Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "for the present" 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.

пока

Meaning: for the present, for the time being, so long as, while, so far, until

Pronunciation: [pah-KAH]

Part of speech: adverb

Rank: #151 (see frequency list)

Example sentences:

Посиди́ пока́ здесь. Я ско́ро верну́сь.
Sit here for a while. I’ll soon be back.
Пиши́ пока́ так, пото́м ещё поду́маем.
For now write like this, we'll think more about it later.
Ива́н Алекса́ндрович сейча́с за́нят. Подожди́те пока́.
Ivan Aleksandrovich is busy at the moment. Wait a while.
Когда́ ты уезжа́ешь? — Пока́ не реши́л. Мо́жет быть, послеза́втра.
When are you leaving? — I haven’t made up my mind yet. Maybe the day after tomorrow.
Пока́ мы бы́ли за́ городом, пого́да меня́лась мно́го раз.
While we were in the countryside, the weather changed many times.
Ты смотре́ла романти́ческую коме́дию "Пока́ ты спал" с Са́ндрой Ба́ллок в гла́вной ро́ли?
Have you seen a romantic comedy “While You Were Sleeping” starring Sandra Bullock?
Я подожду́, пока́ ты зако́нчишь рабо́ту.
I'll wait until you finish work.
Я пока́ не зна́ю, бу́ду ли в Москве́ в э́ти выходны́е.
I don't know yet whether I'll be in Moscow this weekend.
Звони́ им, пока́ кто́-нибудь не возьмёт тру́бку. Нам сро́чно нужны́ эти́ докуме́нты.
Phone them until someone picks up. We are in urgent need of these papers.
Пока́ я не получу́ э́ту информа́цию, мы не мо́жем продолжа́ть рабо́ту.
We can't continue our work unless I get this information.

Idioms and set expressions:

пока́ что = meanwhile, in the meantime
пока́ всё = that's it for now; that’s all; that will do
пока́ не = until, till

Related words:

ещё = still / yet

Proverbs and sayings:

Куй желе́зо, пока́ горячо́.
Strike while the iron is hot.
literal Forge the iron while it’s hot.
Коси́, коса́, пока́ роса́ – роса́ доло́й, и ты домо́й.
Make hay while the sun shines.
literal Mow, scythe, while there is dew – dew goes away, and you go home.
Пока́ дышу́, наде́юсь.
When there is life, there is hope.
literal While I breathe, I hope.
Не говори́ "гоп" пока не перепрыгнешь.
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. / Don't cross the bridge until you come to it.
literal Don’t say “hop” unless you jump over.
Не буди́ ли́хо, пока́ оно́ ти́хо.
Let sleeping dogs lie.
literal Don't wake up evil while it is quiet.

Vocabulary lesson: By RT: Learn Russian 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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