Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "business" 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.

дело

Meaning: business, affair, deed, things, matter, case

Pronunciation: [DYEH-lah]

Part of speech: noun (neuter)

Rank: #70 (see frequency list)

Example sentences:

В чём дело?
What is the matter?
Как дела?
How are things?
Предприниматель открыл собственное дело
An entrepreneur started his own business.
Я думаю, что это мое личное дело.
I think that this is my personal business.
Не в э́том де́ло.
That's not the point.
Ценный работник не остаётся без дела.
A valuable employee won't stay without work.
Э́то де́ло мы уже́ напра́вили в суд.
We have sent this case to court already.
Де́ло в том, что у кредтной карточки есть определённые преиму́щества.
The point is that credit cards have certain advantages.
Извини́те, я должен уйти́. Мно́го дел.
I'm sorry, I have to leave. Lots of work.
Так в чём же дело?
So what's the matter? (So what's the point?)
Пожалуйста, сделайте доброе дело, помогите нам!
Please, make a good deed, help us!
Он знал, с кем имел дело.
He knew who he was dealing with.
Хватит бездельничать, займись делом!
Enough whiling away. Get busy! (familiar)
Это личное дело каждого как именно ему жить.
It is the personal business of everyone to decide how to live their life.

Idioms and set expressions:

одно дело... и другое дело... = It is one thing... It is another thing...
на самом деле = as a matter of fact; in fact
то ли дело = how much better; what a difference
то и дело = every now and then; time and again
между делом = at odd moments
дело за = the matter depends (on)
Дело в том, что... = The fact / point is that...
Дело не в... = It is not a matter of...
Какое дело? = What does it matter?
Какое ему дело! = What does he care!
испытать на деле = to test in practice
иметь дело с... = to have to do with...; to deal with...
говорить дело = to talk sense
Такие-то дела! = So that's how things are!
дело в шляпе = it's in the bag, it's a sure thing
Не в этом дело! = That is not the question / point!
и на словах и на деле = in word and deed
У него дело к вам. = He has to speak to you.

Other forms of the word (declensions):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	де́ло	дела́
Genitive	де́ла	де́л
Dative	де́лу	дела́м
Accusative	де́ло	дела́
Instrumental	де́лом	дела́ми
Prepositional	де́ле	дела́х

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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