как сказать это по-русски
kak skazat' eto po-russki
The phrase "how to say this in russian" in Russian is как сказать это по-русски (kak skazat' eto po-russki).
This phrase is typically used as a direct question when a learner wants to know the translation of a specific object or concept.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down literally as как (how) сказать (to say) это (this) по-русски (in Russian).
Which one should you use?
A common alternative is Как это будет по-русски?, which uses the future tense of "to be" to ask how a word "will be" expressed in Russian.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adverbial form по-русски is used to describe the manner of speaking or writing in the Russian language.
How do you pronounce it?
kak skazat' eto po-russki
Did you know?
- The word сказать ('to say') is actually a linguistic descendant of a root that once meant 'to show' or 'to point out'. In ancient Slavic cultures, the act of speaking and the act of demonstrating were considered a single concept.
- The term по-русски describes doing something 'in a Russian way'. This same structure is used for non-linguistic customs, such as по-домашнему, which means 'in a home-like way' or 'homestyle'.
- The phrase как это будет по-русски uses a future tense verb that implies the translation is a discovery being made in real time. It suggests the word is 'about to become' known to the speaker.
Examples in context
- Извините, не могли бы вы помочь мне с произношением этого русского слова?Excuse me, can you please help me with the pronunciation of this Russian word?
- Я изучаю русский. Не могли бы вы сказать мне, как правильно сказать эту фразу?I'm learning Russian. Can you tell me how to say this sentence correctly?
- Я не знаю, как сказать это по-русски.Ya ne znayu, kak skazat' eto po-russki.I don't know how to say this in Russian.
- Подскажите, как сказать это по-русски?Podskazhite, kak skazat' eto po-russki?Could you tell me how to say this in Russian?
Example conversation
Olga is asking Andrey for help with a specific word in a book.
- Ольга OlgaАндрей, как сказать это по-русски?Andrey, kak skazat' eto po-russki?Andrey, how do you say this in Russian?
- Андрей AndreyЭто слово означает «привет».Eto slovo oznachayet "privet".This word means "hello".
- Ольга OlgaСпасибо за помощь!Spasibo za pomoshch'!Thanks for the help!
- Андрей AndreyНе за что.Ne za chto.You're welcome.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries как, по-русски, сказать, CC BY-SA 4.0.
