Russian · In the Stands
Давай-давай!
davai-davai
dah-VYE dah-VYE · /dɐˈvaj dɐˈvaj/
Come on! Let's go! Push!
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
Literally
"Give-give / come on come on"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
The doubled "davai" — pure encouragement, chanted at players, runners, or a friend arm-wrestling. "Davay, nashi!" (come on, our lads!) is the terrace version. Also just "hurry up, get moving" in daily life. Wholesome and energetic.
Heard in the wild
Давай-давай, беги, ещё чуть-чуть!
Come on, come on, run, just a bit more!
Where it lands
Russia (universal)
Quick answers
- What does "Давай-давай!" mean?
- In Russian, "Давай-давай!" means "Come on! Let's go! Push!". Literally it's "Give-give / come on come on". The doubled "davai" — pure encouragement, chanted at players, runners, or a friend arm-wrestling. "Davay, nashi!" (come on, our lads!) is the terrace version. Also just "hurry up, get moving" in daily life. Wholesome and energetic.
- Is "Давай-давай!" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
- How do you pronounce "Давай-давай!"?
- Say it "dah-VYE dah-VYE" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: dɐˈvaj dɐˈvaj.
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 В стельку v stel'ku f STYEL-koo Blind drunk / hammered / plastered Щелчок по горлу shchelchok po gorlu gesture Let's drink / he's drunk / booze
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