What Does "Пока" Mean in Russian?

The Russian word "пока" (poka) most commonly means "bye" in casual conversation, but it can also mean "while," "until," or "for now" depending on context. In this guide, you'll learn what пока means in Russian and exactly how to use it in every situation.

Let's break down all four meanings, starting with the most common one.

1. Пока = bye / see you (casual goodbye)

The most common everyday meaning of пока is a casual "bye" or "see you later." It's the Russian equivalent of English "bye" — friendly, informal, and used between people who know each other well.

Пока! — Bye!
Ну, пока, до завтра. — Well, bye, see you tomorrow.
Пока-пока! — Bye-bye!

Пока is informal. Don't use it with:

your boss or colleagues you're not close with
older people you've just met
in formal or business situations

In those cases, use до свидания (formal goodbye) instead.

Pronunciation tip: Пока is pronounced pa-KAH, with the stress on the second syllable.

Besides "bye," пока has another very common meaning: "while."

2. Пока = while (simultaneous actions)

Use пока to mean “while” when two actions happen at the same time. In this meaning, пока is usually followed by an imperfective verb, because the focus is on an ongoing process.

Я читаю, пока он смотрит телевизор.
I’m reading while he is watching TV.
Я слушала музыку, пока готовила.
I was listening to music while I was cooking.
Она работает, пока дети спят.
She is working while the children are sleeping.

3. Пока не = until (up to the moment when something happens)

Important: In Russian, не is used after пока, but in English we don’t use “not” with "until" in these sentences.

Подожди, пока я не приду.
Wait until I come.
Я не уйду, пока ты не объяснишь.
I won’t leave until you explain.
Он будет учиться, пока не сдаст экзамен.
He will study until he passes the exam.

Common mistake: English speakers often forget the не after пока. In Russian, пока я приду sounds wrong — you must say пока я не приду.

4. Пока что = for now / at the moment (temporary situation that may change in the future)

Пока что я живу в Польше.
For now, I live in Poland.
Денег пока что нет.
There’s no money at the moment.
Пока что всё хорошо.
Everything is fine for now.

Note the difference: Пока я живу в Польше = "While I'm living in Poland." Пока что я живу в Польше = "For now, I live in Poland." That little что changes the meaning completely.

Frequently asked questions about пока

Does пока mean "hello" or "goodbye"? Пока means goodbye, not hello. It's a casual way to say "bye" or "see you." For "hello," use привет (informal) or здравствуйте (formal).

What does пока-пока mean? Пока-пока is just a doubled, even more casual version of пока — like saying "bye-bye" in English. It's often used with kids or in playful conversation.

Is пока formal or informal? Пока is informal. Use it with friends, family, and people you know well. In formal situations, use до свидания instead.

What's the difference between пока and пока что? Пока on its own usually means "while," "until," or "bye." Пока что adds the meaning "for now" or "at the moment," suggesting a temporary situation.

Now practice пока like a native

Reading about Russian is one thing — using it is another. The best way to truly learn пока is to practice it in context, again and again, until it becomes automatic.

👉 Try the exercises: Test yourself with interactive пока exercises in the Exercise section.

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