Short answer
“never mind” in Russian is неважно
How to say never mind in Russian?
How to say never mind in Russian: the standard phrase is «неважно» (ne-vázh-no), which literally means “it doesn’t matter.” Use it when you want to drop a topic or tell someone not to worry. If you’re speaking casually with friends, «забудь» (za-búd’) means “forget it.” To tell someone to ignore something or someone, use «не обращай внимания» (ne ob-ra-shchái vni-má-ni-ya), and «ладно» (lád-na) is a soft way to end the subject. Pick the phrase by tone and who you’re talking to.
Common pairings
мне неважноэто неважноневажно, какойневажно, что
How to use it
- Use «неважно» as the default neutral phrase. It works when you drop a topic, when someone is asking too many questions, or when you simply don't want to discuss something.
- Use «забудь» only with people you use ты with. For formal speech or with strangers, say «забудьте» instead.
- Use «ладно» as a soft way to end the subject; by itself it means “okay/fine,” but in context it comes across like “well, never mind.”
Examples
Неважно, я уже всё понял.
Never mind, I already understood everything.
Ne-vázh-no — neutral and safe for most situations; it literally means “it doesn’t matter.”
Забудь, это мелочь.
Forget it, it's a trifle.
Za-búd’ — informal singular “forget it”; use it with friends, not with someone you address as вы.
Не обращай внимания на его слова.
Never mind what he said / Don't pay attention to his words.
Ne ob-ra-shchái vni-má-ni-ya — literally “don’t pay attention”; good when telling someone to ignore something or someone.
Ладно, неважно, поговорим потом.
Okay, never mind, we'll talk later.
Lád-na — soft “fine/okay” that naturally closes the topic.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Забудьте, это неважно | «Забудь» is the informal singular imperative. If you are speaking to your manager, a stranger, or anyone you address as вы, use the formal plural form «забудьте». | |
| не |
не обращайте внимания на это, пожалуйста | The imperative must match the number and politeness of the person you are addressing. «Не обращай» is for one person you know; «не обращайте» is formal singular or plural. |
| Unnatural | Natural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| неважно, я сам разберусь | «Мне всё равно» literally means “it’s all the same to me” and often sounds indifferent or rude. «Неважно» simply drops the topic without that cold tone. |
FAQ
- How to say never mind in Russian?The most common phrase is «неважно» (ne-vázh-no). It literally means “it doesn’t matter” and works in most situations. For a casual “forget it” with friends, say «забудь» (za-búd’).
- Is «неважно» polite?Yes, «неважно» is neutral and polite in most settings. If you need something more formal, use «не обращайте внимания» or «ничего страшного» depending on the context.
- When should I use «не обращай внимания»?Use it when you want someone to ignore what they just heard or saw, like “don’t mind him” in English. The singular informal form is «не обращай внимания»; to one person formally or to a group, say «не обращайте внимания».