Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| тьфу | tʹfu | [tʲfu] (narrow) [tfu] (narrow) |
| фу | fu | [fu] (narrow) |
| фе | fe | |
| бе | be |
These interjections are used to express disgust. To emphasize a strong feeling of repulsion or to state that something is truly disgusting, you might use the word Отвратительно.
Which one should you use?
The forms vary depending on what you are reacting to. фу is the most common and versatile way to express disgust or to tell someone to stop a bad behavior. бе is often used for a visceral, physical reaction to something unpleasant, such as a bad smell or a bad taste. фе is used to express moral or aesthetic distaste, such as reacting to something tacky or socially inappropriate. тьфу is more specifically associated with the sound of spitting and is used to express disgust at something particularly revolting or to show contempt.
How do you pronounce it?
tʹfu
Did you know?
- In some contexts, тьфу is used as a ritualistic gesture to ward off bad luck or the 'evil eye' by symbolically spitting.
- In older Russian literature, the use of фе was often associated with the upper classes or the intelligentsia to signal a refined sort of distaste.
- While фу is used for disgust, it is also the standard command used across Russia to tell a dog to stop doing something naughty or to get away from a piece of trash.
Examples in context
- Фу! Как тебе не стыдно?Ugh! How are you not ashamed of yourself?This sentence shows how to use фу to express shame or disapproval.Tatoeba #4205629 by odexed, translation #8912388 by DemonicSatori
- Фу, твоя вафельница вся замызганная!Ugh, your waffle iron is filthy!This sentence shows how to use фу to react to something filthy.Tatoeba #10258184 by Selena777, translation #8819619 by sundown
- Фу!Ugh!This sentence is a simple exclamation using фу.Tatoeba #7976161 by odexed, translation #2707010 by Thanuir
- Фу, как это неприятно!Ugh, how unpleasant!
- Ай, опять ошибка!Ugh, another mistake!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Olga and Andrey are walking in a park and see something unpleasant.
- Ольга OlgaТьфу, какая гадость на тротуаре!T'fu, kakaya gadost' na trotuare!Ugh, what a nasty thing on the sidewalk!
- Андрей AndreyДа, неприятно на это смотреть.Da, nepriyatno na eto smotret'.Yes, it is unpleasant to look at that.
- Ольга OlgaАндрей, отойди оттуда подальше.Andrey, oydy ottuda podal'she.Andrey, move away from there.
- Андрей AndreyХорошо, я иду в обход.Khorosho, ya idu v obkhod.Okay, I am going around.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ugh” translations and entries тьфу, фу, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
