дык

The Particle and Conjunction Дык

Level 4Sounds Like dyk

Дык means so or then: Дык што ты вырашыў? (So what did you decide?) Калі хочаш, дык ідзі. (If you want to, then go.)

How It Works

Дык has several closely related uses. All of them connect what comes next to something already said.

1. Opening a question or conclusion. Дык што ты вырашыў? (So what did you decide?) Дык вось, слухай. (So, listen.) Дык вось is a common way to get to the point.

2. Then, after a condition. After a калі clause, the main clause can start with дык or то: Калі хочаш, дык ідзі. It also works after time clauses: Як толькі змеркнецца, дык мы пойдзем. A comma comes before дык.

3. So, as a result. Between two clauses, дык can introduce a result or a reply: Ты не можаш, дык я зраблю. (You cannot, so I will do it.)

4. Contrast. Дык can also mean but when the result is not what was expected: Хацеў выспацца, дык не даюць. (I wanted to get some sleep, but they will not let me.)

5. Emphasis by repetition. A word repeated with дык means really, properly: Працаваць дык працаваць! (If we work, let's really work!) The 2008 rules put no comma in this set phrase.

Not for purpose. English so can mean so that. Дык never expresses purpose; use каб for that. For a plain result, так што and таму are also common.

Examples (6)

  1. Дык што ты вырашыў?

    So what did you decide?

    Word by Word: So what you decided?

  2. Калі хочаш, дык ідзі.

    If you want to, then go.

    Word by Word: If you-want, then go.

  3. Ты не можаш, дык я зраблю.

    You cannot, so I will do it.

    Word by Word: You not can, so I will-do.

  4. Дык вось, слухай уважліва.

    So, listen carefully.

    Word by Word: So here, listen carefully.

  5. Хацеў выспацца, дык не даюць.

    I wanted to get some sleep, but they will not let me.

    Word by Word: Wanted to-sleep-enough, but not they-let.

    Here дык shows the result was not what was hoped for.

  6. Працаваць дык працаваць!

    If we are going to work, let's really work!

    Word by Word: To-work so to-work!

Common Mistakes

  • Using дык for purpose, because English so can mean so that.

    Я пішу адрас, дык не забыць.
    Я пішу адрас, каб не забыць.

    Дык introduces a conclusion or result, not a goal. To say why you are doing something, use каб.

  • Leaving out the comma before дык after a condition.

    Калі хочаш дык ідзі.
    Калі хочаш, дык ідзі.

    The condition is a separate clause, so a comma comes before the дык clause.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

дыкLevel 4The Particle and Conjunction Дык

Learn This First

Дык needs conditions and results.

Words in This Pattern

дык