авось

Russian

Etymology

From Old East Slavic авосе (avose), from а (a, but) + осе (ose, here).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ɐˈvosʲ]
  • (file)

Adverb

аво́сь (avósʹ)

  1. (colloquial) perhaps, maybe, possibly, may still, might yet (low certainty)
    Аво́сь повезёт.Avósʹ povezjót.We/I may yet succeed. (with low certainty)

Noun

аво́сь (avósʹ) m inan (genitive аво́ся, nominative plural аво́си, genitive plural аво́сей)

  1. blind trust in divine providence; blind faith in sheer luck; blind trust in sheer luck; counting on a miracle
    Наде́ясь на аво́сь, я реши́л вы́ехать на встре́чную по́лосу, что́бы объе́хать про́бку.
    Nadéjasʹ na avósʹ, ja rešíl výjexatʹ na vstréčnuju pólosu, štóby obʺjéxatʹ próbku.
    Counting on a miracle, I decided to slip into the oncoming lane to get around the traffic jam.
  2. faith in serendipity; counting on pure luck
    ру́сский «аво́сь»rússkij “avósʹsaid about the alleged unconcern of Russians and their tendency to rely on luck
    на аво́сьna avósʹcounting on pure luck
    Аво́сь с небо́сем води́лись, да о́ба в я́му ввали́лись.
    Avósʹ s nebósem vodílisʹ, da óba v jámu vvalílisʹ.
    "Avos" and "Nebos" hung out together and both fell into a hole. (one can't rely on luck alone)
    От аво́ся добра́ не жди.
    Ot avósja dobrá ne ždi.
    Don't expect anything good from "Avos". (one can't rely on luck alone)

Declension

  • аво́ська f (avósʹka)
  • аво́сь, да небо́сь - хоть брось (avósʹ, da nebósʹ - xotʹ brosʹ)

See also

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