Russian Language Lesson
How to say: ‘Be…’
Áóäüòå …
The verb ‘to be’ (áûòü), doesn’t have a present form, only a past (áûë) and future (áóäåò).
Russians use Áóäüòå (future imperative, âû form) to tell you, for example, to ‘Be good!’ or ask you to ‘Be so kind as to…’. It is commonly used when:
Asking to speak to someone on the phone:
Áóäüòå …
…ëþáåçíû, ïîçîâèòå, ïîæàëóéñòà, Îëüãó ê òåëåôîíó. lit: Be so kind, call Olga to the phone, please. (Could I speak to Olga, please?)
…ëþáåçíû, ìîæíî Îëüãó ê òåëåôîíó? (same request, also polite, but less of a mouthful!).
Asking for information or a favour:
Áóäüòå …
…äîáðû, ñêàæèòå, ïîæàëóéñòà, ñêîëüêî ýòî ñòîèò. The literal translation sounds incredibly formal (Be so good as to tell me how much this costs, please), but obviously simply means ‘Could you tell me how much this costs, please?’
…äîáðû, âîçüìèòå íà ñåêóíäó. Could you hold this a moment please?
…äîáðû, äîæäèòåñü ìåíÿ. Could you wait for me, please.
Wishing someone health and happiness:
Áóäüòå …
…çäîðîâû! Be healthy! (said after someone sneezes, equivalent to English ‘Bless you!’)
…çäîðîâû, ñ÷àñòëèâû è áîãàòû! Be healthy, happy and rich! (A typical Russian toast or birthday wish).
Not exactly giving orders, but…:
Áóäüòå …
…îñòîðîæíû, äâåðè çàêðûâàþòñÿ! Be careful, the doors are closing! (Metro users will know this one!).
…äðóçüÿìè! Be friends! (what a mediator might say to two friends having a row).
…êàê äîìà! Make yourself at home.
Áóäü ïîñëóøíûì, âåäè ñåáÿ õîðîøî!
Be good, behave yourself! (using the informal òû form, since you’d say this to a child).
Giving in:
Áóäü, ÷òî áóäåò.
What will be will be.
Previous phrases on www.ruslingua.com
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