The feeling of confusion about a particular word is undoubtedly familiar to any foreign language learner. Thanks to one of our readers, one of this pesky Russian words have been brought to my attention. What might that word be? Ironically, it is none other than the word “what” itself :-).

Translation of the word что in Russian seems to puzzle foreigners because depending on the use case, it can be translated as what, that, random exclamation, or omitted all together. In other words, что can be a pronoun, a conjunction, or a particle. So how do you determine the right translation? Let’s try to figure it out.

1. If you are dealing with a question, что is most likely a pronoun meaning what.

Что случилось? – What happened?

Что ты делаешь в субботу? – What are you doing on Saturday?

Что тебе подарить? – What kind of gift would you like?/ What can I get you as a gift?

2. If you are dealing with a complex sentence, что is likely to be used in the subordinate clause either as a pronoun meaning what or a conjunction meaning that.

Here are a few examples of что being used as a pronoun. In this case it always means what and acts as an object in the subordinate clause.

Я всю неделю думал, что тебе подарить. – I spent all week thinking what to get you (as a gift).

Я не могу понять, что его беспокоит. – I cannot figure out what bothers him.

Скажите пожалуйста, что заставило Вас изменить свой род деятельности? – Could you tell me what made you change your occupation?

Below are a few examples of что being used as a conjunction. In this case что does not act as an object and can be easily omitted without sacrificing the meaning.

Я так устала, что не могу даже посуду помыть or Я так устала, не могу даже посуду помыть. – I am so tired (that) I can’t even wash the dishes. As you can see, “that” in this case can be easily omitted and the meaning of the sentence will not change. In fact, the English translation might even sound better without “that.” Also, the presence of the particle так in the principal clause is a good indicator that что is a conjunction in the subordinate clause (…так…., что….).

Мы так торопились в аэропорт, (что) забыли пасспорта. – We were in such a rush to get to the airport (that) we forgot our passports.

Платье было настолько тугое, (что) ей было тяжело дышать. – The dress was so tight (that) it was hard for her to breathe.

To summarize, if you are struggling to determine whether что means what or that, try using the sentence without it. If you cannot skip it due to the loss of meaning, then it used as a pronoun what. If you can omit it and the meaning does not really change, then it is used as conjunction that.

3. There are a series of expressions that you might come across in everyday Russian where что has yet another meaning (surprise, bewilderment, or another emotion depending on the context). In these cases the word что is used as a particle (in most cases). Below are a few of these examples.

ни за что – never; not in a million years 

что касается меня… – as far as I am concerned…

что бы ни случилось – whatever happens

что за… – what kind of…; what…!

что ли – perhaps

что ни (день)… – every (day)…

хоть бы что – nothing, unaffected (someone by something)

Что вы! – You don’t say!

Знать, что к чему. – To know the how and why of things.

Что пользы? – What’s the use?

Что с вами? – What is the matter with you?