Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "two" 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.

два

Meaning: two, couple

Pronunciation: [dvah]

Part of speech: number (cardinal number)

Rank: #75 (see frequency list)

Twice two makes four.
Photo by JD Hancock CC-BY-2.0

Example sentences:

Он жил в Итáлии два гóда.
He lived in Italy for two years.
Двáжды два четы́ре.
Two times two makes four.
literal Twice two is four.
У меня́ нé было двух рублéй.
I didn't have two rubles.
Кáждые два дня он éздил к отцу́ в больни́цу.
Every other day he went to the hospital to visit his father.
Чéрез два-три дня нам ну́жно бу́дет снóва идти́ за проду́ктами.
In a couple of days we'll have to go to buy food again.
literal In two-three days we'll have to go to buy products again.
Ты что, не слы́шал? Пéтя получи́л "два" за диктáнт.
Haven't you heard? Petia got a "D" for the dictation.
literal Haven't you heard? Petia got a "two" for the dictation.
Онá развелácь и остáлась однá с двумя́ мáленькими детьми́.
She divorced and stayed alone with two little children.
Расскажи́ мне о твое́й нóвой рабóте в двух словáх.
Tell me in a word about your new job.
literal Tell me in two words about your new job.
Моя́ кварти́ра в двух шагáх от роди́тельской.
My flat is nearby my parents' one.
literal My flat is in two steps from my parents' one.
Ты реши́л срáзу две проблéмы?
Have you solved two problems at once?
Он признáлся в любви́ двум дéвушкам одновремéнно!
He confessed his love to two girls at once!
Не мóжет быть: онá зарабáтывает в два рáза бóльше, чем я!
It's unbelievable: she earns twice as much as I do!

Idioms and set expressions:

в два рáза бóльше = twice as much
в два рáза мéньше = half as much
в двух словáх = briefly, in a word
literal in two words
в двух шагáх = nearby
literal in two steps
в два счëта = in no time
literal in two counts
ни два ни полторá = neither one thing nor another
literal neither two nor one and a half
чëрта с два! = like hell (you'll get it)!
literal for two devils!
мéжду двух огнéй = between the devil and the deep blue sea
literal between two fires
пáлка о двух концáх = it cuts both ways
literal a stick with two ends
нá два фрóнта = two works at the same time
literal for two battlefronts

Related words:

две = two (feminine)
двóe = two (collective number)
двойнóй = double
двóйка = two (the worst mark at school)
двáжды = twice

Proverbs and sayings:

Два сапогá - пáра.
Two boots make a pair.
За двумя́ зáйцами погóнишься - ни одногó не поймáешь.
A bird in one hand is worth than two in the bush.
literal If you run after two hairs, you will catch neither.
Однá головá хорошó, а две - лу́чше.
A problem shared is a problem halved
literal Two heads are better than one.
Два рáза не умирáть, а одногó не миновáть.
You won't die twice, but you can't avoid dying once.

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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