Home/Vocabulary/“I’m just looking”
A2How to sayya tólka smatryú

How to say “I’m just looking” in Russian

What to say when an assistant appears at your shoulder — and how to say it without sounding sharp.

Quick answer

Я то́лько смотрю́.

ya tólka smatryú — the friendly way to decline help in a shop

The options

Я то́лько смотрю́.I’m just looking.
Спаси́бо, я сам посмотрю́.Thanks, I’ll look by myself. — male
Спаси́бо, я сама́ посмотрю́.Thanks, I’ll look by myself. — female
Если что, я спрошу́.If I need anything, I’ll ask.
Мне ну́жно поду́мать.I need to think about it.

сам and сама́

Сам means “by myself” and agrees with you: сам (m.), сама́ (f.), са́ми (plural or polite). It is the difference between declining help and simply stating a fact.

Softening it

A bare Я смотрю́ can sound curt. Adding спаси́бо in front, or е́сли что, я спрошу́ after, makes it warm — and assistants usually leave you alone straight away.

What you hear back

Коне́чно, смотри́те.Of course, have a look.
Если что — я здесь.If you need anything, I’m here.
Хорошо́, не спеши́те.Fine, take your time.

Typical mistakes

Я сам смотрю́ — said by a woman

Я сама́ смотрю́.

сам agrees with the speaker.

Нет!

Спаси́бо, я то́лько смотрю́.

A bare “no” to an offer of help is much sharper in Russian than in English.

Check yourself

A woman says “I’ll look by myself”:

Сама́ for a female speaker.

Want it all in one place?

Russian Basics has Cyrillic, the cases and 1,000 words in one PDF — stress marked on every word, exercises with answers.

Get the guide — $19