Language/Belarusian/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions

Belarusian Vocabulary - Idiomatic expressions

Hi Belarusian learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn about the most common Belarusian idiomatic expressions. We will provide you with examples, translations, and cultural context. By the end of this lesson, you will have a better understanding of Belarusian culture and be able to communicate more naturally. Don't forget to practice these expressions with native speakers on Polyglot Club. You can find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: At Home & Clothes.

Expressions Using Body Parts

Belarusians often use body parts in their idiomatic expressions. Don't be surprised if you hear something like "It's expensive, it costs an eye from the head." These expressions add some color to the language and can be used in daily conversations.

Belarusian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Мне руку косят	mnye roo-koo koh-syat	My hand is being mowed (I feel uncomfortable)
Крыжы да крыжа	kryzhy da kryzha	Cross to cross (be at loggerheads)
Кожным адной рукой	kozh-nym ad-noyi roo-koy	With one hand (casually or carelessly)
Браць за сэрца	brats' za syertsa	To take by the heart (to be attached)
Ад душы да душы	ad doo-shy da doo-shy	From soul to soul (heartfelt)
Запляццеў на сэрцы	zapl'yats'yeu na syertsi	It danced on my heart (I was very happy)
Ня прыходзіць да галавы	nya prykho-dzits' da ha-la-vy	It doesn't come to the head (not understandable)
Дрысня як качалка	drysnya yak kacha-lka	Bounces like a rocking horse (active or restless)

Dialogue:

• Person 1: Мне руку косят. (My hand is being mowed.)
• Person 2: Што з табой не так? (What's wrong with you?)

Expressions About Weather

Belarusian weather can be brutal, especially during winter. It's no surprise that weather-related idiomatic expressions are common.

Belarusian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Як у лета	yak u lieta	As in summer (good)
Як у жніва	yak u zhni-va	As in harvest time (plenty)
Як у чарнавіку	yak u chyarna-viku	As in November (gloomy)
Як ісці на мора	yak is-tsi na mo-ra	As going to the sea (cheerfully, happily)
Як на прастор Вало́жы	yak na pra-stor valo-zhi	As in the fields of Voložyn (wide, open)
Як на первы дзень лета	yak na per-vy dzyen' lieta	As on the first day of summer (fresh, new)

Dialogue:

• Person 1: Сёння як у чарнавіку. (Today is like in November.)
• Person 2: Спадзяюся, што здача з экзамену пайдзе добра. (I hope that you will pass the exam well.)

Expressions About Work

As in most cultures, Belarusians have idiomatic expressions about work, stress and being busy. You might have heard some of them at your workplace.

Belarusian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Робіць за двая	robi-tsi za dvaya	To do for two (work very efficiently)
Працаваты бясперапынку	pratsana-vatui bya-spera-pyn-koo	To work without a break (work tirelessly)
Кораць ужо наскоку	kora-ts' u-zho nas-ko-ku	To walk already at a jump (to be in a hurry)

Dialogue:

• Person 1: Я заўжды працую бясперапынку. (I always work without a break.)
• Person 2: Ты павінен ведаць, што тваё здароўе галоўнае. (You should know that your health is the most important thing.)

Expressions About Food

Belarusian cuisine is hearty and flavorful. No wonder, idiomatic expressions about food are common.

Belarusian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ісці на брыльёвым хлебе	is-tsi na bry-lyovyim khlye-byie	To eat on crystal bread (to live luxuriously)
Ісці як на сваяку	is-tsi yak na sva-ya-ku	To eat like at a relative's home (heartily)
Ісці як на выставе	is-tsi yak na vy-sta-vye	To eat like at a fair (greedily)

Dialogue:

• Person 1: Дзе лепш за ўсё можна ўжываць беларускую каву? (Where is the best place to drink Belarusian coffee?)
• Person 2: Што ты любіш яснарадзіскую каву, і яшчэ можаш паспрабаваць на брыльёвым хлебе. (You like Yasna Radzisk coffee, and you can also try it on crystal bread.)

Expressions About Differences

Belarusian language has a number of expressions to describe the differences between people, things, or situations.

Belarusian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Як Бабруйск і Берасцейск	yak Bab-ruisk i Byera-styeisk	Like Babruysk and Brest (very different)
Як сакавік і чарвень	yak sa-ka-vik i char-vyeny	Like March and October (very different)
Як ноч і дзень	yak noch i dzyen'	Like night and day (very different)

Dialogue:

• Person 1: Што ты думаеш пра новую каманду? (What do you think about the new team?)
• Person 2: Яны як Бабруйск і Берасцейск. (They are like Babruysk and Brest - very different.)

Expressions About Animals

Using animals in idiomatic expressions is not unique to Belarusian, but they make the language more fun.

Belarusian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Хоць ласкі і сабаку	khots' laski i sabaku	Even mercy and a dog (not getting along)
Хоць на амбразурах узды мяць, а на зубах зламаць	khots' na ambra-zu-rah uz-dy myats', a na zooba-kh zla-mats'	Even having the reins at embrasures, but breaking your teeth (to have great power, but be in trouble)
Кабы зняў бог шкуру, то хацела б ужо і пушку	kaby znyau bog shku-ru, to khatse-la b u-zho i pushku	If God removed the fur, they would want the gun too. (unsatisfied with everything)

Dialogue:

• Person 1: Ты ўжо знаеш, што Марыня пакінула свой дом? (Do you know that Marina left her home?)
• Person 2: Спадзяюся, яна знойдзе жыльё, хоць хто яе не падтрымліваў. (I hope she will find accommodation, although nobody supported her.) Кабы зняў бог шкуру, то хацела б ужо і пушку.

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Other Lessons

• Transportation
• Count to 10
• Time
• Days of the week
• Sports
• Location
• Animals
• Months of the Year
• Food
• Family Members

Sources

• Quick Fix Belarusian Words and Phrases
• Belarusian Vocabulary - Idiomatic expressions
• 7 Belarusian phrases to learn before you visit (and how to say them)