как это сказать по-русски
kak eto skazat' po-russki
The English phrase "how to say that in Russian" is translated into Russian as как это сказать по-русски (kak eto skazat' po-russki).
You use this phrase when you understand a concept or have a word in mind but do not know the specific Russian vocabulary required to express it.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of как (how), это (this), сказать (to say) and по-русски (in Russian).
Which one should you use?
While как это сказать по-русски uses the verb "to say", another common way to ask is как это будет по-русски, which literally means "how will this be in Russian".
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb сказать is used in its infinitive form, which is the standard way to structure this type of indirect question.
How do you pronounce it?
kak eto skazat' po-russki
Did you know?
- The Russian word сказать (to say) shares a root with показать (to show). In ancient Slavic languages, the concept of speaking was closely tied to the act of showing or pointing something out.
- In many Russian regions, if you ask как это сказать, a local might respond with a gesture of pointing at a physical object rather than providing the linguistic translation.
- In Russian, you cannot simply say в русском (in Russian) when asking how to say a word. You must use the adverbial form по-русски to correctly describe the act of speaking the language.
Examples in context
- Как сказать 'Привет' по-русски?How do you say 'Hello' in Russian?
- Как это сказать по-русски?Kak eto skazat' po-russki?How do you say that in Russian?
- Подскажите, как это сказать по-русски.Podskazhite, kak eto skazat' po-russki.Please tell me how to say that in Russian.
- Я не знаю, как это сказать по-русски.Ya ne znayu, kak eto skazat' po-russki.I don't know how to say that in Russian.
Example conversation
A student asks a teacher for help with a specific word.
- Екатерина EkaterinaИзвините, как это сказать по-русски: 'apple'?Izvinite, kak eto skazat' po-russki: 'apple'?Excuse me, how do you say 'apple' in Russian?
- Дмитрий DmitryЭто будет 'яблоко'.Eto budet 'yabloko'.That would be 'yabloko'.
- Екатерина EkaterinaСпасибо, Дмитрий!Spasibo, Dmitriy!Thank you, Dmitry!
- Дмитрий DmitryПожалуйста, Екатерина.Pozhaluysta, Ekaterina.You're welcome, Ekaterina.
