ничего́ стра́шного
ničevó strášnovo
The English phrase "never mind" can be expressed in Russian as ничего́ стра́шного (ničevó strášnovo). Wiktionary also lists не волну́йся (ne volnújsja) and не беспоко́йся (ne bespokójsja).
Meaning: do not be concerned (about someone or something, or about doing something) (verb)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| ничего́ стра́шного | ničevó strášnovo |
| не волну́йся | ne volnújsja |
| не беспоко́йся | ne bespokójsja |
These phrases are used to tell someone not to be concerned about someone or something, or about doing something.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ничего́ стра́шного literally means "nothing scary" or "nothing terrible".
Which one should you use?
Use ничего́ стра́шного when you want to say 'it's no big deal' or 'don't worry about it' in response to an apology or a mistake.
How do you pronounce it?
ničevó strášnovo
Did you know?
- The word волну́йся in не волну́йся comes from the word for 'wave'. To tell someone not to worry is literally to tell them not to 'wave' or 'be turbulent' like the sea.
- In Russian, ничего́ can be used as a standalone adjective meaning 'not bad' or 'quite good'. A person might say ничего́ to describe a meal they enjoyed, which is the opposite of its use in ничего́ стра́шного.
- The word не in the phrase не волну́йся is a direct distant relative of the English word 'not'.
Examples in context
- Ничего́ стра́шного, я всё исправи́л.Nichevó strashnogo, ya vsyo ispravil.Never mind, I fixed everything.
- Ничего́ стра́шного, не извиня́йся.Nichevó strashnogo, ne izvinyaysya.Never mind, don't apologize.
Example conversation
Dmitry accidentally spilled some water on Ekaterina's desk.
- Дмитрий DmitryОй, прости, я разли́л воду!Oy, prosti, ya razlil vodu!Oh, sorry, I spilled the water!
- Екатерина EkaterinaНичего́ стра́шного, Дмитрий, я сейчас вытру́.Nichevó strashnogo, Dmitriy, ya seychas vytrut.Never mind, Dmitry, I'll wipe it up now.
- Дмитрий DmitryТы не оби́жена на меня́?Ty ne obizhena na menya?Are you not mad at me?
- Екатерина EkaterinaНет, всё хорошо́.Net, vsyo khorosho.No, everything is fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “never mind” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries не, CC BY-SA 4.0.
