Significado
Pronouncing a single word.
Contexto cultural
The 'word' (slovo) is often personified in Russian literature as something that has its own life and power. Writers like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy often focus on the moment a character finally 'says their word' as a turning point in their moral development. The Russian Bible starts with 'В начале было Слово' (In the beginning was the Word). This gives the concept of 'saying a word' a semi-divine weight in the Russian linguistic consciousness. The 'Last Word' (Последнее слово) is a specific legal right in Russia where the defendant speaks to the court before the verdict. It is often a very emotional and publicized event. There is a belief that if you 'сказал слово' (said a word) about something bad, it might happen. This leads to the habit of knocking on wood or spitting over the left shoulder.
Use for Silence
The most common way to say someone is silent is 'Он не сказал ни слова.'
Promise Trap
Don't use 'сказать слово' when you mean 'I promise.' Use 'Я даю слово.'
Significado
Pronouncing a single word.
Use for Silence
The most common way to say someone is silent is 'Он не сказал ни слова.'
Promise Trap
Don't use 'сказать слово' when you mean 'I promise.' Use 'Я даю слово.'
Diminutives Matter
Use 'словечко' when you want to sound extra polite or when asking for a small favor.
Weight of Words
Russians value 'the word.' If you say you'll do something, 'сказать слово' is seen as a serious act.
Teste-se
Fill in the correct form of the phrase.
Он был так напуган, что не мог ___ ни ___.
In a negative sentence emphasizing 'not a single word,' we use the perfective 'сказать' and the genitive 'слова'.
Which sentence means 'May I speak?'
How do you ask for the floor in a meeting?
'Сказать слово' is the correct way to ask to speak. 'Дать слово' means to make a promise.
Match the Russian phrase to its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the most common variations of 'word' collocations.
Complete the dialogue.
А: Почему ты молчишь? Б: Я просто не знаю, что ___.
While 'сказать слово' is a phrase, in this context, the simple verb 'сказать' is more natural, but 'сказать слово' would be used if emphasizing the inability to utter even one word.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Where would you use 'Замолвить словечко'?
This idiom is specifically for asking for favors or recommendations.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Recursos visuais
Сказать vs. Дать
Registers of 'Saying a Word'
Formal
- • Просить слова
- • Последнее слово
Informal
- • Замолвить словечко
- • Ни слова!
Neutral
- • Сказать слово
- • Не сказал ни слова
Banco de exercicios
5 exerciciosОн был так напуган, что не мог ___ ни ___.
In a negative sentence emphasizing 'not a single word,' we use the perfective 'сказать' and the genitive 'слова'.
How do you ask for the floor in a meeting?
'Сказать слово' is the correct way to ask to speak. 'Дать слово' means to make a promise.
Combine cada item a esquerda com seu par a direita:
These are the most common variations of 'word' collocations.
А: Почему ты молчишь? Б: Я просто не знаю, что ___.
While 'сказать слово' is a phrase, in this context, the simple verb 'сказать' is more natural, but 'сказать слово' would be used if emphasizing the inability to utter even one word.
Where would you use 'Замолвить словечко'?
This idiom is specifically for asking for favors or recommendations.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Perguntas frequentes
12 perguntasNot really. It refers to the specific act of uttering words or speaking up, not the process of having a conversation.
It is neutral. It can be used with friends or in a business meeting.
'Слово' is one word; 'слова' is multiple words. Use the singular to ask for the floor.
Use 'Я не сказал ни слова.' Note the 'ни' and the 'a' ending on 'слова'.
Yes, but it usually means to recite lyrics or a specific set of words, not 'to speak' in general.
It means to recommend someone or put in a good word for them.
Not primarily, but 'Слово?' can be used like 'Word?' in English to mean 'Really?'.
Because 'ни' requires the genitive case, and the genitive of 'слово' is 'слова'.
No, for that use 'рассказать шутку'.
Yes, it's a very polite way to ask to contribute to a meeting.
No, it can also mean the latest technology ('последнее слово техники').
It's 'ska-ZAT' with a soft 't' at the end.
Frases relacionadas
Дать слово
similarTo give one's word / to promise
Держать слово
builds onTo keep one's word
Замолвить словечко
specialized formTo put in a good word
Слова не вытянешь
contrastCan't get a word out of someone
Одним словом
similarIn a word / in short
