Connectors Свя́зки
17 Russian words on the topic of connectors — each with a picture, an audio recording and an example sentence. The little glue words — and, but, because, if. Mastering them is a leap in fluency.
| Picture | English | Russian · Ру́сский | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | and | и | Pronounced 'ee'. 🔀 Several meaningsAlso means 'too, even': и я — me too. |
 | or | и́ли | Stress on the first syllable. 'Either… or' is и́ли… и́ли. |
 | but | но | 🎭 False friendSounds like 'no' but means 'but'. Russian for 'no' is нет. |
 | because | потому́ что | Two words; it answers почему́ (why) — don't drop the что. |
 | because of | из-за | ⚠️ IrregularTakes the genitive, usually for a negative cause: из-за дождя́ (because of the rain). A welcome cause is благодаря́. |
 | in order to | что́бы | ⚠️ IrregularSame subject: что́бы + infinitive; new subject: что́бы + a past-tense form. |
 | although | хотя́ | Stress at the end: хотя́. хотя́ бы means 'at least'. |
 | however | одна́ко | 🌎 RegionBookish; everyday speech prefers но. |
 | still · still / even | всё ещё | всё ещё = still; уже́ = already. |
 | while | пока́ | 🌎 RegionInformal 'bye'. 🔀 Several meaningsAlso means 'for now / while'. |
 | then | тогда́ | 🔀 Several meanings'Then' as 'afterwards' is пото́м; тогда́ means 'at that time / in that case'. |
 | also | та́кже | 🌎 RegionBookish; in speech то́же is the usual word for 'also'. |
 | neither | то́же не | The не goes with the verb: я то́же не зна́ю — I don't know either. |
 | besides | кро́ме того́ | кро́ме alone (+ genitive) means 'except': кро́ме меня́ — except me. |
 | if | е́сли | 🔀 Several meaningsConditional 'if' only; 'if' as 'whether' is the particle ли. |
 | when | когда́ | 🔗 Word familyFamily: никогда́ — never, иногда́ — sometimes. |
 | like | как | 🔀 Several meaningsAlso the question word 'how': Как дела́? — how are things? |
See also:Question Words