Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| коне́чно | konéčno | |
| ясен пень | jásen pen' | [ˈjæsʲɪn pʲenʲ] (narrow) |
| ясен хрен | jásen hren |
These expressions are used to indicate enthusiastic agreement. While коне́чно is the most versatile, other phrases like а ка́к же! serve as rhetorical ways to say "of course" or "how could it be otherwise!"
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial phrase ясен пень literally translates to "it is clear as a stalk (of hemp)".
Which one should you use?
The standard way to express this is коне́чно. For a more rhetorical effect, you can use а ка́к же! In very casual speech, ясен пень is used, while its slang variation ясен хрен is more vulgar. Additionally, конечно же serves as an informal variation of the standard form.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal setting, use Разумеется. The standard коне́чно is neutral and works in almost any situation. Informal options include конечно же or the phrase Ну да, which translates to "well, yeah". At the most casual levels, you may encounter the colloquial ясен пень or the vulgar slang ясен хрен.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
konéčno
Did you know?
- The vulgar phrase ясен хрен uses the word for 'horseradish' as a euphemism to avoid using a more offensive swear word for 'penis'.
- The phrase ясен пень uses пень, which means 'stump'. This suggests that the answer is as obvious as a large, immovable piece of wood left in the forest.
- While коне́чно is standard, using Разумеется shifts the meaning from simple agreement to 'it stands to reason'. It is the preferred choice for intellectual or highly professional discourse.
Examples in context
- Конечно, я согласенOf course, I agree
- Разумеется, мы поддержим вашу инициативуOf course, we will support your initiative
- Конечно же, не могу пропустить вечеринкуOf course, I can't miss the party
Example conversation
Anastasia asks Sergey if he wants a piece of cake.
- Анастасия AnastasiaСергей, хочешь кусочек торта?Sergey, khochesh kusochek torta?Sergey, do you want a piece of cake?
- Сергей SergeyКоне́чно, я с удовольствием попробую!Konechno, ya s udovolstviyem poprobuyu!Of course, I'd love to try some!
- Анастасия AnastasiaТебе положить немного сливок сверху?Tebe polozhit nemnogo slivok sverkhu?Should I put some cream on top for you?
- Сергей SergeyДа, пожалуйста, Анастасия.Da, pozhaluysta, Anastasiya.Yes, please, Anastasia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “of course” translations and entries ясен пень, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries пень, хрен, ясен пень, CC BY-SA 4.0.
