там
tam[tam]
The Russian word for 'there' is там (tam).
The word там is an adverb used to indicate a static position in or at a specific place.
Meaning: in or at that place (position) (adv)
Which one should you use?
While там indicates a static position (being there), the word туда is used to indicate movement towards that place (going there). Additionally, while там means 'there' (at a distance), the words тут or здесь are used to mean 'here' (at the speaker's location).
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
tam
Did you know?
- In casual speech, Russians often use там as a filler word to mean 'roughly' or 'something like that' when listing examples, similar to the English 'and stuff'.
- The word там is used in the phrase там видно будет, which literally means 'it will be seen there' but is used to mean 'we will see what happens' or 'we will decide then'.
- Because там is an adverb, it is 'fixed' and does not change its spelling even if the place it describes changes gender or number.
Examples in context
- С кем ты там?Who are you there with?The first sentence shows how to use там when asking about someone's company.Tatoeba #3014842 by marafon, translation #2892855 by CK
- Но ты не там.But you're not there.The second sentence illustrates the use of там to describe a lack of presence in a location.Tatoeba #3613740 by sharptoothed, translation #53546 by CK
- Я уже там был.I've already been there.The third sentence demonstrates how to use там to express that a visit to a location has already occurred.Tatoeba #4435127 by sharptoothed, translation #2358875 by CK
- Я видел его там.I saw him there.
- Магазин находится там.The store is located there.
- Мы должны встретиться в том месте.We need to meet there.
- Я оставил свои вещи в том месте.I left my things there.
- Я пойду туда позже.I'll go there later.
- Ты собираешься туда?Are you going there?
- 3636 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Aleksandr are looking for a misplaced set of keys.
- Екатерина EkaterinaТы видел ключи там?Ty videl klyuchi tam?Did you see the keys there?
- Александр AleksandrНет, я не видел их там.Net, ya ne videl ikh tam.No, I didn't see them there.
- Екатерина EkaterinaМожет быть, они там, на столе.Mozhet byt', oni tam, na stole.Maybe they are there, on the table.
- Александр AleksandrДа, они действительно там!Da, oni deystvitel'no tam!Yes, they are indeed there!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “there” translations and entries там, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
