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A1How to sayshto éto znáchit

How to say “what does it mean” in Russian

Four questions that let you learn Russian from Russians instead of from a book.

Quick answer

Что э́то зна́чит?

shto éto znáchit — the question that unlocks every other word

The options

Что э́то зна́чит?What does that mean?
Как по-ру́сски “bread”?How do you say “bread” in Russian?
Как э́то пи́шется?How is that spelled?
Где здесь ударе́ние?Where is the stress here?
Повтори́те, пожа́луйста.Please repeat that.

The stress question is the useful one

Asking Где ударе́ние? surprises Russians and gets you the one piece of information no dictionary in a shop window will show. It is the single most useful question a learner can ask.

What you hear back

Э́то зна́чит…It means…
По-ру́сски э́то…In Russian that’s…
Ударе́ние на второ́м сло́ге.The stress is on the second syllable.

Typical mistakes

Что зна́чит э́то сло́во? — with heavy stress on э́то

Что зна́чит э́то сло́во?

Fine as it is — just do not stress э́то, or you sound suspicious of the word.

Как ты пи́шешь э́то?

Как э́то пи́шется?

The reflexive form asks how the word is spelled in general.

Check yourself

How do you ask where the stress falls?

Ударе́ние is the stress.

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