Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

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

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

• 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.

• 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

• éсли = if
• хоть = at least, I wish

• 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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