Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "to" 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.

до

Meaning: to, up to, till, until, before, nearly

Pronunciation: [doh]

Part of speech: preposition

Rank: #53 (see frequency list)

There are 800 kilometers from Moscow to Kazan.
Photo by Adam Jones, Ph.D., licensed under CC-BY-SA-2.0

Example sentences:

Извини́те, до магази́на далекó?
Excuse me, how far is the shop?
literal Excuse me, is it far to the shop?
Вы не скáжете, как мне дойти́ до университéта?
Could you tell me how can I get to the university?
От Москвы́ до Казáни – 800 киломéтров.
There are 800 kilometers from Moscow to Kazan.
Твой сын ужé умéeт считáть до десяти́?
Can your son count to ten already?
C чácу до двух меня́ не бу́дет в óфисе.
I won't be in the office from one to two o'clock.
Доку́да ты éдешь? До Ту́лы.
Till where are you going? Till Tula.
Мы засидéлись в гостя́х до пóзднего вéчера.
We stayed at our friend's house till late at night.
Ну́жно ждать до тех пор, покá он не придëт.
You have to wait until he comes.
До войны́ он рабóтал на завóде.
He worked in a factory before the war.
В рецéпте напи́сано, что лекáрство нáдо принимáть до еды́.
In the prescription, it's written that you have to take the medicine before meals.
Ты наконéц дозвони́лся до начáльника?
Have you finally reached the boss (on the phone)?
Он дочитáл кни́гу до концá и улыбну́лся.
He read the book till the end and smiled.
Вы мóжете взять с собóй ручну́ю кладь до пяти́ килогрáммов.
You can take hand luggage up to five kilograms.
У неë до ты́сячи рéдких монéт.
She has nearly a thousand rare coins.
Уйди́, мне не до тебя́!
Leave me, I have no time for you!

Idioms and set expressions:

до нáших дней = to our time, to this day
до сих пóр = till now
до тех пóp = till then
до послéдней кáпли = to the last drop
до изнеможéния = till one drops
мне не до вас = I have no time for you
ей не до э́того = she is busy with other things
дойти́ до ру́чки = reach the end of the line
literal reach the handle
пей до дна! = bottoms up!
literal drink till the bottom!

Related words:

óколо = nearly

Proverbs and sayings:

Рот до ушéй, хоть завя́зочки пришéй.
Don't smile too much without any reason.
literal The mouth reaches the ears, you can sew strings to it.
Язык до Ки́ева доведëт.
Better to ask the way than go astray.
literal Your speaking will bring you to Kiev.
Не до жи́ру, быть бы жи́ву.
Beggars can't be choosers.
literal It's not about fat, it is about surviving.

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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