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пожалуйста. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
пожалуйста, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
пожалуйста in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
пожалуйста you have here. The definition of the word
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пожалуйста, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Russian
Etymology
Lexicalization of пожа́луй (požáluj) + -ста (-sta), an obsolete clitic that was used to add emphasis and to signify politeness, of obscure origin. The clitic is no longer used or known to most speakers, even as passive vocabulary, and has essentially disappeared from the language. Accordingly, to modern speakers, the ending of the word пожалуйста is merely a sequence of sounds of indeterminate meaning.
The letter й, despite still being used in the spelling, was dropped from the pronunciation.
Pronunciation
- (standard) IPA(key): (phonetic respelling: пожа́луста)
- (casual, fast speech) IPA(key): (phonetic respelling: пожа́л(о)ста)
- (uncommon) IPA(key):
Interjection
пожа́луйста • (požálujsta)
- please
- Да, пожа́луйста. ― Da, požálujsta. ― Yes, please.
- you're welcome, not at all, don't mention it, it's a pleasure (reply to thank you)
- here you are (when handing something over)
Descendants