совсем vs очень

sovsem vs ochen — completely/not at all vs very

What it really means

Очень is a straightforward intensifier meaning "very": очень хороший (very good), очень устал (very tired). Совсем means "completely" or "entirely," but with negation it commonly means "not at all": совсем не устал (not tired at all). Without negation, it can strengthen a total state — совсем готов (completely ready) — or signal that something has changed radically: он совсем другой (he is completely different).

The polarity matters. Очень не нравится means "really does not like" and intensifies the negative feeling. Совсем не нравится means "does not like at all" and can sound more absolute.

Examples in natural speech

Этот фильм очень интересный.
This film is very interesting.
Я очень устал сегодня.
I am very tired today.
Я совсем не устал.
I am not tired at all.
Она совсем забыла об этом.
She completely forgot about it.
Он совсем другой человек.
He is a completely different person.
Мне это совсем не нравится.
I don't like it at all.

Common mistakes

Do not replace every "very" with совсем. Очень хороший means very good, while совсем хороший usually means completely/entirely good and sounds different. Also note that совсем не is often an emphatic "not at all," not a weaker "not very."

Memory tip

Очень turns the volume up; совсем makes a state complete — and with не, it means not at all.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between совсем and очень in Russian?

Очень means very and intensifies a quality. Совсем means completely or entirely, and with negation it commonly means not at all: совсем не устал.

How do you say not at all in Russian?

Use "совсем не" before the adjective or verb: "Я совсем не устал" means "I am not tired at all," and "Мне совсем не нравится" means "I do not like it at all."

Can совсем mean very?

It can intensify a state in the sense of completely, but it is not a general replacement for очень. "Совсем готов" means completely ready, while "очень готов" is unusual and means very ready.

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