слава Богу
slava Bogu
In Russian, "praise God" is expressed as слава Богу (slava Bogu).
The phrase слава Богу is used to show gratitude or relief when something good has happened. While it can be used in a religious context, it is very commonly used by both religious and non-religious people as a secular exclamation of relief.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally composed of слава, meaning glory or praise and Богу, meaning to God.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase слава Богу, the word Богу is in the dative case, which indicates the recipient of the glory. When you use the phrase to introduce a clause that explains why you are relieved, it is followed by the conjunction что (e.g., слава Богу, что… meaning "thank God that…").
How do you pronounce it?
slava Bogu
Did you know?
- The word слава also means 'fame' or 'renown', meaning the phrase can be interpreted as wishing for God's reputation to increase.
- Despite the religious wording, a Russian atheist might use слава Богу in the same breath as a joke about not believing in God.
- In very formal or traditional settings, you might hear the variation Слава Господу, which uses a different word for 'Lord' to sound more solemn.
Examples in context
- Слава Тебе, Господи!Praise You, Lord!
- Слава Богу, ты уже дома.Slava Bogu, ty uzhe doma.Praise God, you are home already.
- Слава Богу, экзамен был легким.Slava Bogu, ekzamen byl legkim.Praise God, the exam was easy.
- Слава Богу, погода сегодня отличная.Slava Bogu, pogoda segodnya otlichnaya.Praise God, the weather is excellent today.
Example conversation
Andrey and Olga are discussing a lost set of keys.
- Андрей AndreyОльга, я нашёл ключи в машине!Ol'ga, ya nashyol klyuchi v mashine!Olga, I found the keys in the car!
- Ольга OlgaСлава Богу, я уже очень волновалась.Slava Bogu, ya uzhe ochen' volnovalas'.Thank God, I was already very worried.
- Андрей AndreyОни просто лежали под сиденьем.Oni prosto lezhali pod siden'yem.They were just lying under the seat.
- Ольга OlgaТеперь мы можем наконец уехать.Teper' my mozhem nakonec uyekhat'.Now we can finally leave.
