Russian Language Grammar

Classification of Interjections

Russian interjections are divided into the following groups:

1. Primary

2. Secondary

3. Idiomatic

5. Imitative

6. Foreign-borrowed

1. Primary

Primary interjections usually consist of one syllable, sometimes of one letter. Examples: a – ah, oh; ой – oh.

2. Secondary

Secondary interjections are derived from meaningful words – but are only remotely connected with them as far as meaning. Examples:

Батюшки!	– Dear me! (lit. Father! Daddy!)
О Боже! Боже мой!	- Oh dear! Oh my god!
Помилуйте!	– Oh, no! How can you! (lit. Have mercy!)
Брось (бросьте)!	– Stop, quit, come off it! (lit. throw)
Полно	– Enough, stop (lit. full)
Здравствуйте	– Good morning, good day, hello (lit. be well, be healthy)
Спасибо	– Thank you (originally: God save you.)
Ей-богу!	- By God, indeed

3. Idiomatic

Another group is composed of idiomatic, or set, expressions which function as interjections. For example:

Вот оно что!	So that's what it is!
Вот так-так!	That's something! What do you know!
Вот те (тебе) paз!	Well, I never! Well, I'm sure?
Была – не была.	Come what may.
Вот это да!	That's something like! Wow!

The borderline between these interjections and other parts of speech is not always clear.

4. Foreign-borrowed

To another group of interjections belong words borrowed from foreign languages. For example:

Алло.	Hallo (answering a telephone, only).
Стоп.	Stop (with traffic).
Браво.	Bravo!
Бис!	Encore (at a theater)!
Ура!	Hurrah!
Ба!	Well!? (expresses surprise, amazement)

5. Imitative

Some words which imitate actions (such us laughing, whistling) or sounds made by animals or objects are classified as interjections: