word) and the suffix -но (adverbial suffix).
Which one should you use?
While буква́льно is used to emphasize that something is exactly as described, досло́вно is used specifically when referring to the exact wording of a text or speech, meaning 'word for word'.
How do you pronounce it?
bukválʹno
Did you know?
- While буква́льно means 'literally', its root буква (letter) is a linguistic loan from the Latin 'litera'. This connects the Russian way of saying 'literally' directly to the ancient Roman alphabet.
- In casual speech, буква́льно is often used as a filler word to mean 'just' or 'only', such as saying буква́льно пять минут to mean 'just five minutes'.
- While English speakers often use 'literally' to mean 'figuratively' for emphasis, doing so in Russian with буква́льно can sound like a genuine mistake or a failure to understand a metaphor.
Examples in context
- Она буквально расцветает каждый раз, когда улыбается.She literally blossoms every time she smiles.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a difficult text.
- Александр AleksandrОльга, ты понимаешь этот текст?Ol'ga, ty ponimayesh' etot tekst?Olga, do you understand this text?
- Ольга OlgaНет, я читаю его буквально, но смысл неясен.Net, ya chitayu yego bukval'no, no smysl neyasen.No, I am reading it literally, but the meaning is unclear.
- Александр AleksandrВозможно, здесь есть скрытый смысл.Vozmozhno, zdes' yest' skrytyy smysl.Maybe there is a hidden meaning here.
- Ольга OlgaДа, тогда буква́льно понимать его нельзя.Da, togda bukval'no ponimat' yego nel'zya.Yes, then it cannot be understood literally.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “literally” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
