المعنى
To bring bad luck by talking about success.
خلفية ثقافية
The ritual of spitting three times over the left shoulder (symbolically) is the standard antidote to 'сглазить'. The left side is traditionally where the devil sits. Similar to Russia, many Ukrainians wear a 'red thread' (червона нитка) on their wrist to protect against 'сглаз' (the evil eye). The 'Nazar' amulet (blue eye) is very common here to prevent 'сглаз', showing the influence of Turkic and Middle Eastern traditions. On Russian Telegram or Instagram, people use the 🧿 emoji or the 🙅♂️ emoji when sharing good news to 'protect' their post from 'sglaz'.
The Spitting Ritual
If you say something positive, you can add 'тьфу-тьфу-тьфу' to show you're not being arrogant. It's very common and friendly.
Don't use 'сглаживать'
Avoid using the imperfective form when talking about jinxes; it will confuse people as it means 'to smooth over'.
المعنى
To bring bad luck by talking about success.
The Spitting Ritual
If you say something positive, you can add 'тьфу-тьфу-тьфу' to show you're not being arrogant. It's very common and friendly.
Don't use 'сглаживать'
Avoid using the imperfective form when talking about jinxes; it will confuse people as it means 'to smooth over'.
Self-Jinxing
You can 'сглазить' yourself. If you brag about your health and then get a cold, you 'сглазили сами себя'.
Use with 'Боюсь'
The most natural way to use this is 'Боюсь сглазить' (I'm afraid to jinx it) at the start of a sentence.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'сглазить'.
Я не хочу ничего рассказывать раньше времени, чтобы не ___ наш проект.
We need the infinitive perfective form after 'чтобы не'.
Which response is most culturally appropriate?
Друг: 'Ты точно выиграешь этот марафон, ты лучший!' Вы: '...'
In Russian culture, it's common to deflect such praise to avoid a jinx.
Match the phrase with its meaning.
Match the items:
These are all related to the concept of luck and superstition.
In which situation would you say 'Боюсь сглазить'?
Select the best scenario:
You use it when something good is possible but not yet certain.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Sglazit vs Nakarkat
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينЯ не хочу ничего рассказывать раньше времени, чтобы не ___ наш проект.
We need the infinitive perfective form after 'чтобы не'.
Друг: 'Ты точно выиграешь этот марафон, ты лучший!' Вы: '...'
In Russian culture, it's common to deflect such praise to avoid a jinx.
طابق كل عنصر على اليسار مع زوجه على اليمين:
These are all related to the concept of luck and superstition.
Select the best scenario:
You use it when something good is possible but not yet certain.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
14 أسئلةNo, it's not a swear word. It's a common, everyday word used by all ages.
Yes, but usually in a slightly informal way, like 'Боюсь сглазить, но показатели растут'.
'Сглазить' is about ruining something good by praising it. 'Накаркать' is about making something bad happen by predicting it.
No, you can just say the words 'тьфу-тьфу-тьфу' or 'чтобы не сглазить'.
No, you can jinx a project, a car, a trip, or even the weather.
Yes, 'сглаз' (the jinx/evil eye).
Most people don't literally believe in magic, but almost everyone uses the phrase as a cultural habit.
No, that sounds like you want someone to stop smoothing your skin. Say 'не сглазь меня'.
It's neutral to informal. In a very formal speech, you'd avoid it.
It takes the Accusative case (Direct Object).
Yes, it literally means 'to eye' someone in a bad way.
There isn't a single word, but 'приносить удачу' (to bring luck) is the conceptual opposite.
Yes: 'Я его сглазил' (I jinxed him).
Yes, similar forms exist in Polish (zapeszyć) and Bulgarian, though the roots may vary.
عبارات ذات صلة
накаркать
similarTo bring bad luck by talking about it (like a crow).
дурной глаз
synonymThe evil eye.
постучать по дереву
builds onTo knock on wood.
сглаживать углы
contrastTo smooth over conflicts.
приносить удачу
contrastTo bring luck.
