если не секрет
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Russian
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Literally, “if not a secret”.
Pronunciation
[edit]Phrase
[edit]е́сли не секре́т • (jésli ne sekrét)
- if you don't mind me asking, if you don't mind my asking, if I may ask
- Где ты рабо́таешь, е́сли не секре́т? ― Gde ty rabótaješʹ, jésli ne sekrét? ― Where do you work, if you don't mind me asking?
Usage notes
[edit]Often translated literally into English by Russian speakers, despite sounding quaint and unnatural to English native speakers.