Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "and, but" 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.

же

Meaning: and, but, whereas, as for, as to, after all, this very, this same, then, surely, just, on earth

Pronunciation: [zheh]

Part of speech: conjunction, particle

Rank: #27 (see frequency list)

What will he finally arrive?
Photo by Robbert van der Steeg, modifed by masterrussian, licensed under CC SA 2.0

Example sentences:

Онá ру́сская, он же - испáнец.
She is Russian, whereas he is a Spaniard.
В тот же дeнь мы поéхали во Влади́мир.
We went to Vladimir on the same day.
Я купи́л таку́ю же ру́чку, как ты.
I bought the same pen as you did.
Он живëт всë там же.
He lives in the same place.
Давáй поéдем сегóдня же!
Let's go this very day!
Когдá же он приéдет?
When will he finally arrive?
Ктo же э́то сдéлал?
Who on earth could have done that?
Что же мне тепéрь дéлать?
What on earth shall I do now?
Я же говори́л тебé об э́том, рáзве нет?
I told you about it, didn't I?
Пойдëм же, мы опáздываем!
Come on, let's go, we're coming late!
Вы всë врéмя повторя́ете то же сáмое.
You always repeat the same things.
Как ты мóжешь это сдéлать, ты же не специали́ст!
How can you do that, if you're not a specialist.
Онá меня́ встрéтила, онá же меня́ и провóдит.
She came to meet me and she'll see me off too.
Мне сни́тся оди́н и тот же сон.
I always have the same dream.
Что ж, давáйте рабóтать.
Ok, let's start working.

Idioms and set expressions:

Когда же? = When at last?
то же самое = same; same thing
в том же духе = in the same vein
не совсем то же самое = not exactly the same
Что ж? = What then?
Что ж! = Well then!
Ну и что же? = Well, what of it?
Что ж из э́того? = Well, what of it?
Всë же, всë ж = Yet, nevertheless
Как же! = It's unlikely

Related words:

напрóтив = whereas
но = but
ведь = you see, you know

Proverbs and sayings:

Хоть и дурнóе дитя́, а всë ж своë.
literal Even if it's a bad child, it's your own,
Тот же Cáвка на тех же сáнках.
It's just the same thing.
literal The same Savka in the same sleigh.
Тот же блин, да на другóм блю́де.
It's just the same thing.
literal The same blin, but on a different plate.

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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