Russian · The Basics
Остынь!
ostyn'
ah-STIN · /ɐˈstɨnʲ/
Calm down / Chill out
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"Cool off / cool down"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Told to someone who's overheating — cool down, back off. Sharper than the neutral "uspokoysya" (calm down) because it implies they're being a bit ridiculous. "Ne kipyatis'" (don't come to a boil) is the same metaphor, softer. Say it to a friend, not a cop.
Heard in the wild
Остынь, никто тебя не оскорблял.
Chill out, nobody insulted you.
Where it lands
Russia (universal)
Quick answers
- What does "Остынь!" mean?
- In Russian, "Остынь!" means "Calm down / Chill out". Literally it's "Cool off / cool down". Told to someone who's overheating — cool down, back off. Sharper than the neutral "uspokoysya" (calm down) because it implies they're being a bit ridiculous. "Ne kipyatis'" (don't come to a boil) is the same metaphor, softer. Say it to a friend, not a cop.
- Is "Остынь!" 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 "Остынь!"?
- Say it "ah-STIN" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ɐˈstɨnʲ.
Related in Russian
Чёрт возьми! chyort voz'mi CHORT vahz-MEE Damn it! / For God's sake! Давай! davai dah-VYE Come on! / Let's go! / Alright, bye! Ни фига! ni figa nee fee-GAH No way! / Nothing at all! / Like hell! Иди в баню! idi v banyu ee-DEE v BAH-nyoo Get lost! / Buzz off! (gentle) Понты ponty pahn-TIH Show-off posturing / all flash, no substance Заткнись! zatknis' zaht-KNEES Shut up! / Shut it!
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "Calm down".
- French J'en ai marre ! I'm fed up / I've had it
- German Mir reicht's! I've had it! / That's the last straw!
- Greek σιγά Big deal / whatever / calm down / as if — dismissive minimizing.
- Japanese いい加減にしろ Knock it off / that's enough / cut it out
- Polish spoko Chill / no worries / it's fine — the great Polish de-escalator.
- Spanish No hay bronca No problem / no worries
- Turkish Aman! Oh come on / whatever / good grief
- French J'en ai ras-le-cul ! I'm f***ing sick of this
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