Signification
Rephrasing for clarity.
Contexte culturel
In Russian universities, 'другими словами' is a sign of a good student. It shows you can not only memorize a definition but also explain it in your own words. Historically, intellectuals used rephrasing to hide political criticism. They would state a 'safe' fact and then use 'другими словами' to hint at a forbidden truth. In Moscow's tech scene, the phrase is used to 'de-jargonize' speech for investors. It's a bridge between the 'devs' and the 'suits'. Authors like Dostoevsky use this phrase to delve deeper into a character's psychology, often rephrasing a thought three or four times to find the 'soul' of the matter.
The Comma Rule
Always put a comma after 'Другими словами' if it's at the start of a sentence. It's a parenthetical phrase!
Don't translate 'In'
Never use the preposition 'в'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating from English in your head.
Signification
Rephrasing for clarity.
The Comma Rule
Always put a comma after 'Другими словами' if it's at the start of a sentence. It's a parenthetical phrase!
Don't translate 'In'
Never use the preposition 'в'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating from English in your head.
Use it to stall
If you forget a word, say 'другими словами...' to give yourself 2 seconds to think of a simpler way to say it.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing phrase to clarify the sentence.
Он вегетарианец, ________ ________, он не ест мясо.
The correct idiom is 'другими словами' in the Instrumental case.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct option:
The phrase must be 'другими словами' and it needs a comma for punctuation.
Match the complex statement with its 'другими словами' simplification.
Match the pairs:
These pairings show how the phrase connects a symptom/fact to a simple conclusion.
Complete the dialogue.
Анна: 'Этот фильм слишком претенциозный.' Иван: '________ ________, он тебе не понравился?'
Both 'Другими словами' and 'Иначе говоря' work perfectly in this context.
In which situation would you MOST likely use 'другими словами'?
Choose the best context:
The phrase is used for clarification and rephrasing.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesОн вегетарианец, ________ ________, он не ест мясо.
The correct idiom is 'другими словами' in the Instrumental case.
Select the correct option:
The phrase must be 'другими словами' and it needs a comma for punctuation.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These pairings show how the phrase connects a symptom/fact to a simple conclusion.
Анна: 'Этот фильм слишком претенциозный.' Иван: '________ ________, он тебе не понравился?'
Both 'Другими словами' and 'Иначе говоря' work perfectly in this context.
Choose the best context:
The phrase is used for clarification and rephrasing.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend. For very formal writing, 'иначе говоря' is a bit more sophisticated.
Technically yes, but it sounds weird. The idiom is fixed in the plural: 'другими словами'.
'То есть' is like 'i.e.' and is used for quick definitions. 'Другими словами' is for rephrasing entire ideas.
Yes, in 99% of cases, it is treated as a parenthetical expression and needs commas.
No, in Russian it almost always introduces the clarification, so it comes before it.
Yes, but people often shorten it to 'короче' (shorter) in very casual texts.
No, it is a perfectly natural and native Russian expression.
Absolutely. It is a standard logical connector in Russian academic prose.
Try using 'иначе говоря' or 'выражаясь иначе'.
The closest slang version is 'типа' (like) or 'короче' (basically).
Expressions liées
иначе говоря
synonymotherwise speaking
то есть
similarthat is / i.e.
проще говоря
specialized formto put it simply
короче говоря
similarlong story short
собственно говоря
builds onproperly speaking
