это

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 Russian 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Pronoun 1.3 Particle 1.4 Interjection 1.4.1 Idioms

[edit] Russian

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɛtə/
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[edit] Pronoun

это (éto)

1. (demonstrative pronoun) this, it, that

   • Мне э́то нра́вится! — I like it! or I like that!

2. neuter form of этот: this

   • Это яйцо́ — све́жее, а вот э́то — ту́хлое. — This egg is fresh, and this one is rotten.

   Compare этот/эта/эти and тот/то/та/те

[edit] Particle

это (éto)

1. Used as subject: it (is), this (is), that (is), these (are), those (are).

   • Это — учи́тель — This is the teacher.
   • Это — брат и сестра́ — They are brother and sister.
   • Это не молоко́, а кефи́р — This is not milk, but kefir.

   Used to connect subject and predicate as kind of topic or subject marker. (However, as opposed to actual topic markers such as は in Japanese, ‘это’ may be omitted without changing the meaning or breaking the sentence structure.) It does not get translated into English.

   • Со́евое молоко́ — (э́то) напи́ток, полу́ченный из зёрен со́и — Soya milk is a beverage produced from soybeans.

   Note that all of the above examples are ellipses in which the actual verb (есть — is, суть — are) has been omitted, which is typical for Russian. Oftentimes, the omitted verb is replaced by an em dash.

[edit] Interjection

это (éto)

1. uh, er, erm, umm; used in hesitant speech, expressing equivalent to the German dings.

   Я, э́то, не купи́л ничего́ — I’m, er, I haven't bought anything.

[edit] Idioms

• вот это (pronoun/particle) — this here, this over here/there.
• вот это да (interjection) — wow.
• при этом (adverb) — in the process, in doing so; on top of that, withal, for good measure.
• после этого (adverb) — afterwards, thereafter.
• в это время (adverb) — at the time, at that time; meanwhile, in the mean time.