Russian · At the Bar
В стельку
v stel'ku
f STYEL-koo · /f ˈstʲelʲkʊ/
Blind drunk / hammered / plastered
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"To the shoe-insole"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Russian has a museum of ways to say wasted; this is a favorite — drunk "down to the insole." Others: "v khlam" (into trash), "v drova" (into firewood), "v dyupel'." "Pyany v stel'ku" is the full phrase. Coarse-ish but affectionate; a bar staple.
Heard in the wild
Он вчера напился в стельку.
He got blind drunk yesterday.
Where it lands
Russia (universal)
Quick answers
- What does "В стельку" mean?
- In Russian, "В стельку" means "Blind drunk / hammered / plastered". Literally it's "To the shoe-insole". Russian has a museum of ways to say wasted; this is a favorite — drunk "down to the insole." Others: "v khlam" (into trash), "v drova" (into firewood), "v dyupel'." "Pyany v stel'ku" is the full phrase. Coarse-ish but affectionate; a bar staple.
- Is "В стельку" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
- How do you pronounce "В стельку"?
- Say it "f STYEL-koo" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: f ˈstʲelʲkʊ.
Related in Russian
Наливай! nalivay nah-lee-VYE Fill 'em up! / Pour the drinks! За здоровье! za zdorov'e zah zdah-ROH-vye Cheers! / To your health! На посошок! na pososhok nah pah-sah-SHOK One for the road! Бухать bukhat' boo-KHAHT To drink (heavily) / to get wasted С бодуна s boduna z bah-doo-NAH Hungover / nursing a hangover Давай-давай! davai-davai dah-VYE dah-VYE Come on! Let's go! Push!
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