неважно
nevazhno
The Russian phrase for nevermind is неважно (nevazhno).
You use неважно when you want to drop a subject or tell someone not to worry about a detail you just mentioned.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the negative particle не (not) and the adverb важно (important).
Which one should you use?
While неважно is used to dismiss a topic as unimportant, ничего is more commonly used as a response to an apology or to say 'it's okay' or 'no problem'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase неважно, the word functions as a predicate-only adverb, effectively meaning 'it is not important' even without an explicit subject.
How do you pronounce it?
nevazhno
Did you know?
- The word важно shares a deep linguistic root with the concept of weight. In many Slavic contexts, importance is conceptualized as something that carries weight or gravity.
- While неважно means 'nevermind', the word важно can be used to describe someone who is 'pompous' or 'stuck-up'.
- In a heated argument, неважно often functions as a conversational dead end that signals the speaker is shutting down the dialogue.
Examples in context
- Неважно.Nevermind.This example shows how to use неважно as a standalone response.Tatoeba #3454133 by Olya, translation #12630725 by rul
- Извини, что не пришел на вечеринку. (Izvini, chto ne prishel na vecherinku.) / Не важно, другой раз встретимся. (Ne vazhno, drugoy raz vstretimsya.)Sorry I didn't come to the party. / Nevermind, we'll meet another time.
- А, неважно, забудь.A, nevazhno, zabud'Ah, nevermind, forget it.
- Это уже неважно.Eto uzhe nevanzhno.That is not important anymore.
Example conversation
Ekaterina was going to ask Alexander for something, but then changed her mind.
- Екатерина EkaterinaАлександр, ты не мог бы…Aleksandr, ty ne mog by…Alexander, could you…
- Александр AleksandrЧто именно ты хотела спросить?Chto imenno ty khotela sprosit'?What exactly did you want to ask?
- Екатерина EkaterinaА, неважно, я справлюсь сама.A, nevazhno, ya spravlyus' sama.Ah, nevermind, I'll handle it myself.
- Александр AleksandrХорошо, если передумаешь, скажи.Khorosho, yesli peredumayesh', skazhi.Okay, if you change your mind, let me know.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
