Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "near" 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.

при

Meaning: near, at, in the time of, in the presence of, with, attached to, by, about

Pronunciation: [pree]

Part of speech: preposition

Rank: #90 (see frequency list)

There was a big garden by the house.
Photo by Mark Coleman (Downloadable photos) CC-BY-SA-2.0

Example sentences:

Когдá былá би́тва при Бородинé?
When was the battle of Borodino?
При дóме был большóй сад.
There was a big garden by the house.
При ресторáне рабóтает кулинари́я.
There's a food shop by the restaurant.
literal By the restaurant works a gastronomy shop.
Рáзве мóжно таки́е вéщи говори́ть при ребëнке!
How can you say such things in child's presence!
literal Is it really allowed to say such things by a child!
При Стáлине бы́ло пострóено москóвское метрó.
The Moscow metro was built in Stalin's time.
При вы́ходе из пóезда не забывáйте свои́ вéщи.
When going out of the train, don't leave your personal belongings.
literal When going out of the train, don't forget your things.
При дневнóм свéте бу́дут видны́ все дефéкты макия́жа.
All the make-up defects will be seen in daylight.
У негó нé было при себé никаки́х докумéнтов.
He didn't have any documents with him.
При такóй головé всегдá хорóшую рабóту найти́ мóжно.
Being so intelligent, one can always find a good job.
literal With such a head, it's always possible to find a good job.
При всëм моëм желáнии, я не смогу́ Вам помóчь.
Much as I would like to help you, I can't manage it. (polite)
literal With all my desire, I won't be able to help you. (polite)
Попроси́ у Кóли: он всегдá при деньгáх.
Ask Kolia, he always has money.
literal Ask Kolia, he's always with money.
Он был тогдá ужé при́ смерти.
He was already dying then.
При чëм тут егó образовáние?
What does his education have to do with it?
Храни́ть таки́е проду́кты ну́жно тóлько при ни́зкой температу́ре.
This type of food has to be stored only at low temperature.
literal It's necessary to store these products only at low temperature.
Онá совсéм не уставáла, при том, что рабóтала днями и ночáми.
She wasn't tired at all, although she worked day and night.
literal She wasn't tired at all, although she worked days and nights.

Idioms and set expressions:

при посторóнних = before strangers
иметь при себé = to have smth with oneself
при такóм здорóвье = with such health
при всëм своëм уважéнии = for all his/her respect
при всей своéй любви́ = for all his/her love
при всëм своëм желáнии = much as smb would like to
при всëм том = moreover, for all that
при парáде = well-dressed
literal by a parade
при свечáх = candle light
literal with candles
при́ смерти = dying
literal near smb's death
при содéйствии = with smb's assistance
при учácтии = with smb's participation
при царé Горóхе = When Queen Anne was alive
literal in the tzar Goroh's (Peas) time
При чëм тут? = What does is have to do?
при всём этом = in spite of all that, for all that
быть ни при чём = have nothing to do with
быть при = to have

Related words:

у = at, near
óколо = at, near
во врéмя = in the time of

Proverbs and sayings:

При счácтье браня́тся, при бедé ми́рятся.
When people are happy, they argue, but when there is misfortune, they are reconciled.
Хвали́ жизнь при́ смерти, а день вéчером.
Praise the life when you're dying and the day, at night.
Без умéнья и си́ла не при чëм.
Even strength doesn't work without ability.

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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