до сих пор

do sikh por — still / up until now / to this day

What it really means

"До сих пор" means "up until now" or "still" — used when something that began in the past continues into the present, often with a tone of surprise, emphasis, or frustration that it has not changed.

"Пор" is an archaic word for "threshold" or "boundary," so the literal meaning is "up to this threshold [in time]." It is more emphatic than plain "ещё" (still/yet) and often implies that the speaker finds the persistence unexpected or noteworthy.

Examples in natural speech

Он до сих пор не вернулся.
He still hasn't come back.
Я до сих пор не понимаю, как это работает.
I still don't understand how this works.
До сих пор помню тот день.
I still remember that day to this day.
Она до сих пор на него обижается.
She's still upset at him.
До сих пор не знаю, правда это или нет.
To this day I don't know if it's true or not.

Common mistakes

"До сих пор" and "ещё" both translate as "still," but "до сих пор" carries stronger emphasis — it implies the persistence is surprising or has gone on longer than expected. "Ещё не пришёл" = "hasn't arrived yet." "До сих пор не пришёл" = "still hasn't arrived (and it's been a long time / I'm surprised)."

Memory tip

"До сих пор" = "up to this threshold in time." Use it when something has lasted longer than expected and you want to emphasise that.

Frequently asked questions

What does до сих пор mean in Russian?

"До сих пор" means "still," "up until now," or "to this day." It is used for situations that began in the past and continue to the present, often with an air of surprise. "Он до сих пор не знает" = "He still doesn't know."

What is the difference between до сих пор and ещё?

Both can mean "still," but "до сих пор" is more emphatic and implies that the situation has persisted longer than expected. "Ещё спит" = still sleeping. "До сих пор спит" = still sleeping (and I find it remarkable).

How do you say still in Russian?

Use "ещё" for neutral "still/yet," and "до сих пор" when emphasising how long something has continued.

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