что-то

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Russian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key):  (phonetic respelling: што́-то)
  • Audio:(file)

Pronoun

что́-то (štó-ton

  1. (indefinite pronoun) something (implies that one has a certain thing in mind, but does not know exactly what)
    Я ви́жу что́-то!Ja vížu štó-to!I see something!
    ря́дом с че́м-тоrjádom s čém-tonext to something

Usage notes

The particle -то (-to) imparts a sense of indefiniteness similar to English some. The forms of что-то are usually associated with affirmatives (like something), while что́-нибудь (štó-nibudʹ) is associated with questions and negatives (like anything).

Declension

Adverb

что́-то (štó-to)

  1. (colloquial) somewhat, slightly, to some extent
    Synonyms: (colloquial) ка́к-то (kák-to), отча́сти (otčásti), слегка́ (slexká)
  2. (colloquial) for some reason
    Synonym: почему́-то (počemú-to)
    Сего́дня до́лжен быть дождь, но что́-то он не начина́ется.Sevódnja dólžen bytʹ doždʹ, no štó-to on ne načinájetsja.There's supposed to be rain today, but for some reason it's not starting.
  3. (colloquial) approximately, roughly
    Synonym: приблизи́тельно (priblizítelʹno)

See also