быть
were
были, находились (форма прошедшего времени множественного числа)
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| Pace | Per day | Per year | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 3 words | ≈ 1,100 words | starting without pressure |
| Balanced | 5 words | ≈ 1,800 words | steady growth |
| Recommended | 8 words | ≈ 2,900 words | around 3,000 words a year |
| Fast | 10 words | ≈ 3,650 words | visible vocabulary growth |
| Intensive | 15 words | ≈ 5,500 words | strong motivation |
быть with English translation
быть usage examples
They were at the party last night.
Они были на вечеринке прошлой ночью.
If I were you, I'd leave now.
Если бы я был на твоём месте, я бы ушёл сейчас.
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быть belongs to the topic "Top 5000". Start with a short 7-word set so the word is easier to remember in context.
быть synonyms
What's the difference between быть / был / было / находиться / существовать / являться
The most general equivalent of “to be”: existence, state, or linking.
I was at home.
Я был дома.
Masculine past tense form: “was” for he/I in Russian context.
He was busy.
Он был занят.
Neuter past tense form, often impersonal: “was/there was”.
It was cold.
Было холодно.
Emphasizes location: “to be located / situated”.
The school is located nearby.
Школа находится рядом.
Means “to exist”: refers to something’s existence, not state or location.
Such a problem does not exist.
Такой проблемы не существует.
Means “to be / to be considered as”: links a subject with a role, feature, or category.
He is the director of the company.
Он является директором компании.
Means “to remain / stay”: continue in the same state or place despite changes.
He stayed at home.
Он остался дома.
Means “to be called / named”: gives a name or title.
This city is called Tula.
Этот город называется Тула.
What's the difference
More related word breakdowns
Short comparisons help you choose the right word by meaning, context, and typical examples.
В чем разница в английском между carry, wear, tote и lug
Carry — нести или иметь при себе, wear — носить на теле, tote — таскать с собой, lug — тащить тяжёлое с усилием.
В чем разница в английском между whole, entire, complete и intact
Разница между whole, entire, complete и intact: целое, весь объем, завершенность и сохранность без повреждений.
В чем разница в английском между choose, pick, select и opt for
Разница между choose, pick, select и opt for: обычный выбор, разговорный выбор, выбор из списка и осознанное предпочтение.
Related words and lists for быть
How to pronounce быть and what this word means
быть translation: were. This page includes translation, pronunciation, transcription, audio, usage examples and related words.
how to pronounce быть
[bɨtʲ]
быть translation
were
быть examples
They were at the party last night.
быть transcription
[bɨtʲ]
How this dictionary entry is reviewed
ZapomniEnglish prepares dictionary data automatically, then the editorial workflow checks high-frequency words, top lists, and pages that already receive search impressions first.
Questions about this word
быть meaning: what does it mean?
были, находились (форма прошедшего времени множественного числа)
быть pronunciation: how do you pronounce it?
быть is pronounced as [bɨtʲ]. Audio is available on this page when the word has a recording.
быть definition and sentence examples: how is it used in a sentence?
They were at the party last night. Translation: Они были на вечеринке прошлой ночью.
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