ни пуха ни пера
Russian
editAlternative forms
edit- ни пу́ха! (ni púxa!)
Pronunciation
editPhrase
editни пу́ха ни пера́! • (ni púxa ni perá!)
Usage notes
edit- The literal meaning is "Neither down nor feathers".
- The meaning of the phrase is approximately "(I hope) you will not get a single feather," as would be spoken to a bird hunter, with usage and meaning akin to the English phrase "break a leg" and the German "Hals- und Beinbruch!".
- Rather than saying "thank you", the traditional response to this greeting is к чёрту! (k čórtu!, “To the devil!”), which is supposed to bring luck.