Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "let" 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.

пусть

Meaning: let, though, even if

Pronunciation: [poost']

Part of speech: conjunction, particle

Rank: #312 (see frequency list)

Let him eat.
Photo by mikecogh, licensed under CC-BY-SA-2.0

Example sentences:

Пусть он поécт.
Let him eat.
Пусть онá всë cначáла провéрит.
Let her check everything first.
Если́ он хóчет хорóшую зарплáту – пусть рабóтает.
If he wants a good salary, he needs to work.
literal If he wants a good salary, let him work.
Пусть позвоня́т в посóльство и спрócят по пóводу пácпорта.
Let [them] call to the Embassy and ask about the passport.
Пусть не ду́мает, что я забы́л о ней!
She shouldn't think I forgot about her.
literal Let her not think that I forgot about her.
Хорошó, пусть бу́дет по-твóeму.
Ok, have it your way.
literal Good, let it be in your way.
Мне всë равнó, пусть дéлает, что хóчет!
It's all the same for me: let him (her) do what he (she) wants to!
Пусть себé игрáют, остáвь их в покóе.
Let [them] play, leave them in peace.
Пусть тóлько попрóбует сказáть ей гру́бость!
[He] shouldn't even attempt to say something rude to her!
literal Let [him] just try to say something rude to her!
Оксáна меня́ бóльше не лю́бит, ну и пусть!
Oksana doesn't love me anymore, but never mind!
Пусть Х рáвен Y.
Let X equal Y.
Пусть он не умëн, затó трудолюби́в.
Even though he's not intelligent, he's hard-working.
Пусть вы допусти́ли оши́бку – еë всегдá мóжно испрáвить.
Even if you made a mistake, you can always correct it.
Пусть бы дóждь, тóлько бы не грозá!
It's still ok if it rains, but I wish it wasn't a storm!

Idioms and set expressions:

ну и пусть = never mind
literal well and let
пусть тóлько попрóбует = he (she) shouldn't even attempt to...
literal let (him) just try
пусть тóлько су́нется = he (she) should even think about coming
literal let him just come around

Related words:

пускáй = let, even if
дáже écли = even if

Proverbs and sayings:

Пусть всегдá бу́дет сóлнце, пу́сть всегдá бу́дет небо... (Л.Ошáнин)
May there always be sunshine, may there always be blue skies... (L.Oshanin)
literal Let there always be sun, let there always be sky...
Пу́сть земля́ ему́ бу́дет пу́хом.
May he rest in peace.
literal May the earth be soft for him.

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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