Bad word in russian

Russian curse words are the best way to get rid of frustration and negativity.

The Russian language is so poetic and melodic that even their curse words sound differently. 

So, stay here because we are going to show you the 20 hilarious and ‘poetic’ Russian curse words. In the end of the article, you’ll find a spreadsheet with all these swear words, their pronunciation and translation. Stay tuned!

If you want to learn to speak this poetic language, then don’t wait anymore. Book a lesson with a
Russian tutor on Justlearn.

Please have in mind that this article is for fun and educational purposes.

????? (Blyat’)

Meaning: wh*re

The word originates from the 19th century, where
the root of the word means ‘to wander around.’ It actually referred to a woman who sleeps around.

Over time, people started using it to offend someone, especially women, since it’s considered quite rude.

Let’s take a look at the following example: ?? ??, ?????? ?????! ( Ah, ti’ yebanaya blyat’)  Oh, you f*cking wh*re!’ As you might see from the translation, it is pretty offensive.

????? (Gav-no)

Meaning: sh*t

Just like in English, this word isn’t a real offensive cuss word in Russian either. 

It can be used to express your negativity, anger, or frustration or when something unpredictable comes up.

?????? (Gan-don)

Meaning: Condom

If you say ‘gandon’ in Russian to someone, it means that you saying they’re weak, annoying, and depending on the occasion, even very stupid. 

????? (Yebat‘)

Meaning: F*ck

This is a Russian verb in the meaning ‘to copulate.’

Figuratively speaking, this cuss word is used to refer to an annoying person, who’s being unpleasant.

Russian people tend to use the phrase ‘zhizn’ ebet meya,’ which means ’life is f*cking me.’

From this verb, one more word is commonly used, and it can be enough to offend someone, but also to free you from frustration, negativity, and anger. It is ‘???????? (otyebis’), which means ‘f*ck off.’

???? (Zhopa)

Meaning: a*s/ arse

Depending on the tone you will use with this word, it doesn’t have to be offensive at all. 

Even if it is translated as ‘arse’ the best equivalent for this word can be when you are calling someone ‘brat.’ It’s mainly used for younger kids.

Here are some examples where you can use this one as a swear word:

• ??????´? ???´ ??´??!( Pocelyi moy zhopu)- Kiss my ass!
• ?????´?? ??´??! (Podvin’ zhopoo)- Move your ass!
• ?? ???? ??´???! ( Ne bud’ zhopoyi)- Don’t be an asshole!

??? (Loh)

Meaning: Stupid or sucker

If you tell someone that they’re a sucker in English, chances are they wouldn’t be offended much. 

In Russian, however, the situation is different. Using this word can be very offensive, and if you say it to someone, they might think that you want to harm them.

?????? ???? (Loshad’ mochy)

Meaning: Horse pee hole! 

Yes, ‘pee hole’ in Russian is often used as a curse word. 

The meaning of the phrase is from ‘pee like a rushing racehorse.’ Why ‘horse’? According to some Russian sayings, in the

Soviet period, this had a negative connotation. Russian trainers, that is Russian mafia, cheated by giving horses a lot of water. Because of the water, they were becoming heavy, but also more nervous and, therefore, faster so that they can finish the race and pee right after the race.

???? ??????? (Mochy Perhot’)

Meaning: Pee hole dandruff

The phrase is successfully translated into English, but you still don’t get it, do you? Yes, this curse word is one of those where there is no logic at all.

However, in Russian, it’s pretty commonly used. It isn’t offensive, but if you start using it with some other curse words, then be careful, because you can get in trouble.

????? (Mudak)

Meaning: sh*thead

While the word ‘blyat’ is mainly used for women, the word ‘mudak’ is used only for men. It can be explained as a castrated pig. 

According to some linguistics, this word originates from the Sanskrit language in the meaning ‘idiot.’ Therefore, it’s no wonder why this word is used in an insulting way.

You can use the verb ‘mudak’ when someone’s behavior is annoying or unpleasant.

??????? ?? ?????! (Otyebis ot menya!)

Meaning: Get the f*ck away from me

We think that the translation speaks for itself. 

When you are mad at someone, or when someone is really annoying, this curse phrase is the best to release that negativity out.

????????? (Razvalyuha)

Meaning: Car which falls apart as it goes

The meaning of the word explains a lot. You can 

use it in many different situations but  be careful because it may seem pretty offensive.

?????? (Pizdets)

Meaning: Damn it

This word originates from ‘vulva.’ Over time, it distorted to ‘pizdets.’ Perhaps today it isn’t used so often as it was ten years ago, but it still belongs to the group of Russian curse words. 

Like the English equivalent ‘damn it,’ it can be used on different occasions, or to express surprise or an exclamation like in the sentence ‘Vot eto pizdets!’

??????? (Svolach’)

Meaning: scum or jerk

It’s an old swear word which dates back from the Middle Age.

At first, it was used for animals that are dragged to trash. 

Today, it’s a quite strong and offensive word to say and refers to a person that did something unpleasant or nasty.

????? (Srat’)

Meaning: To sh*t

Literally, this word can be translated as ‘to sh*t.’ Since in English it doesn’t refer to swearing, the better equivalent is ‘you don’t give a sh*t,’ in the meaning ‘you don’t care at all.’

There are different variants in Russian that include the verb ‘srat’ such as ‘?????´?? (nasrat’),’ which can mean ‘not to care for’ and ‘??????´????(obosrat’sya),’  in the meaning ‘to sh*t oneself.’ Here is an example of how this word can be used in the sentence: ??? ?????´?? ?? ???? ???´??? ( Mnye nastrat’ na tvayo mneniye)-  I don’t care about your opinion.

???? (Suka)

Meaning: B*tch

Literally, this term describes a female dog and used that way, it isn’t offensive, nor can it be defined as a curse word. Just like the English translation, the word ‘???? (Su-ka)’ is used in an offensive way to refer to a woman. It can be used for men, though rarely and when you want to use it towards men, it has to be the perfect occasion for it.

For example, many people often use the following sentence: ‘?????´? ???? ???, ??´??! (Zakroyi svoyi rot, suka!),’ which means ‘Shut your mouth, bitch!’

?? ??????????? (Ti degheneraat)

Meaning: You’re a degenerate

Telling someone that they are a degenerate, whether you are using it to insult someone or just to sound fun, it’s not something that you should do. Among Russian phrases, this one can be pretty offensive, so don’t use it too often.

??????? (Ublydok)

Meaning: Bastard

The word perfectly fits the English translation and it means ‘bastard.’ Therefore, it’s used in the same way. 

??? (Hooy)

Meaning: D*ck

Russian call it ‘the mother of swear words.’ 

This one is so commonly used that almost everyone used it at one point. It is, however, quite offensive. If you don’t want to repeat yourself, instead of this word, you may see the word ‘??´?? (zhoopa)’

So, depending on the situation, it can have different meanings, though similar ones. Let’s take a look at several examples:

• ????? ( huyevo) — shitty, awful
• ??? (???´) ???´??. (Huyi, yevo znaet’)-  I don’t know. / Who fucking knows.
• ??? ??´???! (Mnye pohuyu)-  I don’t give a fuck!
• ??? ????´! (? ??´??, ? ???) (Hooy tebe (v zhopu, b rot)) —  You’ll get nothing! (literally, it means A di*k for you! (in the a*s, in the mouth))

????????? ??? (Chertovsky dno)

Meaning: F*cking bottom

This phrase is not insulting, at least in most of the situations. It means that someone’s situation in life is so bad that it can’t get any worse, that is the bottom.

???? ??????? (Chush sobachya)

Meaning: Bullsh*tter or Bullsh*it

Calling someone a ’bullsh*tter’ can be quite insulting. So, be careful when and how you use it.

Russian Curse Words 

To make it easier for you, we’ve made a table sheet with all these 20 Russian swear words.

In the first column you may find a cuss word in Russian, written in Cyrillic, in the second we’ve put pronunciation to make it easier to read and pronounce the word or phrase, and in the third column, Russian to English translation.

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed reading about Russian swear words. They are so much different from any other curse words, but still powerful enough. 

Remember that swear words are a part of every language. But be careful when using them because, as you saw, some of them can be pretty offensive and you might get in a tough situation.

The main thing about Russian bad words is the attitude. Russian words sound strong, as we already said ‘poetic,’ and they have a powerful effect. So, besides being careful, take a proper attitude while swearing.

Russian is one of the most colorful languages. To make sure we are telling the truth, book a lesson with a
Russian tutor on Justlearn.

Yay! This silly post is your definitive guide on a massive 244 Russian Swear Words, Slang, Phrases, Insults and Expletives, or How To Swear In Russian! 

Yes, profanities from languages around the world is subject matter that appears a lot in this silly travel blog!

As an introduction… here are my Top 10 Russian Swear Words! Let’s just say that they’re very expressive!

I have a feeling that none of these new phrases you’re about to learn today are ever going to appear in Living Language – Russian anytime soon!

One of the things that I try to learn whenever I go to a new place where English is not the main language, I make sure that I memorise at least five words – hello, goodbye, please, thank you and beer. And then I use combinations of those to make a two word sentence!

I know sod all Russian and I can’t read it because it’s in another script (Cyrillic) which just looks like a jumble of scribble to me that I’ll never understand.

When I visited Kazakhstan, where Russian is an official language, I think I managed to learn about ten Russian words in total, but then everyone else wanted to practice speaking English with me anyway. And I’m not sure why, because I only talk in a series of silly expressions (see my silly list of Australian Slang Words, Expressions, and Expletives!) so no one would have understood me anyway.

Which brings me to…

My Definitive List And Guide Of Really Bad Russian Swear Words, Insults, Curses, Expletives and Phrases! How To Learn the Russian Language!

I received this list of Russian swear words from someone who speaks both Russian and English, and thought they were pretty funny. That is, the ones that I left in this list. I had to cut some out because some of them were pretty bad!

Yes, many of these rather rude Russian swear words, expletives and phrases are downright offensive, abusive and insulting. If you really want to work through this list with a native Russian speaker, you probably won’t be alive at the end of it!

Let me know if you’re silly enough to give that a go! Note, the Russian swear words below are written the way they sound. Either way if you’re a native Russian speaker, or just want to learn a bit of of really bad Russian, I’m sure you’ll find this funny!

Here we go!

WARNING: If you are easily offended, stop reading this list of offensive and downright rude Russian swear words and expressions now! You can’t say that I didn’t tell you!

You’re not going to see many of these in a Russian to English translation guide any time soon!

Russian Swear Word (Latin pronunciation) and their Hilarious English Translations!

Russian Swear Word (Latin)	English Translation
Hooy tebe v zhopu!	Prick up your ass! (refusal to a person)
Hooy na ny!	Whore, slut. Also used as a link word
Blyat	No f*%&ing way!
Zalupa konskaya	Horse pee hole! (to a person)
Hooy morzhovy	Walrus penis (to a person)
Gandon shtopany	Darned condom (to a person)
Perdoon stary	Old Fart
Pizdobol, Pizdoon	F*%*ing liar
Govnosos	S*%# Sucker
Moodozvon	Wacko
Zaebis’	Holy %&$^  (could be bad or good)
Pizdets	F$&*ed up situation
Po hooy	Don’t f&$*ing care
Do pizdy	as above
Yelda	Huge penis
Zalupa	Pee hole
Tselka	Virgin
Minet	Blow job
Naveshat’ pizdyley	To beat the crap out someone
Dat’ pizdy	as above
Pizdy vlomit’	above
Srat’ tebe v rot	To crap in your mouth
Past’ zabej, padla jebanaja	Shut the f&%* up, you f$&%*in’ bitch
Zasranec	Asshole
Nu vse, tebe pizda	That’s it, you’re f*%(in’ dead
Poshyel k chyertu	Go to hell
Potselui mou zhopy	Kiss my ass
Zhri govno i zdohni!	Eat s&^% and die!
Pyeryestan’ zalupatsa	Stop bitching
Yob tvoyu mat	F*%& your mother
Durak neschastnyi	You unlucky idiot
Balvan	Thick headed fool
Dubiina	Idiot (literally, A piece of wood)
Viyebnutsa	Show off
Govno	S&^%
Zhopa	Asshole
Sraka	An ass
Mudak	An asshole
Passossee mayee yaitsa	Suck my balls
Ti Durak	You’re a moron
Zacroy rot	Shut up
Ti degheneraat	You’re a degenerate
Bliad’	Whore
Govniuk	S*%&head
Pidaras	Asshole
Poshol nahuj	F*%& off, f*$( you
Pashol na khui	as above
Eto mnye do huya	I don’t give a f%$
Na huy…?	Why the f*%(…?
A huy li?	Why the f(%* not?
Huy tebye v glaz!	A d*%( in your eye
Yobanaya suka!	F*%&ing Bitch
Otyebis ot menya!	Get the f(%* away from me
Yobni yivo	Beat him!
Yob materi vashi!	I f%*ked all of your mothers
Ootebya nyetu peeski	You have no d*&%
Nee da dyeloni	F*&%ed up (lit. undone)
Ya hachu tebya trakhate	I want to f&^$ you
Zasranees	Shithead
Kooshay govno sooka	Eat s&*%, bitch
Ootebya nyet yayeesav	You have no balls
Cuchka derganaya	Crazy bitch
Poydi k chertu	Go to hell
Fsyoe zaeebahnuh	All f%$#ed up
Gndon	Condom
Prezirvativ	Condom
Thomarai gand mai lund hai?	Is a d%$# stuck up your ass?
Eedee tryakhate tvayu mamu	Go f%$# your mom
Suka / sooka	Bitch
Jebat moi lisiy cherep	F%$ my bald skull
Chlen tebie v rot	Take a d^%$ in your mouth
Otyebis	F#$% off
Zhopu porvu margala vikoliu	I’ll rip your ass and poke out your eyes
Otlez’ gnida	F%$# off, you flea child
Zhopoliz	Ass licker
Srachishche	Huge ass
Idi nahuey	F#$% off
Ya tibyi dam po yibalu	I will hit you in your face
Za cyun v shopu	Stick it in your ass
Ti sleepoy, asleyp	Impotent
Otsosi, potom prosi	Blow my c#$%. then make a wish
Jri govno i zdohni	Eat sh%$ and die
Blad	Whore
Bliatz	Bitch
Opezdol	Idiot
Ebanashka	Crazy person
Eblan	A stupid guy
Dolboyob	A stupid guy
Raspizdyai	A stupid guy
Mudlan	A stupid guy
Ja Pycckij pidaras	You are a loser
Alkash	You drunk!
Babnik	A womanizer
Devushka po vyzovu	A prostitute
Zi detka	Hey baby
Dostal/zakolebal	You have pissed me off
Dura	Fool (female)
Durak	Fool (male)
Zadnitza	An ass; jerk
Zanuda	Boring person
Zatknis	Shut up
Ischenzni	Get lost
Kakaya zanuda	What a bore
Kakogo chyorta	What the hell
Kachok	Jock strap
Kolot’sya/shiryat’sya	Taking injected drugs
Konchaj bazar	Stop talking
Loh	Sucker
Macho	A player
Mne nasrat’, chto ty dumaesh’	I don’t care what you think
Mne do lampochki	I don’t care
Mne vse ravno	I don’t care
Mymra	Mean woman
Ostyn’	Chill out
Otvali	Piss off
Perdet’	Fart
Pit’ zapoem	A chronic drunk
Pridurok	Nitwit
P’yan v stel- ku	Really drunk
Svoloch’	Bastard
Sidet’ na igle	Druggy (injects needles)
Suka	Bitch
Travka	Weed
Trajat’sya	To have sex
Halyavshchik	Deadbeat; lazy person
Chyort voz’mi!	Damn it!, Oh s#$%!
Chyort poberi!	as above
Chyort!	Damn!, Hell!
Chush’ sobach’ya	Bull s#$%!
Yajtza	Balls, testicles
Zloebuchii hui	Hard f#$%ing d#$%
Idi v zhopu	Go to hell
Ia tebya imeyu	I’m having you (you’re my bitch)
Perhot’ podzalupnaya	Pee hole dandruff
Minyet	To give a blow job
Chlen marinovanii	A marinated d#$%
Raspizdyay Kolhoznii	A stupid Redneck
Kon’ Pedal’nii	Idiot (literally: horse with pedals)
Bariga	Drug dealer
Idi nyuhai plavki	Go smell underwear
Pizda ti jopoglazaya	You are a vagina with eyes on your ass
Rodilsya cherez jopu	You were born through the ass
Pizda s ushami	A vagina with ears
Zalupoglazaya mondavushka	Slut with pee hole eyes
Anus perepuganii	A scared anus
Khrenoten’	F#$%ed up thing (usually situation)
Indanahway suka bluut	F#$% off bitch (highly offensive)
Niegadzai	Good for nothing
Svolotch	Swine
Sooksin	Son of a bitch
Jopa	Asshole, bad situation
Perestan’ bit dabayobom	Stop being a dips#$%
Ya sru na tvayu mat’	I s#$% on your mother
Yobanyi karas’	[email protected]#$ing moron
Yeban’ko maloletnee	Adolescent jerk
Zjelob	[email protected]#$head
Ment (plural: menti)	Police agent, militia agent (slang)
Zona	Prison
Na zone	In prison
Ti menia dostal	I’ve had enough of you
Shluha vokzal’naja	Train station whore
Wed’ma	Witch
Past’ zakroi	Shut it
Tvar’	Creature
Vrezat	tebe Hit you
Gaduka	Snake, serpent
Vrubatsa	Understand? (slang)
Huyniu nesti	Talking crap
Savok	Asshole (old slang)
Poshlaja svenja	Chauvinistic pig
Dovodit	Provoke, pester, annoy, tempt
Unbju!	I’ll kill you
Prishju!	I’ll kill you! (slang, old)
Paritsa (ne par’sia)	Getting upset (calm down)
Starik	Old man
Bomzj	Homeless
Beloruchka	Woman who doesn’t know how to cook or clean
Durak	1. Idiot. 2. Russian card game
Botanik	Nerd
Burda	Messed up
Krisha poehala	Has gone insane
Nochnaja babochka	Hooker (literally: night butterfly)
Kak muhi na govno	Like flies to [email protected]#$
Vlip	You’re in deep [email protected]#$ (literally: stuck)
Popal	You’re in deep trouble (literally: you hit)
Promazal	You missed
Svinets	Lead (bullets)
Pulia	Bullet
Pushka	Gun (literally: cannon)
Kalash	Kalashnikov
Gaishnik	Policemen who checks cars
GAI	Road police
Oblom	[email protected]#$ed up (literally: broken)
Ne pudri mne mozgi	Don’t try to confuse me
Okachenel	I’m so cold I’m stiff
Vstat	Rise (also for stiff [email protected]#$)
Hohol	Insult for Ukrainian
Patsan	Boy, lad
Kosiak	Joint, drug filled cigarette
Kosiachok	as above
Lobizatsa	A suck up
Razvaluha	Car that’s falling apart as it goes
Derevianni rubli	Useless money (literally: wooden rubles)
Baba Jaga	Witch
Zmei Gorinich	Dragon, snake, negative meaning
Koshei Bessmertni	Either very ugly or very skinny male
Vziatka	Bribe money
Vziatochnik	Someone who takes Vziatka (bribe money)
Baba	Fat, ugly, mannerless woman
Rabochie	Working class
Udavis	Suffocate in it!
Podonok	A person that’s the lowest of the lowest
Tovo, on/ona tovo	He’s there, as in, he’s insane (or she)
Goli	Naked
Obnazjonni	Nude
Zjulik	Cheater, criminal who rips people off
Zviaknut	Give a call by telephone
Roga pristavit	Cheat on your boyfriend/girlfriend
Jaitsa razbit	Kick your balls
Raskvasit	Beat to a bloody pulp
Molokosos	Underage boy (literally: milk sucker)
Yebanat vonuchii	Stinky [email protected]#$ head
Ne hnich	Don’t cry (rude)
Mordoboy	Big fight (literally: face smasher)
Sooka sin	Son of a bitch
Perestan dedushkin huy sasat	Stop sucking grandpa’s d#$%
U tebya cho ruki iz jopi rastut?	Are your hands growing from your ass? (to a really clumsy person or to one who cannot do anything right)
Rogatii kozyol	A loser whose wife cheats on him (literally: goat with horns)
Golovorez	Someone who slits throats
Ti liubeesh papeenu pees’ku sassat’	You love to suck your dad’s penis
Zacroy svoy peesavati rot, sooka	Shut your f*%&ing mouth, bitch
Shestiorka	In prison, the person who is everyone’s bitch and has to do as everyone else says. Also lowest card in the Russian card deck.
Nu ti dajosh!	Exclamation of amazement at someone’s courage or actions (can be positive and negative).
Idi obsosi tyaevo papu, kak ti delayesh kazhdyi den, ti shluha yebanaya	Go suck off your daddy like you usually do every night, you [email protected]#$ing whore.
Naguliala	A woman who doesn’t know who the father of her child is.
Peshka	Someone who’s not worth a thing (literally ‘pion’ the most unimportant figure in chess)
Krisha	A corrupt policeman who, in return for moderate pay, protects a criminal
U tya sho zhopa sho rozha: vse prigozhe	Your ass is the same as your face: all beautiful.
Tya mama huyem v rot ebala	Your mother [email protected]#$ed you in the mouth with a [email protected]#$.
Veshat lapshu na ushi	To tell someone lies, try to fool someone (literally means to hang spaghetti on his ears)
Oo ti bya, galava, kak, oon a bizyanie jopuh	Your face looks like a monkey’s ass
Shob tebe deti v sup srali	I wish that your children will crap in your soup
Perestan’ mne jabat’ mozgi svojimi voprosami	Stop f*%&ing my brain with your questions
U tebia ochen malenki hui, skolka…pat centimetra?	You have a very small penis, how much…five centimeters?

More Russian Swear Words Information – if you’re still keen!

Check out  A Systematic Guide to Fluent Russian Swearing (Russian Edition) and Dirty Russian: Everyday Slang from “What’s Up?” to “F*%# Off!” (Dirty Everyday Slang).

So hopefully, you’ll be swearing like a Russian in no time, and might even impress Vladimir Putin!

For more foreign language swear words, once you’ve mastered this list of Russian Swear Words, see my list of British Slang, French Swear Words, Italian Swear Words, German Swear Words, New Zealand Slang, Irish Slang and Spanish Swear Words! including the Pajero!

If you’re planning a trip soon, check out my best travel insurance tips, and get a quote on some Backpacker Travel Insurance.

Hello Junkie,

Bad Russian words! 

Everyone knows the swears and curses in their native language. But you want to learn some bad Russian words and swear, huh? You’re in luck. Russian is full of them but I’ll teach you the ones that beginners must know.

These are mostly soft. Ready? Take this lesson…

• Read, review, and read out loud
  
• Print it out as physical review material (I like printing stuff)
• NONE of these are nice language. Proceed at your own discretion.

…Oh, if you want to learn Russian with a complete Russian learning program — 1000+ audio/video lessons by real teachers – click here to visit RussianPod101 and try them for yourself. I recommend the site.

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Lesson: 11  Bad Russian Words, Swears & Curses

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Also, if you want an audio lesson on Russian greetings, just press the play button on the player below. Listen while you read. Cool? Cool. Lesson provided by RussianPod101 (click here for more lessons).

• Learn Russian in 3 Minutes #1 – Greetings

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1. Fool

• Дурак
• Durak

“Дурак” is a very popular word in Russian. It means “Fool” or “a stupid person.”Actually, for a very long time, the word “Durak” was not offensive. Historical documents from the XV-XVII centuries show that this word was a name. You know, a name of a person. Your mother would’ve named you this! The word “Durak” was often used as the second name (in the old days it was popular to give the child a second name). You know, like Mary-Kate (Olsen) or Timmy-Bob (I made that up), except now you’re Mary Durak or Timmy Durak.

Today it’s one of the most common bad Russian words. Not a terrible swear word though.

2. You’re stupid/You idiot/You fool

• Tы дурак
• Ti Durak

Now that you know that wonderful word above, let’s add the word “you” (Tы/Ti). So, if you want to call someone a fool, just say [Ti durak].

Note, you can apply this “Ti (insert word)” for most of the bad Russian words you’ll learn here.

3. Naive fool

• Лох
• Lokh
  

“Лох“ is a naive, gullible person. This is a very popular word now, but two centuries ago it was used by residents of the Russian north and meant “fish.” Gradually this word found its way into the jargon of merchants. They would use this word to describe people who came from the village to the city and people who could be easily cheated.

4. S.O.B

• Сукин сын
• Sukin Sin
  

Now here’s one of the really bad Russian words. Make sure to pronounce that “u” as “oo.”

5. Bastard

• Сволочь
  
• Svoloch’

“Сволочь” is a very rude word which means “Bastard.”

“Сволочь” was originally used to describe all kinds of garbage and waste that was thrown or shoveled into a pile. Over time, this word grew to describe a crowd gathered in one place. Finally, it grew to describe all the terrible people in general; the drunkards, thieves, vagabonds and other “anti-socials.”

6. Stinker

• Подонок
• Padonok

“Подонок” means a stinker or a bastard. It’s an another word that originally existed exclusively in the plural. It could not be otherwise because the word “Подонки” referred to the remains of the rain and precipitation on the ground. Yeah, I don’t see a connection either.

7. Idiot

• Идиот
• Pronunciation: Eedeeot

Want to say idiot in Russian? Here you go.“Идиот” is a well-known word all around the world. In the Russian language, it also exists. It also means an idiot. The Greek word “idiot” did not originally mean mental illness. In Ancient Greece, it meant “private person,” or a “separate, isolated person.” Later, the Romans used the Latin word idiota as “ignoramus,” which is close to the meaning of “stupid.” 

8. Schmuck

• Чмо
• Chmo

Wait, what’s a schmuck? It’s a fool or a generally stupid person. So, [Chmo] means Schmuck in Russian. It came from the verb “Chmarit”or “chmyrit,” and initially meant “withering”, “staying in need” or “vegetating”. Gradually, this turned into the noun “Чмо.”

9. B**ch

• Сука
• Sooka/Suka

Normally, it’s just transliterated as “suka,” so why am I writing “sooka?” That’s because the pronunciation of “u” is “oo.”

This bad Russian word is also very popular all around the world. You’ve probably saw somewhere it on the internet or an online game where Russians throw it around. It’s a very rude word and just like the English version, it has multiple meanings. 1. It’s a word for a female dog, as well as other animals of the canine family. 2. It means B**ch. 3. And, it can also mean scoundrel, scum or a bastard. It’s allowed to say “Sooka” even on TV. This is one of those bad Russian words that Russians use a lot. 

Also, Russians often use this word unnecessarily to emphasize their frustration.

10. Vagabond/Scoundrel

• Мерзавец
• Merzavets

The etymology of this word goes back to the word “frozen”. Even for the northern most Russians, the cold isn’t a nice thing. Nobody likes cold. We humans are all tropical people at heart. So that’s where the negativity came bout. This word means “scoundrel” and refers to the cold, unfeeling, indifferent, stale, inhuman qualities. In general, for anything extremely unpleasant.

There is one more similar word “мразь” which also means  “Vagabond” or“Bastard.”

11. Damn

• Блин
• Blin

“Блин” means pancake. But, it is also used to express negative emotions or a disappointment. It’s an informal swear word and h does not have any semantic meaning. It’s just used to link words into a sentence (fill up the silence). Young people and kids use this word all the time.

Of course, this one of the softest bad Russian words here.

Now, you know some basic bad Russian words. These are good to know since you’re learning the language and should understand what you hear. However, don’t use them too much.

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Learning languages can be a fun and exciting way to understand new cultures and branch out of your safety zone. Of course, 98% of the time you work on improving fluency will revolve around different components of language, vocabulary, and pronunciation… So why not have some fun with the other 2%? We like to study all parts of languages, which includes slang, idioms, and even swear words.

That’s why we’re dedicating an entire article to Russian swear words! Just remember, although it’s fun to learn, it’s usually not too fun to misunderstand a situation and use these Russian cuss words inappropriately. Instead, practice using them with friends who are native speakers first, then slowly incorporate them into your Russian fluency.

Russian Swear Words with Universal Translations

Once you’ve mastered the Russian alphabet, you can start putting together some sentences and building your vocabulary. While it’s important to start understanding nouns, adjectives, verbs, and other essential language components, it’s alright to have a little fun along the way. To help you truly speak and understand Russian like a native, it’s time to learn a few swear words in Russian and how to use them.

Хуй — “Dick”

This is one of the most commonly used swear words in Russian. It has several different applications and can be used in a variety of different phrases and derivatives. There’s not much information regarding the origin of this Russian cuss word, but it’s similar across several Slavic languages.

In most instances, using xуй in a sentence has nothing to do with a male’s reproductive organs. Instead, it’s used similarly to the words “shit” or “fuck” when something goes wrong, or you’re frustrated. It can also be used to tell someone to get lost. Хуй can also be used in conjunction with other words to create more elongated Russian swears or curses.

Сука — “Bitch”

This Russian swear word is used just like it is in the English language. However, it’s often reserved for women, by women. It’s only applicable to use when talking about a man in certain situations, but this is rare and usually not practiced. Depending on the context, it may also be used in a playful manner.

Сволочь — “Jerk/Scum”

Although much less intense than the previous Russian swear words on this list, jerk/scum is still used as an insult. The word is based on the root, ‘to drag,’ and is often associated with the idiom “dragged in with the garbage,” or “look what the cat dragged in.” It’s actually been around since the 14th century, so it’s one of the older swear words in Russian but is still commonly used today. It’s considered a mild swear, but is taken offensively when used.

Жoпа — “Arse/Brat”

This was originally derived from the swear word for ass (Жóпа), but was slightly adapted (see the change from ó to o) to become more playful. Today, Жoпа is actually used as a term of endearment amongst family members, close friends, and loved ones. It’s used in a joking (albeit loving) manner. However, it can be misinterpreted and considered rude if used with the wrong person, so tread lightly!

Мудак — “Shithead”

When you’re angry with someone, you might call them a shithead. This is the same usage of mудак in Russian except that it is a derogatory term only used when speaking to or of a man. It originates from an ancient Russian word that meant to castrate a pig. It’s often used when a man is behaving rudely, like an idiot, or inconsiderately.

Гавно — “Shit”

This bad word in Russian derives from the literal term for shit, or poop. Its original Slavic word translates directly to “cow excrement.” It can be used in similar ways to its English counterpart, especially when you’re disappointed, something bad happens, or experiencing a small crisis.

Пиздец — “Damn it”

This Russian swear also originates from ancient language. Although the direct translation was thought to be something along the lines of ‘vulva’ or ‘vagina,’ the meaning has been distorted throughout the years. You can use this Russian swear word when you’re trying to describe something that went wrong, especially in regard to a situation or event. It can also be used as a stand-alone swear, similar to how “damn it!” is used in English.

блядь— “Fuck”

Although you may think that this is used in the same way that ‘fuck’ is used in English, the Russian swear word for fuck is actually a verb. Unsurprisingly, it originates from ancient languages and their words used to describe reproduction. When you use блядь in Russian, you’re likely describing someone who is not very fun to be around, annoying, or even immature.

Лох — “Stupid/Sucker”

Contrary to what you’d think, this is actually a very high insult to use in Russian. It’s a type of Russian cuss word that’s intended to hurt or harm the recipient, so be careful if you plan to use it!

Some Unique Russian Swear Words

Many of the bad words in Russian are similar to the insults used in English and other languages, but there are also a few that are pretty unique. The following Russian cuss words don’t really have the same meaning in English, but once you see their translation you may start using them amongst friends! To learn more unique pieces of the Russian language, download Tandem and match with a native speaker today. Just be careful that you don’t call them one of these newly learned bad words in Russian!

Гандон — “Condom”

This Russian swear word is a little unique, as ‘condom’ in English refers to the male contraceptive device. However, if you want to describe someone who is vulgar, annoying, or even someone who is deemed “weak,” you’d call them a Гандон. You can also use this bad word in Russian to describe someone who you simply don’t like.

Мочи перхоти — “Pee hold dandruff”

Okay, this swear word in Russian is one of the most unique ones we’ve seen. It’s quite funny for native English speakers to hear, as it sounds a little like something we might have said in grade school. And, as you may have guessed, there’s not even a real meaning behind this… other than the fact that it’s a Russian swear.

Лошадь мочи — “Horse pee hole”

Again, this Russian swear word may seem like a strange one, but they seem to enjoy calling other people “pee holes.”

Развалюха — “Car that’s falling apart as it goes”

Finally, if you want to describe someone as falling apart or someone who doesn’t have all of their ducks in a row (so to speak), you can call them a Развалюха. This is calling someone a “car that’s falling apart as it goes.” Very insulting!

Learning swear words in Russian is a fun way to practice pronunciation, understand contextual content, and build your vocabulary. In order to help make sure you’re using these in the correct context along the way, download Tandem and match with a native speaker today. With millions of members across the world, you’re sure to find someone who can help you gain confidence when speaking Russian. In fact, you may even find a new friend in the process.

Using real-life conversations, genuine communication, and a unique approach, Tandem works to help our members foster a deeper understanding of language while improving fluency and building long-lasting friendships. All you need to do is sign up, match with a native speaker of your target language, and start communicating. To join our community and work on your fluency, sign up for Tandem today.

Обзывательства про ум

Баламошка — полоумный, дурачок
Божевольный — худоумный, дурной
Божедурье — дурак от природы
Глуподырый — глупый
Дуботолк, Дроволом, Остолбень — дурак
Королобый — крепкоголовый, тупой, глупый
Лободырный — недоумок
Межеумок — человек очень среднего ума
Мордофиля — дурак, да еще и чванливый
Негораздок — недалекий

Обзывательства про внешность

Пентюх — пузатый человек с выдающейся кормой вдобавок
Безпелюха, тюрюхайло — неряха
Брыдлый — гадкий, вонючий
Затетёха — дородная женщина
Загузастка — круглая, толстая женщина с большой попой
Ерпыль — малорослый
Скоблёное рыло — с выбритой бородой
Захухря — нечёса, неряха, растрепа
Шпынь голова — человек с безобразием на голове
Псоватый — на пса похожий
Фуфлыга — невзрачный маленький мужичок

Обзывательства про характер

Маракуша — противный человек
Елдыга — ворчливый
Хобяка, Михрютка, Сиволап — неуклюжий, неловкий
Свербигузка — девка-непоседа, у нее свербит в одном месте (гузка — это попа). Она же Визгопряха
Ащеул — пересмешник, зубоскал
Ветрогонка — вздорная баба
Баляба — рохля, разиня
Белебеня, Лябзя — пустоплет
Бобыня, Буня — надутый, чванливый
Бредкий — говорливый, болтливый (от слова «бред», как вы понимаете)
Колотовка — драчливая и сварливая баба. Она же Куёлда
Гузыня или Рюма — плакса, рёва
Пыня — гордая, надутая, недоступная женщина
Пятигуз — ненадежный человек, дословно можно перевести как «пятижоп»
Расщеколда — болтливая баба
Разлямзя — неповоротливый, вялый
Попрешница — женщина, которую хлебом не корми, дай поспорить
Суемудр — ложно премудрый
Костеря, кропот, скапыжник — брюзга, ворчун
Шинора — проныра
Чужеяд — паразит, нахлебник
Хобяка — неуклюжий, неловкий

Обзывательства про поведение

Волочайка, Гульня, Ёнда, Безсоромна — все это великолепие эпитетов посвящено распутным женщинам
Бзыря, Блудяшка, Буслай — бешеный повеса, гуляка
Валандай, Колоброд, Мухоблуд — бездельник, лодырь
Глазопялка — любопытный
Мимозыря — разиня
Печная ездова — лентяйка
Трупёрда — неповоротливая баба
Тьмонеистовый — активный невежа
Ерохвост — задира, спорщик
Ендовочник — охочий до пива, браги, попоек
Ёра — озорная, бойкая на язык женщина
Киселяй, колупай — вялый, медлительный человек
Шлында — бродяга, тунеядец
Потатуй — подхалим
Насупа — угрюмый, хмурый

И еще хорошие синонимы к привычным нам словам

Сдёргоумка — полудурок
Вяжихвостка — сплетница
Лоха — дура
Шаврик — кусок дерьма
Окаём — отморозок
Курощуп — бабник
Чёрт верёвочный — псих
Облуд, обдувало — врун
Огуряла, охальник — безобразник и хулиган
Сняголов — сорвиголова
Пресноплюй — болтун
Тартыга — пьяница
Туес — бестолочь

Swearing can be a lot of fun! It can also be dangerous, so you have got to be careful! The Russian language is perfect for swearing. All you have to do is get confident, and get ready to make some people angry!

This post has been updated for 2015, and includes a lot of extra words and examples. This post is for educational purposes and is not meant to offend anyone. If you do become offended, please navigate to a different part of the blog and keep in mind that this is the only post that uses naughty language like this. Also realize that actually saying these words to a native Russian speaker could land you in a lot of trouble, so make sure you can walk the walk if you’re gonna talk the talk!

In Russia, there are a list of words that are called мат (mat), which is short for ма́терный язы́к [ˈmatʲɪrnɨj jɪˈzɨk]. Some of the words below are on the list. These words can actually get you in trouble in Russia, because they can be considered disorderly conduct (mild hooliganism). These words are censored in the media.

I have added IPA transcriptions in brackets ([]) for the words below. Romanized Russian text is provided in parentheses for those of you that do not know Cyrillic.

хуй [xuj] “dick”
(HOOY) Listen to pronunciation

This word translates to “DICK.” It may refer to the male penis or a guy that acts like one, just as in English! The beauty of this word is that it is used in so many different ways. It is the king of all swear words! It is commonly used to tell someone to “fuck off!” or to give them a nice, “fuck you!” Interestingly, the literal translation for this phrase is “Go (get) on a dick!”: Иди́ на́ хуй!/Пошёл на́ хуй!. There are several other useful phrases that use хуй:

Мне по́хую!  I don’t give a fuck!
Хуй тебе́! (в жо́пу, в рот)  You’ll get nothing! (lit. A dick for you! (in the ass, in the mouth))
Хуй (его́) зна́ет.  I don’t know. / Who fucking knows.

Whats the difference between иди and пошёл when telling someone to fuck off? Пошёл на… is often seen as more offensive and aggressive, so it may come in handy when a friend or family member really pisses you off.

There are a lot of words that are derived from хуй:

Adverbs
до хуя́, дохуя́ “a large number, a (fucking) lot, a shitload”
Како́го ху́я? «Заче́м?» “Why the fuck for?, What the fuck for?”
Нахуя́? «Заче́м?» “Why the fuck for?, What the fuck for?” (more disapproving)
ни хуя́ 1) “jack shit, nothing” 2) “no, no fucking way, wow, what the fuck!” (exclamation). It may be seen with себе: Ни хуя́ себе́!  “Wow?! What the fuck?!”
по́хуй, по́хую “don’t care, don’t give a fuck”
охуи́тельно, охуити́тельно “excellent, fucking awesome, very good” (adjective: -ый)
охуе́нно «о́чень хорошо́» “fucking great, very good” (adjective: -ый)
хуёво “shitty, fucking awful, very bad” (adjective: -ый)
Nouns
хуи́ло, хуйло́ “dickhead, dipshit, asshole”
хуеплёт “liar (male)”
хуесо́с “cocksucker”
хуйня́ “garbage, bullshit (positive and negative)”
Other
не́хуй 1) “no need, do not!” 2) “nothing”
охуе́ть pf. (impf. охуева́ть)  1) “to become cheeky (rude), cocky” 2) to experience a strong feeling about something (to be astonished, surprised, shocked, confused, pissed off, etc.)

Охуе́ть!  “Holy shit! What the fuck?! Ha!!”
Соси́ мой хуй!  Suck my dick!
У тебя́ о́чень ма́ленький хуй!  You have a small dick!
Како́го ху́я ты ещё тут стои́шь?  Why the fuck are you still standing here?
Нахуя́ мне э́то на́до?  Why the fuck do I need this?
Мы налови́ли дохуя́ ры́бы.  We caught a shitload of fish!
Я ни хуя́ не по́мню из вчера́шнего дня.  I don’t remember jack shit from yesterday.

You might also encounter the word хер [xʲer], which has the same meaning as хуй but is considered slightly less offensive. ‘Хер’ has its own versions of most of the special forms that you just saw with хуй, i.e. до хрена́, ни хрена́, etc. There is also another word, член [tɕlʲen] “penis”, that isn’t really considered offensive at all. You can use it when you want to make sure that you are getting your point across that you are talking about the male genitalia: член тебе́ в рот “a dick in your mouth.”

су́ка [ˈsukə] “bitch”
(SOO-ka) Listen to pronunciation

This word translates to “bitch, slut.” It may be used for female dogs, women, or even men! There is also the diminutive form, су́чка, which has the same meaning. You can also call a man “son of a bitch” with: су́кин сын.

Закро́й свой рот, су́ка!  Shut your mouth, bitch!

срать [sratʲ] “to shit”
(SRAT’) Listen to pronunciation

This word is a verb and it translates to “to shit.” It may also mean “to not care” or “to not give a shit.” This verb is imperfective and it is conjugated like ждать: я сру́, ты срёшь. Its perfective counterpart is посра́ть. Several other verbs may be formed by adding prefixes:

насра́ть pf. “to not care for”

обосра́ться pf. “to shit oneself”

обсира́ть impf. (pf. обосра́ть) “to shit all over it, to defame something”

просра́ть pf. «потерять», “to lose (vulgar)”

There are a few useful nouns and adjectives derived from this verb: засра́нец “asshole, bastard”, сра́ка “an ass (colloquial)”, and сра́ный “shitty, nasty, miserable.”

Мой кот ча́сто срёт под дива́ном.  My cat often shits underneath the couch.
Я ника́к не могу́ посра́ть!  I cannot take a shit!
Мне насра́ть на твоё мне́ние.  I don’t care for your opinion.
Я ненави́жу свою́ сра́ную рабо́ту.  I hate my shitty job.

пизда́ [pʲɪˈzda] “cunt”
(pi-ZDA) Listen to pronunciation

This word translates to “cunt.” It most often refers to the female genitalia, commonly known as “pussy” or “vagina” (its technical term) in English, but it also has a lot of other meanings! When used to describe women it has an obscene figurative meaning that may roughly translate to “bitches” or “hoes” in English. When used to describe men, it is reserved for those who have extremely negative behavior (i.e. dickheads) or those that are deceitful or liars. You may also use it when you are tired of using на хуй when you want to say “Fuck off!” or “Fuck you!”: Иди́ в пизду́!/Пошёл в пизду́! Whenever it is used with the preposition до it has the same meaning as похуй “don’t give a fuck, doesn’t matter to me.”

There are a few other words that have the same root as this word: пизде́ц “very bad (fucked up) situation” or an exclamation “Holy shit!, What the fuck!”, пизда́то “excellent, great, good”, пизде́ть impf. “to lie, to tell lies”, пиздёж “a lie”.

Мне до пизды́ твои́ пробле́мы.  “I don’t give a fuck about your problems.”
Всё пизда́то!  “Everything’s great!”

пидора́с [pʲɪdɐˈras] “homosexual”
(pi-da-RAS) Listen to pronunciation

This word is a very offensive form of “gay” or “homosexual.” In many contexts it could be translated as “faggot, queer, homo, etc.” There are some other similar words with the same offensive translation: пе́дик, педри́ла, пи́дор. If you wish to use some less offensive words you can say: гей, го́мик, гомосе́к, or use the adjective голубо́й “light blue.” Whenever this adjective is used in conversational Russian, it can be understood as “gay” («гомосексуа́льный»).

муда́к [mʊˈdak] “asshole”
(moo-DAK) Listen to pronunciation

This word carries the meaning “asshole”, “smart ass”, “horse’s ass”, “pain in the ass”, and “dickhead.” It is such a lovely word… You might find it interesting to know that this word is derived from му́ди which means “testicles.” Another word with the same meaning is муди́ло.

жо́па [ˈʐopə] “ass”
(ZHO-pa) Listen to pronunciation

This word’s meaning is simple: ASS. It may be used to refer to the ass of a person or a person who behaves like an ass. It may also be used to tell someone to “fuck off, piss off” or “go to hell”:

Иди́/Пошёл в жо́пу!  Fuck off! / Go to hell!
Подви́нь жо́пу!  Move your ass!
Поцелу́й мою́ жо́пу!  Kiss my ass!
Не будь жо́пой!  Don’t be an asshole!

There are several insulting words that share the same root of this word: жо́пник “asshole, dickhead, greedy person”, жополи́з “kiss-ass, ass-kisser (lit. ass licker)”, жо́пошник “asshole, dickhead, greedy person; faggot, queer.”

Почему́ ты тако́й жополи́з?  Why are you such a kiss-ass?
Ведёшь себя́, как жо́пошник.  You’re acting like an asshole.

еба́ть [jɪˈbatʲ] “to fuck”
(yi-BAT’) Listen to pronunciation

This word is a verb and it translates to “to fuck.” It is imperfective and conjugated like ждать: я ебу́, ты ебёшь. But in the past tense it can be seen as еба́л or ёб. Its perfective counterpart is вы́ебать. You will probably most often see it in the phrase ёб твою́ мать which literally means “(I) fucked your mother”, but carries other meanings such as “go to hell, fuck off, goddamn you.” It may also be used as an exclamation in which it can mean “I’ll be damned!”, “Really?!”or “Motherfucker!” Furthermore, you can use this phrase as the equivalent to “motherfucking” or “like a motherfucker.”

Переда́й, ёб твою́ мать, во́дку!  Pass the motherfucking vodka!
Я сража́лся как ёб твою́ мать, что́бы вы́жить.  I fought like a motherfucker to survive.

You may see the verb pair тра́хать/тра́хнуть used instead for the meaning “to fuck, to have sex”, e.g.  Я хочу́ её тра́хнуть. “I want to fuck her.”

There are many words that contain the root of this verb. Several other verbs may be formed by adding affixes:

выёбываться impf. (pf. вы́ебнуться) to do something in a way that is unusual, extravagant, or too complicated

еба́шить impf. (pf. ёбнуть) to hit/beat someone or something, to drink, to steal

заеба́ть(ся) pf. (impf. заёбывать(ся)) to exhaust, to make very tired, to have sex frequently

отъеба́ться pf. (impf. отъёбываться) to get rid of, to leave alone, to not disturb

Заеби́сь!  «Хорошо, круто!» Excellent, awesome, cool, fucking great! (used as an adverb)
Отъеби́сь!  Fuck off, Get the fuck away from me!
Ёбни его́!  Beat him!

There is also the adjective, ёбаный, which simply means “fucking.” And there are several nouns: долбоёб “stupid ass, dunce, idiot”, ёбарь “fucker, lover, sex partner” and е́бля “act of fucking, sex.”

Ах ты, ёбаная блядь!  Oh, you fucking whore!
В э́том пла́тье она́ вы́глядела заеби́сь!  She looked fucking great in that dress!
Я ра́ньше ду́мал то́лько о е́бле и никогда́ о любви́.  I used to only think about fucking and never about love.

дерьмо́ [dʲɪrʲˈmo] “shit”
(dir’-MO) Listen to pronunciation

This word translates to “shit.” It is used much like its English equivalent. It may be used as an exclamation “Shit!”, to refer to things: “All of this shit!”, or to refer to people: “Piece of shit!” Another word that has the same meaning, but is slightly more offensive is говно́ [gɐvˈno]. It’s used just like дерьмо́ which means it refers to the shit coming that could be coming from your ass, the shit that is cluttering up your apartment, or any piece of shit person!

Let’s say that your friend (Ди́ма) told you about a movie that you shouldn’t watch (не смотри́те!), but your girlfriend wants to watch it anyways. You can say to her: Мой друг, Ди́ма, сказа́л, что тот фильм по́лное говно́.  “My friend, Dima, said that film is total shit.”

блядь [blʲætʲ] “whore”
(BLYAT’) Listen to pronunciation

“Whore.” That’s the basic translation of this word, but it may also mean “bitch, slut, prostitute, or a promiscuous person.” It is considered to be a general-purpose insult to anyone, so it may be used with both women and men. It may also be used as an exclamation, in which it can mean “fuck!”, “shit!”, or “damn (it)!” It can also be used as an intensive particle to add the meaning “fucking”, “damn”, etc. It is commonly contracted to бля when used as an exclamation or particle.

Он, бля, мне сказа́л, что я ску́чная!  He fucking told me I was boring!
Я, бля, зна́ю где ты живёшь!  I fucking know where you live!
Иди́ отсюда́ на́ хуй, блядь!  Get out of here, bitch!

Here are some additional naughty words that might come in handy for you!

гандо́н [gɐnˈdon] noun “condom” (may describe a person: asshole, weak man)

дрочи́ть [drɐˈtɕitʲ] verb impf. (pf. подрочи́ть) «мастурби́ровать» “to jack off, to masturbate”

залу́па [zɐˈlupə] noun “dickhead” (may describe a person or the actual head of a penis; derived from лупи́ть “to peel off”)

ки́ска [ˈkʲiskə] noun “pussy” (vagina)

манда́ [mɐnˈda] noun “cunt, bitch”

си́ська [ˈsʲisʲkə], си́ся [ˈsʲisʲə] noun “breast, tit, boob”

соса́ть (хуй) [sɐˈsatʲ] verb impf. (pf. отсоса́ть) “to suck, to blow, to perform fellatio”

ублю́док [ʊˈblʲʉdək] noun “motherfucker” (worthless person)

Know of a great swear word that I should add to this post? Please comment and tell me! I hope you enjoyed this post!

The Russian language is amazingly descriptive, and alongside the many adjective and metaphorical expressions, curse words are also abundant. It is always better to live in peace; however, we do not have control over what other people say.

So, to understand how others address us and make sure we prevent any embarrassing situations, it is worth studying the insulting slang.

The variety of Russian swear words are called мат [mat], which comes from the ancient loud voice, scream. Ironically most of the curse terms in Russian have innocent and entertaining etymology. For better memorization, the article will cover some of it.

Since several Russian curse terms are gender-specific all the slang is split into four groups:

• Russian curse words addressing women
• Russian curse words addressing men
• Swear words with different gender forms
• Some bonuses and basics

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Russian Curse Words Addressing Women

Стерва [sterva] / Bitch

This curse word is one of the few that almost improved its meaning throughout history. Originally sterva was a term for decaying meat or carrion. In the old times, men started calling especially cunning prostitutes stervoza, referring to the fishy or «smelly» nature of their deeds.

Despite the unappealing origin (really, who likes the smell of meat gone bad!?), the term had a somewhat positive connotation since bad behavior was also considered seductive.

To this day this curse word causes mixed feelings in a woman as it refers to her unbearable but still femme fatale nature.

Мымра [mimra] / Old stick

This swear term can be barely considered as мат but is likely to offend a lady much more than the previous one. In the Asian part of old Russia, mimra meant to be surly, to be a homebody.

It was thought women sitting at home always wore dirty old clothing, messy hair and were generally untidy. Now a female who is a loner, behaving oddly, and looking unkempt can be addressed this way.

Блядь [bl’ at’] / Whore

The most unpleasant curse word of the three originates from the verb блядити meaning to lie, make a mistake, and was used to refer to people who are pathological liars. Over time, the profane name transformed into another term to address a woman of easy virtue.

Fun Fact!

The Russians often joke that if one wants to never use profanities, they just have to stop talking completely. Somehow the root of the word [bl’ at’] transferred to many verbs in the Russian language, for example, употреблять [upatriblát’] or to consume.  Whether you want it or not by saying, Can she consume dairy? or Она может употреблять молочные продукты?, you swear just a little.

Russian Curse Words Addressing Men

Подлец [padlec] / Squirt

This is an old Russian slang word formed under Polish influence. The initial meaning «a man of non-noble origin» somehow turned into «a man doing dirty business behind one’s back.»

Подонок [padonak] / Scum

This term originally had nothing to do with cursing. It comes from the word дно or a bottom. Any liquid remaining at the bottom of a dish with the residue was called padonki.

Paupers used to go around old pubs and drink the remaining alcohol from the bottoms of the cups. Metaphorically these people at the bottom of the society became known as podonok.

Наглец [naglec] / Rascal

There is no certain answer as to how the current meaning of the word naglec came about. The adjective наглый [nagliy] was originally used to address someone acting who acts quickly, rapidly. Today if a man behaves shamelessly and grossly.  

Ублюдок [ubl’udak] / Son of a bitch

Historically bastards, the illegitimate children of the king were called this way. Having an illegitimate child was considered shameful and disgraceful for the ruler and the kingdom. In the modern Russian language, the term is applied to people that behave this way. 

Swear Words With Different Gender Forms

Идиот/Идиотка [idiot/ka] / Idiot

You can see a word with similar pronunciation and meaning in English and other languages because idiot has an ancient Greek origin. Idiots were people highly involved in politics, only pursuing personal interests and disliked by the commoners. 

Idiots in ancient Greece were disrespected, and soon, the term got a derogatory tone to it. Today like in other languages in Russian, an idiot means someone acting stupidly and selfishly.

Дурак/Дура [dyrak/ra] / Fool

Even though this word is technically a profanity, one can find it in the majority of Russian fairy tales in the name of the most popular character — Ivan-durak. That is because originally, the term did not have any negative connotations.

This slang comes from an old Russian 15th-century tradition to give a child the second last name «durak» to protect him or her from evil spirits. Since the word was supposed to make fools out of the angry ghosts in time, the term durak turned into a name for people who are acting silly and recklessly.

Лох/Лохушка [loch/yshka] / Sucker

This modern slang is more common in a company of youngsters. It is used to address someone out of the loop, weird and unfashionable.

Мерзавец/Мерзавка [mirzaviz/ka] / Git

This term has its roots in the verb мерзнуть [merznyt’] or to be cold. Initially in the northern part of Russian and now all over people who are cold-hearted, ruthless, inhumane are referred to as merzavez or otmorozok.

Негодяй/Негодяйка [nigad’ay/ka] / Scoundrel

Coming from the verb годный or being a good fit for something, negodyai
is used to address a person whose behavior is not a good fit for the situation or inappropriate.

Today the term is somewhat offensive, but in the past, only young men who were for some reason not a good fit for the army were called negodniy (не годный) or negodyai.

Some Bonus Russian Swear Words & Basics

Зараза [zaraza] / You pest

This word is not necessarily offensive, but one cannot call it a compliment either. Another meaning of the word zaraza is an infectious disease. But from the 18th century on Russian poets started calling women that are unforgettable or in a way «contagious» zaraza.

Nowadays, the meaning is less poetic and translates to a person acting annoyingly and causing trouble.

Болван [balvan] / Dummy

One calls a person bolvan if they are silly, inconsiderate, stupid. Hundred years before this term referred to wood as a material. It is also said that one who is not smart has a wooden brain. A person that behaves as if they have a wooden brain is called bolvan.

Чмо [ch’mo] / Schmuck

Another curse word denoting a person who came to the very bottom socially, almost a criminal. The term originates from the old Russian word чморить [chmorit] or to have a decline in health and energy. Thus chmo is someone who declined morally.

Сволочь [svolach’] / Jerk

Another offensive word with an innocent origin coming from a noun волочь [voloch’] or carry some trash to the garbage area. Today the name is used to address anyone behaving like trash.

Do you have any funny stories about learning swear words in a foreign language? Before you go share with us in the comments.