Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "one can" 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.

можно

Meaning: one can, one may, it is allowed, it is possible

Pronunciation: [MOHZH-nah]

Part of speech: predicate (word form doesn't change)

Rank: #102 (see frequency list)

Smoking is allowed here.
Photo by Orin Zebest CC-BY-2.0

Example sentences:

Мóжно вы́йти?
May I go out, please?
literal Is it possible to go out?
Здесь óчень жáрко: мóжно откры́ть окнó?
It's very hot here, may I open the window, please?
literal It's very hot here, is it possible to open he window?
Мóжно мне включи́ть телеви́зор?
May I switch on the TV, please?
literal Can I switch on the TV?
Здесь мóжно кури́ть.
Smoking is allowed here.
literal One may smoke here.
Рáзве тебé мóжно есть ócтрое?
Can you really eat spicy food?
Мóжно ещë добáвить, что Москвá бы́ла оснóвана в двенáдцатом вéке.
One can also add that Moscow was founded in the twelfth century.
literal It is also possible to add that Moscow was founded in the twelfth century.
Мóжно сказáть, что они́ поссóрились.
One can say they fell out.
literal It is possible to say they fell out.
Мóжно мне морóженого?
Can I have some ice cream?
literal Is it possible (to have) some ice cream for me?
Мам, мóжно нам добáвку?
Mum, can we have a second helping, please?
literal Mum, is it possible to have a second helping for us?
Необхóдимо вы́полнить рабóту как мóжно лу́чше.
It's necessary to do the work as well as possible.
Я старáюсь рабóтать как мóжно бóльше.
I try to work as much as possible.
Напóмните мне о деньгáх, écли мóжно.
Please, remind me about the money, if possible.
literal Remind me about the money, if possible.
Назвáть брáта дуракóм! Как мóжно!
Calling her brother a fool! How can this be?
literal To call her brother a fool! How is it possible?
Как мóжно забы́ть, когдá день рождéния у жены́?
How is it possible to forget when your wife's birthday is?
Пáвел, ну рáзве мóжно так говори́ть с отцóм.
Pavel, how can you speak like that with your father?
literal Pavel, is it really possible to speak with your father like that?

Idioms and set expressions:

как мóжно бóльше = as much as possible
literal how possible more
как мóжно скорéе = as soon as possible
literal how possible faster
как мóжно лу́чше = as well as possible
literal how possible better
как мóжно рáньше = as early as possible
literal how possible earlier
мóжно добáвить = it may be added
literal it is possible to add
мóжно сказáть = one can say
literal it is possible to say
éсли мóжно = if possible
éсли мóжно так вы́разиться = if one may put it that way
как мóжно! = how can this be?
literal how is it possible?

Related words:

ну́жно = it is necessary
запрещенó = it is prohibited
разрешенó = it is allowed

Proverbs and sayings:

Бы́ли бы ру́ки, а сдéлать мóжно.
One can mprove everything working.
literal If one has hands, one can do everything.
Где нельзя́ перескочи́ть, там мóжно перелéзть.
There're many different ways to solve a problem.
literal If there's a place you can't jump over, you can сrawl it over.
Мóжно попрáвить, да бу́дет ху́же.
One can't improve it anymore.
literal It can be improved, but it'll be worse.

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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