Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "how, what" 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.

как

Meaning: how, what, as, like, when, since

Pronunciation: [kahk]

Part of speech: adverb, conjunction

Rank: #14 (see frequency list)

Example sentences:

Как дела́?
How are things?
Как тебя́ зову́т?
What's your name? (informal)
literal How [do they] call you?
Как жа́рко!
How hot it is!
Хоте́ли как лу́чше, а получи́лось как всегда́.
We wanted the best, you know the rest. (Viktor Chernomirdin) (Lit: We wanted as good as possible, but it turned out as always)
Как пройти́ к вокза́лу?
How do I get to the train station?
Он поступи́л как обеща́л.
He did as he promised.
Чу́вствуйте себя́ как до́ма.
Make yourself at home.
literal Feel yourself like at home.
Как зако́нчишь, позвони́ мне.
Call me as soon as you finish. (informal)
Он вошёл в то вре́мя, как они́ чита́ли.
He entered while they were reading.
Как я уста́л!
How tired I am!
Как сде́лать хоро́ший сни́мок?
How to make a good photo?
Он зна́ет как пра́вильно соста́вить резюме́.
He knows how to make a resume correctly.
Как вы э́то сде́лали?
How did you do that? (polite or plural)
Большо́й, как слон.
As large as an elephant.
Я не поду́мал, как э́то ва́жно для тебя́.
I didn't think how important this was for you. (informal)

Idioms and set expressions:

как знать = who knows
как сказать = how shall I put it
как когда = it depends
Как бы не так! = Not likely!; Nothing of the kind!
как видно = as you can see; apparently
после того как = since
в то время, как = while
как ..., так и ... = both ... and ...
как раз = just, exactly
как раз то, что мне нужно = just what I want
как будто = as if
как таковой = as such
как только = as soon as
как попало = anyhow; any old way
Как?! = How?!
Как же? = Of course!
как не тебе = who else but you
как бы то ни было = at all events; at any rate

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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