In Russian, we use the term “particle” as a catch-all term for function words that do not clearly fit into some other part of speech. This means that particles don’t have a clear, independent meaning, but including them in a sentence can alter the overall meaning of a sentence or phrase. Therefore, a particle is a “helping” word.
Some common Russian particles include:
же transcribed zhye
ли transcribed lee
бы transcribed by
так transcribed tak
уж transcribed oosh
ни transcribed ni
and more!
If you often encounter small words like the ones above, and never know what they mean and what they are doing in the sentences, then this post is for you! In this post we are going to talk about Russian particles, see many examples, and explain how they work in a sentence.
What is a particle in Russian?
Particles are function words, meaning that it is hard to represent their meanings in a dictionary entry. Function words, instead, are used to build relationships between or add meaning to other words and phrases in a sentence.
We use the term “particle” to describe any function word that doesn’t fit well into other categories of function words, like conjunctions (words like “and” and “or”), prepositions (words like “in” or “at”), pronouns (like “he” and “she”), or interjections (like “wow!” or “hey!”).
Because “particle” is a catch-all term, particles can actually do a lot of different things in your sentence. For example, all of the following are functions that the words we call “particles” in Russian have:
Create special word forms
Кто-нибудь видел мои очки?Transcription: kto-niBOOD VEEdil mai achKEE?Translation: Has anyone seen my eye glasses?Express emotions, such as surprise, joy, resentment, or disgust
Ну и погодка!Transcription: noo i paGOTka!Translation: Well, the weather!Emphasize something
Мы же не сможем поехать на океан, если дождь не закончится!Transcription: my zhe ni SMOzhym paYEkhat na akiAN YESli dosht ni zaKONchitsa!Translation: We definitely can't go to the ocean if it does not stop raining!Help form questions
(Не) знаете ли вы, где лежат овощи?Transcription: (ni) ZNAiti li vy, gdye liZHAT Ovashchi?Translation: Do you know where the vegetables are?Разве вы не знаете, где у нас овощи лежат? Вон там, на второй полке.Transcription: RAZvi vy ni ZNAiti gdye oo nas Ovashchi liZHAT - von tam na ftaROY POLkiTranslation: Don't you know where our vegetables are? Over there, on the second shelf.Negating a phrase
Она не сказала ни слова.Transcription: aNA ni skaZAla ni SLOva.Translation: She didn't say a word.And many more!
Some particles are in the first hundred most used words in Russian, for example:
не transcribed nyemeaning not
же transcribed zhyemeaning still/indeed
вот transcribed votmeaning here
ни transcribed nimeaning not
даже transcribed DAzhyemeaning even
ли transcribed lee → used to form questions
ведь transcribed vyetmeaning indeed/after all
Many Russian particles are words that have a lot of different functions, and some of those functions may fall nicely into other parts of speech. For example, when the word и transcribed i is used for emphasis, as in the sentence below, it is a particle, but when it is used to mean “and,” it is a conjunction (linking word):
| Example with particle meaning | Example with conjunction meaning |
|---|---|
И как вы всё успеваете? Transcription: i kak vy fsyo oospiVAiti? Translation: How do you manage to do everything? Implied: I can’t do it myself | Она купила продукты и цветы. Transcription: aNA kooPEEla praDOOKty i tsviTY. Translation: She bought food and flowers. |
In this post, we’ll only be looking at how to use these words as particles.
Each Russian particle has its own special rules, and so ultimately they will need to be learned one-by-one. However, we can group particles together in ways that help you learn how and where to use them. In the sections below, we’ll go through each type of particle and, where appropriate, provide you with a list of particles that fall into each group.
What are the main kinds of particles in Russian?
There are three types of particles in Russian:
Form-building particles → used when putting another word into a special grammatical form (e.g. imperative, subjunctive, etc.)
Word-building particles → used to form new words with predictable meanings. Most of these are affixes.
Meaningful particles → used to change the overall meaning, implication, or emotional impact of a sentence.
Let’s look at them one-by-one!
What are form-building particles in Russian?
Form-building particles are particles that we use to build special grammatical forms of another word, such as the conditional mood, imperative form, or subjunctive form of a verb.
Particles in this group include:
бы transcribed bymeaning would
пусть transcribed poostmeaning let
пускай transcribed poosKAYmeaning let
да transcribed dameaning may
давай transcribed daVAYmeaning let's / come on
давайте transcribed daVAYtimeaning let's
For example:
| Sentence without particle | Sentence with particle |
|---|---|
Если я узнаю, я позвоню. Transcription: YESli ya ooZNAyu, ya pazvaNYU. Translation: If I find out, I’ll call. | Если бы я знал, я бы позвонил. Transcription: YESli by ya znal, ya by pazvaNEEL. Translation: If I had known, I would have called. an unreal conditional |
Я это сделал. Transcription: ya Eta ZDYElal. Translation: I did it. | Я бы это сделал завтра. Transcription: ya by Eta ZDYElal ZAFtra. Translation: I would do it tomorrow. subjunctive mood |
Не будем спорить! Transcription: ni BOOdim SPOrit! Translation: We shall not argue! | Давайте не будем спорить! Transcription: daVAYti ni BOOdim SPOrit! Translation: Let's not argue! imperative |
Всегда будет мир! Transcription: fsigDA BOOdit meer! Translation: There will always be peace! | Пусть всегда будет мир! Transcription: poost fsigDA BOOdit meer! Translation: May there always be peace! imperative |
Word-building particles
Word-building particles are particles that are used to form new words, usually indefinite pronouns. Word-building particles include:
-то transcribed tomeaning any/some-
-либо transcribed LEEbameaning any/some-
-нибудь transcribed neBOODmeaning any/some-
кое- transcribed KOyemeaning some-
не transcribed nyemeaning not/no
ни transcribed nimeaning no/nor
Here are a few ways you can use word-building particles:
To form indefinite pronouns, like “something” or “anywhere,” add a word-building particle after a base word like что transcribed shtomeaning what or где transcribed gdyemeaning where:
что-то transcribed SHTO-tameaning something
где-нибудь transcribed GDYE-nibootmeaning anywhere
Note that there is a hyphen between the base word and the particle.
To form negative pronouns like “nobody” and “nowhere,” add a word-building particle to the beginning of a base word like кто transcribed ktomeaning who or где transcribed gdyemeaning where:
никто transcribed niKTOmeaning nobody
нигде transcribed niGDYEmeaning nowhere
Note that there is a hyphen between the base word and the particle.
To form antonyms:
правда transcribed PRAVdameaning truth → неправда transcribed niPRAVdameaning lie
добрый transcribed DOBryimeaning kind → недобрый transcribed niDOBryimeaning unkind/bad
Meaningful particles
Meaningful particles are particles that function as independent words but impact the meaning of an overall sentence. They are called “meaningful” because they can impact the meaning of a sentence, not because they always have a direct translation into English (though some do!).
Meaningful particles have several categories:
affirmative → words that confirm or emphasize that something is true
negative → words that make a positive phrase negative
exclamation → words that turn a sentence into an exclamation
intensifying → make a statement more extreme
demonstrative → introduce or point to something
interrogative → turn a statement into a question
comparative → state that one situation is like another situation
Let’s discuss each category step by step. Keep reading!
Affirmative particles like да
Affirmative particles express agreement with or confirm the truth of a statement.
The most important Russian affirmative particle is да transcribed da, which is very similar to English “yes” or “yeah.”
- Пойдёшь на вечеринку, да?Transcription: payDYOSH na vichiREENkoo, da?Translation: You're going to the party, right?
- Да, я знаю.Transcription: da ya ZNAyu.Translation: Yes, I know.
- Да, хорошо погуляли!Transcription: da, kharaSHO pagooLYAli!Translation: Yep, we had a good time/party!
- Да? Не может быть!Transcription: Da? Ni MOzhit byt!Translation: Really? Can't be!
Here is a list of several words you can use like the affirmative particle да transcribed da:
действительно transcribed diySTVEEtilnameaning indeed
конечно transcribed kaNYESHnameaning of course
точно transcribed TOCHnameaning exactly
определённо transcribed apridiLYONameaning definitely
так transcribed takmeaning so/that
как же transcribed kak zhemeaning how/what
ладно transcribed LADnameaning ok
ага transcribed aKHAmeaning ok
угу transcribed ooHOOmeaning uh-huh
ну transcribed noomeaning well
ещё бы transcribed iSHCHO bymeaning of course
Negative particles like не, ни, and нет
The negative particles не transcribed nyemeaning not/no, ни transcribed nimeaning neither/nor, нет transcribed nyetmeaning no create negations (making negative any part of the speech or a statement; opposite of positive) and help to make negative sentences. Let’s compare them:
| нет transcribed nyet |
|---|
The opposite of да transcribed dameaning yes Вы играете на гитаре? — Нет. Transcription: vy igRAiti na giTARi? — nyet. Translation: Do you play the guitar? — No. |
“there is no…” у меня нет времени. Transcription: oo miNYA nyet VRYEmini. Translation: I have no time. |
| не transcribed nye |
|---|
Negates sentences Я не играю на гитаре. Transcription: ya ni igRAyu na giTAri. Translation: I don’t play the guitar. |
Two instances of не make a positive Я не могу не сказать это. Transcription: ya ni maGOO ni skaZAT Eta. Translation: I can’t not say this. |
| ни transcribed ni |
|---|
Amplifies negation that is already present Я не сказал им ни слова. Transcription: ya ni skaZAL im ni SLOva. Translation: I didn't say a word to them. Literally: I didn’t say no word to them. |
The particle ни transcribed ni with question words and phrases slightly changes their meaning:
что transcribed shtomeaning what → что ни transcribed shto nimeaning whatever
куда transcribed kooDAmeaning to where → куда ни transcribed kooDA by nimeaning wherever
сколько transcribed SKOLkameaning how much → сколько ни transcribed SKOLka nimeaning no matter how much
Exclamatory particles like что за, какой, or ну и
Exclamatory particles, like что за transcribed shto zameaning what a…, какой transcribed kaKOYmeaning what a…, ну и transcribed noo imeaning wow/ what a…, как transcribed kakmeaning how, form phrases that express admiration, surprise, or indignation. They are usually placed at the beginning of an exclamation.
- Что за шум, а драки нет?Transcription: shto za shoom a DRAki nyet?Translation: What's going on around here?Literally: What’s the noise and no fight?
- Какой у вас чудесный ребёнок!Transcription: kaKOY oo vas chooDYESnyi riBYOnak!Translation: What a wonderful child you have!
- Ну и жара сегодня!Transcription: noo i zhaRA siVODnya!Translation: What hot weather today!Literally: What heat today!
The particle не transcribed nye is often used in combination with other words when forming exclamations or questions, in phrases like кто не meaning who not, только не meaning only not, вряд ли не meaning hardly, едва ли не meaning almost, and so on.
- Кто не знает Пушкина?Transcription: Kto ni ZNAit POOSHkina?Translation: Who does not know Pushkin?
- Едва ли не весь город искал мою собаку!Transcription: yeDVA li ni vyes GOrad isKAL maYU saBAkoo!Translation: Almost the whole city was looking for my dog!
Intensifying particles like даже, же, or ведь
Intensifying particles are used to strengthen the meaning of a word or a sentence. Some examples of particles like this include:
даже transcribed DAzhemeaning even
же transcribed zhemeaning still/indeed
ведь transcribed vyetmeaning indeed/after all
уж transcribed ooshmeaning much/very
всё transcribed fsyomeaning still/more
всё-таки transcribed FSYO-takimeaning after all
прямо transcribed PRYAmameaning really/indeed
да transcribed dameaning really
Like other particles, the intensifying particle goes before the word you want to place emphasis on. For example:
- Даже дети знают эту сказку.Transcription: DAzhe DYEti ZNAyut Etoo SKASkoo.Translation: Even children know this tale.
- Дети знают даже эту сказку.Transcription: DYEti ZNAyut DAzhe Etoo SKASkoo.Translation: Children know even this tale.
- Чего сидишь? Мы ведь собирались в кафе?!Transcription: chiVO siDEESH? My vyet sabiRAlis v kaFE?!Translation: Why are you sitting? We were going to a cafe, weren't we?Literally: …We (indeed) were going to the cafe!
- Они всё работают и работают.Transcription: aNEE fsyo raBOtayut i raBOtayut.Translation: They keep working and working.
- Уж вы мне помогите, раз пообещали!Transcription: oosh vy mnye pamaGEEtye, ras paabyeSHCHAli!Translation: You help me, as promised!
- Всё-таки он прав.Transcription: FSYO-taki on praf.Translation: After all, he is right.
The particle да transcribed dameaning really can also be used to add emphasis:
with an imperative mood or in a sentence denoting a wish
Да делайте вы что хотите!Transcription: Da DYElayti vy shto khaTEtye!Translation: Really, do what you want!at the beginning of the sentence or inside it before the verb, giving more expressiveness to the statement
Я как-нибудь да сделаю это!Transcription: Ya kak niBOOD da SDYElayu Eta!Translation: I’ll do it somehow!Да не знаю я, куда вы положили свои очки!Transcription: da ni ZNAyu ya, kooDA vy palaZHYli svaEE achKEE!Translation: I really don’t know where you put your glasses!
One particularly tricky intensifying particle is же transcribed zhemeaning still/indeed. The main functions of же are:
amplification of the word next to which it stands (these words can be different parts of speech), for example:
Он же не хочет никуда идти!Transcription: On zhe ni KHOchit nikooDA iTEE!Translation: He really doesn't want to go anywhere!Пложи вещи туда же, где взял.Transcription: palaZHY VYEshchi tooDA zhe gdye vzyal.Translation: Put things back where you got them.indication of similarity
Сегодня такой же жаркий день, как и вчера.Transcription: siVODnya taKOY zhe ZHARkiy dyen kak i fchiRA.Translation: Today is the same hot day as yesterday.Все его друзья решили, что не будут готовиться к экзамену. И он туда же!Transcription: fsye iVO droozYA riSHYli shto ni BOOdoot gaTOvitsa k igZAminoo. ee on tooDA zhe!Translation: All his friends decided that they would not study for the exam. And he is doing the same!as a connector/conjunction, же opposes one part of what was said
Мои друзья так любят вечеринки, я же от них устаю.Transcription: maEE drozYA tak LYUbyat vichiREENki, ya zhye at neekh oostaYU.Translation: My friends love parties so much, I get tired of them.
Demonstrative particles like вот, вон, or это
The demonstrative particles вот transcribed votmeaning this/here is, then, now, вон transcribed vonmeaning over there, right, это transcribed Etameaning this present something (an object, a place, an event, a person, etc). Demonstrative particles are usually found at the beginning of a sentence. For example:
- Вот мои документы.Transcription: vot maEE dakooMYENty.Translation: Here are my documents.
- Вот и конец!Transcription: vot i kaNYETS!Translation: Here is the end!
- Вот, пожалуйста!Transcription: vot, paZHAloosta!Translation: Here you are!
- Вон там, за горой, дедушкин дом.Transcription: vot tam, za gaROY, DYEdooshkin dom.Translation: Over there, behind the mountain, is grandfather's house.
- Познакомьтесь, это моя семья!Transcription: paznaKOMtis, Eta maya simYA!Translation: Get acquainted, this is my family!
But the particles вот transcribed vot and вон transcribed von don’t always have to be at the beginning of the sentence.
- Поставьте лампу на стол, вон туда.Transcription: pasTAFti LAMpoo na stol, von tooDA.Translation: Put the lamp on the table right there.
- Быть или не быть, вот в чём вопрос…Transcription: byt EEli ni byt - vot v chyom vaPROS…Translation: To be or not to be: that is the question…Here, вот transcribed vot emphasizes the aforementioned things.
Interrogative particles like ли, разве, or неужели
Interrogative particles are a group of particles expressing a general meaning of uncertainty, doubt, or distrust of the stated proposition. They are exclusively used in questions showing surprise. The particles ли transcribed leemeaning whether, разве transcribed RAZvimeaning isn’t, and неужели transcribed niooZHElimeaning really/indeed/can’t combine the meaning of interrogation with a little additional meaning: surprise or confirmation.
| Without the particle | With the particle |
|---|---|
Никто не может помочь им? Transcription: nikTO ni MOzhyt paMOCH im? Translation: Nobody can help them? | Неужели никто не может помочь им? Transcription: niooZHEli nikTO ni MOzhyt paMOCH im? Translation: Can’t anyone help them? |
Вы не понимаете, что это проблема?! Transcription: vy ni paniMAiti shto Eta prabLYEma?! Translation: Do you not understand that this is a problem?! | Разве вы не понимаете, что это проблема?! Transcription: RAZvi vy ni paniMAiti shto Eta prabLYEma?! Translation: Don’t you understand that this is a problem?! |
Правда, что смех продлевает жизнь? Transcription: PRAVda, shto smyekh pardliVAit zhyzn? Translation: It’s true that laughter prolongs life? | Правда ли, что смех продлевает жизнь? Transcription: PRAVda li, shto smyekh pardliVAit zhyzn? Translation: Is it true that laughter prolongs life? |
Comparative particles like будто, словно, or вроде
The particles будто transcribed BOOtameaning as if, словно transcribed SLOVnameaning like, as if, вроде transcribed VROdimeaning like/sort of, and the very colloquial типа transcribed TEEpameaning like/kinda help to express comparison and are used with the predicate. For instance:
- Он будто в воду глядел!Transcription: On BOOta v VOdoo gliDYEL!Translation: As if he knew beforehand that something was going to happen!Literally: As if he was looking into the water!
- Ты словно живёшь в каменном веке!Transcription: Ty SLOVna zhyVOSH v KAminam VYEkye!Translation: It's like you're living in the Stone Age!
- Он вроде заболел.Transcription: on VROdye zabaLYEL.Translation: He seems to be ill.
- Он хочет стать начальником или типа того.Transcription: On KHOchit stat naCHALnikam EEli TEEpa taVO.Translation: He wants to be the boss or something (like that).
Summary
Particles are function words that affect the meaning of other words or of the whole sentence.
Particles can be:
form-building (to create subjunctive or imperative mood; become the part of the verb form)
word-building (serve to create new words)
meaningful (introduce additional shades of meaning into sentences).
Meaningful particles have many categories: affirmative, negative, exclamation, intensifying, demonstrative, interrogative, comparative, etc.
If you’re ready to practice, try out these Russian particle activities, and apply what you’ve just learned!
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