так себе

tak sebé — so-so / mediocre / not great

What it really means

Literally "so to itself," "так себе" means something is mediocre, underwhelming, or nothing special. It is a dismissive non-answer — more negative than a neutral "okay." When a Russian says "так себе" about a film, restaurant, or day, they are expressing mild disappointment without being blunt about it.

It can describe a thing ("фильм так себе" — "the film was so-so") or a feeling ("я так себе себя чувствую" — "I'm feeling a bit off"). The phrase is fixed — do not try to translate the individual words.

Examples in natural speech

— Как фильм? — Так себе, честно говоря.
— How was the film? — So-so, to be honest.
Ресторан так себе, но зато дёшево.
The restaurant is nothing special, but at least it's cheap.
Я так себе себя чувствую сегодня.
I'm feeling a bit off today.
Он так себе повар — готовит без вдохновения.
He's a mediocre cook — makes food without any flair.
Погода была так себе: облачно и ветрено.
The weather was so-so: cloudy and windy.

Common mistakes

Learners often try to translate "так себе" word-for-word as "thus itself" or "so itself" — this makes no sense. It is a fixed idiom. Also avoid confusing it with "так" alone: "так" can mean "yes" or "well then," but "так себе" always means mediocre.

Memory tip

"Так себе" = "just so-so." Think of it as pointing at the middle ground and shrugging: it is what it is, and it's not impressive.

Frequently asked questions

What does так себе mean in Russian?

Так себе means "so-so" or "mediocre" — it expresses that something is underwhelming or nothing special. It is a fixed phrase and cannot be translated word-for-word.

How do you use так себе in a sentence?

Use it after a verb or as a standalone answer: "Фильм так себе" (The film was so-so) or just "Так себе" as a reply to "how was it?"

Is так себе positive or negative?

Так себе is mildly negative — it implies mild disappointment or a lack of enthusiasm. It is softer than "плохо" (bad) but less positive than "нормально" (fine/okay).

Note: This site uses JavaScript for interactive drills, audio playback, and progress tracking. Please enable JavaScript for the full experience.