Tak - Meaning in Russian

Jun 23, 2020 | What does it mean in Russian?

Tak in Russian literally means so.

In Cyrillic it’s written так.

Besides meaning so, tak can be used in all sorts of situations with slightly different meanings. For example, it can mean yes if it comes after a question. If it goes in the beginning of the sentence, it means that the person is trying to collect the thoughts and come up with a decision.

Have a look at some examples:

– Всё так? – Да, всё так.
[fsyo tak? – da, fsyo tak]
Is everything alright (so)? – Yes, all is good.

– Так, дава́йте договори́мся о сле́дующем…
[tak, da-váî-tye da-ga-va-réem-sya a slyé-du-yu-schem]
Ok, let’s agree on the following…

– Так не пра́вильно, пра́вильно вот так.
[tak nye prá-veel’-na, prá-veel’-na vot tak]
It’s not correct like that, like that is correct.

Besides, tak often is a part of different expressions with completely different meanings.

TAK in some Russian expressions

так держа́ть

[tak deerzhát'] Phrase

Keep it up! Stick at it!

так себе́

[tak seebyé] Phrase

so-so

так де́ло не пойдёт

[tak dyéla nye paîdyót] Phrase

that won't do; this way we won't go far

так сойдёт

[tak saidyót] Phrase , variation - "сойдёт и так"

that will do, let well alone

так тебе́ и на́до

[tak teebyé ee náda] Phrase

you asked for it!, it serves you right!

так уж и быть

[tak uzh ee byt'] Phrase

(reluctant) fine, ok, all right

Examples of Tak in Russian

Андре́я с рабо́ты уво́лили. - Так ему́ и на́до, давно́ пора́ бы́ло!

andryéya s rabóty uvóleelee. tak yemú ee náda, davnó para býla!

Andrei got fired from his job. - He deserves it, should have done it long ago!
Да нет же, всё совсе́м не так!

da nyet zhe, fsyo safsyém nye tak

But no, it's not like that at all!
Где ты так загоре́ла?

gdye ty tak zagaryéla

Where did you get so tanned?
Карти́на кри́во виси́т. - Так сойдёт!

kartéena kréeva veeséet tak saidyót!

The painting is not hung straight. - That will do!
Как прошли́ выходны́е? - Да так себе́.

kak prashlée vyhadnýye? da tak seebyé

How was your weekend? - So-so.
Молоде́ц, так держа́ть!

maladyéts, tak deerzhát'

Well done, keep it up!
Отли́чно порабо́тали сего́дня, так держа́ть!

atléechna parabótalee seevódnya, tak deerzhát'

Excellent work today, keep it up!