Russian

Adverb

аво́сь • ‎(avósʹ)

1. (colloquial) perhaps, maybe (low certainty)

   Аво́сь повезёт.‎ ― Avósʹ povezjót. ― We/I may yet succeed. (with low certainty)

Noun

аво́сь • ‎(avósʹ) m inan ‎(genitive аво́ся, nominative plural аво́си, genitive plural аво́сей)

1. blind trust in divine providence; blind faith in sheer luck; blind trust in sheer luck; counting on a miracle

   Наде́ясь на аво́сь, я реши́л вы́ехать на встре́чную по́лосу, что́бы объе́хать про́бку.‎

   Nadéjasʹ na avósʹ, ja rešíl výjexatʹ na vstréčnuju pólosu, štóby obʺjéxatʹ próbku.

   Counting on a miracle, I decided to slip into the oncoming lane to get around the traffic jam.

2. faith in serendipity; may still; might yet; possibly

   ру́сский «аво́сь»‎ ― rússkij “avósʹ” ― said about the alleged unconcern of Russians and their tendency to rely on luck

Declension

Related terms

• аво́ська f ‎(avósʹka)

See also

• Russian avos' on Wikipedia.Wikipedia