Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "so" 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.

так

Meaning: so, like this, like that, just, then, but

Pronunciation: [tahk]

Part of speech: adverb

Rank: #26 (see frequency list)

It's so cold here!
Photo by Miguel, licensed under CC GA 2.0

Example sentences:

Почему́ ты так ду́маешь?
Why do you think so? (informal)
Тепе́рь э́то не так ва́жно.
It's not that important now.
Здесь так хорошо́, что мне не хо́чется уезжа́ть обра́тно.
It's so good here that I don't want to go back.
С ней что́-то не так.
There's something wrong with her.
Они́ так и оста́вили хлеб на столе́.
They left the bread on the table the way it was.
Я так и ду́мал.
That's exactly what I thought.
literal I so and thought.
Андре́й сиде́л на дива́не про́сто так, без вся́кой це́ли.
Andrey was just sitting on the sofa, without any purpose.
Это бы́ло так давно́, что я уже́ забы́л.
It was so long time ago that I had forgotten already.
Меня́ то́же уво́лили. Так что я тебя́ понима́ю.
I was also fired. So I understand you.
Анна так хоте́ла пое́хать с на́ми на мо́ре.
Anna wanted so much to go to the sea with us.
Не хо́чешь, так не отвеча́й.
If you don't want then don't answer. (informal)
literal Don't want, so don't answer.
Ты мне так нра́вишься!
I like you so much! (informal)
literal To me you please so.
Так вы из Аме́рики?
So you are from the USA? (polite or plural)
Так вы придёте?
Well, are you coming? (polite or plural)
literal So you will come?
Ольга купи́ла э́тот дом лет так пять тому́ наза́д.
Olga bought that house about five years ago.
Сего́дня так хо́лодно!
It's so cold today!

Idioms and set expressions:

так же = just as
так и = and
literal so and
та́к как = as, since, because
literal so how
Так и есть! = just as I thought!
literal so and is
так себе́ = so-so; not well
literal so to itself
не так ли? = isn't it? didn't he/she/it? wasn't he/she/it
так... как = as... as
Так держа́ть! = Keep it up!
literal Hold so!
так что = so; so that

Proverbs and sayings:

Как аукнешь, так и откликнется.
As the call, so the echo.
Затянул песню, так веди до конца.
Never do things by halves.
literal If you started a song then sing it to the end.
Не будь овцой, так и волк не съест.
Don't be a lamb and wolves won't eat you.
Не мытьём, так катаньем.
By hook or by crook.
Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют.
The devil is not so terrible as he is painted.

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.

Got questions?

Ask them in the Russian Questions and Answers — a place for students, teachers and native Russian speakers to discuss Russian grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and other aspects of the Russian language.