Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "would" in Russian

This Russian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

бы

Meaning: would, could have, subjunctive particle, concession particle

Pronunciation: [bih]

Part of speech: particle

Rank: #37 (see frequency list)



We would like a double room.
Photo by mrkathika, licensed under CC SA 2.0
 Example sentences:
  • Я бы поéхал в Калинингрáд.
  • I would go to Kaliningrad.
  • Он мог бы сдать экзáмен.
  • He could have passed the exam.
  • На твоëм мécте я бы поменя́л компью́тер.
  • If I were you, I would have changed the computer.
  •  literal  In your place, I would have changed the computer.
  • Éсли бы ты не уéхал в другóй гóрод, ты не нашëл бы рабóту.
  • If you had not moved to another city, you would not have found work.
  • Вчерá мне кто-то звони́л. Кто бы э́то мог быть?
  • Yesterday somebody called me. Who might that be?
  • Если б не он, я бы сейчác был ужé богачóм!
  • If it was not for him, I would be a rich man already.
  •  literal  If it was not him, I would be a rich man already.
  • Мы бы хотéли двухмécтный нóмер.
  • We would like a double room.
  • Натáша не хотéла бы, чтóбы еë cын был актëром.
  • Natasha would not like her son to be an actor.
  •  literal  Natasha would not like that her son was an actor.
  • Тебé бы отдохну́ть сейчác как слéдует!
  • You should get a good rest now!
  •  literal  You should rest properly now!
  • Хоть бы дóждь сегóдня пошëл.
  • I wish it rained today!
  • Мне бы чáю! На у́лице óчень хóлодно!
  • I would like some tea. It is very cold outside.
  •  literal  I would like tea. It is very cold on the street.
  • Кто бы ни пришëл, никому́ не открывáй!
  • Whoever comes, don't open to anybody.
  •  literal  Whoever would come, don't open to anybody.
  • Что бы ты ни говори́л, а я знáю, что он прав.
  • Whatever you say, I know he is right.
  •  literal  Whatever he would say, I know he is right.
  • Что бы ни случи́лось, я всегдá бу́ду с тобóй.
  • Whatever happens, I will always stay with you.
  •  literal  Whatever would happen, I will always be with you.
  • Как бы то ни́ было, он доби́лся хорóших результáтов.
  • Be that as it may, he has achieved good results.
  •  literal  Whatever it would be, he has achieved good results.


 Idioms and set expressions:
  • Как бы то ни́ было = Be that as it may
      literal  Whatever it would be
  • Чегó бы э́то ни стóило = At all costs
      literal  Whatever it would cost
  • Что бы ни случи́лось = Whatever happens
      literal  Whatever would happen
  • Во что бы то ни стáло = At all costs
      literal  Whatever it would happen
 Related words:
  • éсли = if
  • хоть = at least, I wish
 Proverbs and sayings:
  • Нé было бы счácтья, да несчácтье помоглó.
  • Sweet are the uses of adversity.
  •  literal  There would not be happiness, but misfortune helped.
  • Éсли бы да кабы - во рту вы́росли грибы́
  • If ifs and ans were pots and pans.
  •  literal  If if, mushrooms grew in your mouth.
  • Был бы пирóг, найдëтся и едóк.
  • If there is a pie, there will be its eater.
  • Был бы ум, бу́дет и рубль.
  • If you are intelligent, you will have money.
  •  literal  If you have intellect, you will have a rouble.

Vocabulary lesson: By Russificate blog exclusively for MasterRussian

Phrase recordings: Copyright(c) 2011 MasterRussian.com. All rights reserved.
Word recordings: Copyright(c) 2006 Streit Goulnara, Streit Eric, Vion Nicolas. Copyright(c) 2007 S. Sakhno, N. Vion. Distributed under CC-BY.



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