Russian word for work

Do you happen to work in a Russian office or with Russian partners? Do you already know all the words you need to communicate with your Russian colleagues?

If you feel like it would not hurt to increase your Russian office vocabulary, today we offer you a selection of 10 useful Russian words for those working in a office and not only in an office.

At the end of the article you can find a link to the flashcards where you can practice all the words below.

leave of absence, compensatory leave, overtime leave, day off

зарпла́та

[zarpláta]

Noun
, feminine

, short from за́работная пла́та

corporative party, office party

to scheme / intrigue against (usually to take one’s position)

о́фисный планкто́н

[ófeesnyî planktón]

Phrase

office plankton (low motivated office worker)

deal, transaction, bargain

Examples

• За после́дние два го́да его́ зарпла́та вы́росла в три ра́за.

  za paslyédneeye dva góda eevó zarpláta výrasla f tree ráza

  Over the past two years, his salary has grown three-fold.

• На каку́ю зарпла́ту вы рассчи́тываете?

  na kakúyu zarplátu vy raschéetyvaeetye

  What salary do you expect?

• Сотру́дники возмути́лись сокраще́нием зарпла́т.

  satrúdneekee vazmutéelees’ sakraschyéneeyem zarplát

  Employees were outraged by the reduction in salaries.

• Сто́имость разби́того окна́ вы́чли из его́ зарпла́ты.

  stóeemast’ razbéetava akná výchlee eez yevó zarpláty

  The cost of the broken window was subtracted from his salary.

• Могу́ я заня́ть у тебя́ до полу́чки?

  magú ya zanyát’ u teebyá da palúchkee

  Can I borrow from you until the payday?

• Полу́чка у нас два ра́за в ме́сяц.

  palúchka u nas dva ráza v myésyats

  We get paid twice a month.

• Его́ нет в о́фисе, он в командиро́вке в Ита́лии.

  yevó nyet v ófeesye, on f kamandeerófkye v eetáleeee

  He is not in the office, he is on a business trip in Italy.

• Он ча́сто е́здит по командиро́вкам.

  on chásta yézdeet pa kamandeerófkam

  He often travels on business trips.

• Послеза́втра я уезжа́ю в командиро́вку.

  posleezáftra ya uyezzháyu f kamandeerófku

  The day after tomorrow I’m leaving on a business trip.

• За́втра у нас корпорати́в по слу́чаю дня рожде́ния компа́нии.

  záftra u nas karparatéef pa slúchayu dnya razhdyéneeya kampáneee

  Tomorrow we have a corporate party on the occasion of the company’s birthday.

• На нового́днем корпорати́ве он напи́лся так, что не мог ходи́ть.

  na navagódnyem karparatéevye on napéelsya tak, chto nye mok hadéet’

  At the New Year’s corporate party, he got so drunk that he could not walk.

• Он сего́дня в отгу́ле.

  on seevódnya v atgúlye

  He is on leave today.

• Я хочу́ попроси́ть отгу́л на за́втра.

  ya hachú papraséet’ atgúl na záftra

  I want to ask for a day off for tomorrow.

• Когда́ у тебя́ о́тпуск?

  kagdá u teebyá ótpusk

  When is your vacation?

• Пе́рвая неде́ля о́тпуска, как ка́жется, прошла́ на одно́м дыха́нии.

  pyérvaya needyélya ótpuska, kak kázheetsa, prashlá na adnóm dyháneeee

  The first week of vacation seems to have passed in one breath.

• Че́рез неде́лю я уезжа́ю в о́тпуск на мо́ре.

  chéryez nyedyélyu ya uyezzháyu v ótpusk na mórye

  In a week I’m going on vacation to the sea.

• При увольне́нии сотру́днику поло́жена компенса́ция за неиспо́льзованный о́тпуск.

  pree uval’nyéneeee satrúdneeku palózheena kampeensátseeya za nyeeespól’zavanyî ótpusk

  Upon dismissal, the employee is entitled to a compensation for unused vacation.

• Мы е́дем в о́тпуск всей семьёй.

  my yédeem v ótpusk fsyeî seem’yóî

  We go on vacation with the whole family.

• Вы совсе́м не загоре́ли, весь о́тпуск в но́мере просиде́ли, что-ли?

  vy safsyém nye zagaryélee, vyes’ ótpusk v nómeerye praseedyélee, chtólee

  You didn’t get tanned at all, did you spent the whole vacation in your room?

• О́фисный планкто́н — э́то сре́днее о́фисное звено́ с пони́женной тво́рческой составля́ющей.

  ófeesnyî planktón éta sryédnyeye ófeesnaye zveenó s panéezhennaî tvórcheeskaî sastavlyáyuschyeî

  Office plankton is a middle level office workers with a reduced creative component.

• Весь наш о́фисный планкто́н прово́дит бо́льше вре́мени в социа́льных сетя́х, чем рабо́тая.

  vyes’ nash ófeesnyî planktón pravódeet ból’she vryémeenee v satseeál’nyh seetyáh, chyem rabótaya

  All our office plankton spends more time on social networks than working.

• Перегово́ры зашли́ в тупи́к.

  peereegavóry zashlée f tupéek

  Negotiations have reached an impasse.

• Сто́роны се́ли за стол перегово́ров.

  stórany syélee za stol peereegavóraf

  The parties sat down at the negotiating table.

• Все счита́ют, что ты подсиде́л Анто́на.

  fvsye scheetáyut chto ty padseedyél antóna

  Everybody thinks that you intrigued against Anton to take his position.

• Он пережива́ет, что его́ мо́гут подсиде́ть в компа́нии.

  on peereezheeváeet, chto eevó mógut padseedyét’ f kampáneeee

  He worries that somebody can scheme against him in the company (to take his position).

• Два́дцать проце́нтов от су́ммы сде́лки забира́ет себе́ се́рвис.

  dvátsat’ pratséntaf at súmmy sdyélkee zabeeráeet seebyé sérvees

  The service takes twenty percent of the amount of the transaction.

• Мы заключи́ли вы́годную сде́лку.

  my zaklyuchéelee výgadnuyu sdyélku

  We made a good deal.

• Он не пошёл на сде́лку с со́вестью.

  on nye pashól na sdyélku s sóveest’yu

  He did not go for a deal with his conscience.

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There is more to discover

Have you already mastered the basics of the Russian language? If so, this means you have put in the time and effort to gain an extensive vocabulary and that you can make simple statements with relative ease. Congratulations! 

But as they say, you can always do better. You should be proud of the Russian-language proficiency level that you have achieved up to this point, but remember that there is always room for improvement. To reach the advanced level, you’ll need to study more advanced Russian words and make continual progress by working to improve your skills on a daily basis. 

Thanks to the global spread of the internet, it has become more convenient than ever to learn Russian online. If you would like to improve your Russian skills even further and learn to use the language exactly like native speakers, then you’re in the right place. 

RussianPod101 has compiled this comprehensive list of advanced Russian vocabulary words you’ll need in order to level up. We have included words and example sentences that will definitely allow you to show off your knowledge: academic words, business terms, legal jargon, and alternative “high-end” words to use in place of their simpler counterparts.

Online learning definitely reduces financial strain as it’s far more affordable compared to attending traditional universities or language classes.

Table of Contents

1. Advanced Academic Words
2. Advanced Business Words
3. Advanced Medical Words
4. Advanced Legal Words
5. Alternative Words for Academic or Professional Writing
6. Conclusion

1. Advanced Academic Words

The education systems of the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe differ significantly from the education system in Russia. In this section of our advanced Russian words list, you’ll find words and phrases in Russian that will be useful to know while studying in Russian schools and universities (and, of course, when speaking with students in Russia). The topic of education is very broad, but the purpose of this list is to provide you with the most relevant words for Russian communication in academic settings.

• Экзамен (Ekzamen) – “Assessment” [noun]
• Сомнительный (Somnitel’nyy) – “Ambiguous” / “Doubtful” [adjective]
• Дискуссия (Diskussiya) – “Discussion” [noun]
• Сессия (Sessiya) – “Examinations” [noun]
• Диплом (Diplom) – “Diploma” [noun]

Example Sentences:

Сомнительно, что она сдаст экзамен. 

Somnitel’no, chto ona sdast ekzamen.

“It is doubtful that she will pass the exam.”

После показа фильмов проводилась тематическая дискуссия. 

Posle pokaza fil’mov provodilas’ tematicheskaya diskussiya.

“Each showing of the documentary was followed by a panel discussion.”

После удачной сдачи сессии он получил диплом. 

Posle udachnoy sdachi sessii on poluchil diplom.

“After successfully passing the examinations, he received a diploma.”

Over four million students were enrolled in Russian institutions of higher education in 2019.

• Лекция (Lektsiya) – “Lecture” [noun]
• Урок (Urok) – “Lesson” [noun]

На лекциях и уроках получают знания. 

Na lektsiyakh i urokakh poluchayut znaniya.

“We gain knowledge at lectures and lessons.”

• Химический (Khimicheskiy) – “Chemical” [adjective]
• Принципы (Printsipy) – “Foundations” / “Basis” [noun]

Принципы химических реакций

Printsipy khimicheskikh reaktsiy

“Foundations of chemical reactions”

• Методическое пособие (Metodicheskoye posobiye) – “Guideline” [the word пособие is a noun and методическое is an adjective]
• Обнаружить (Obnaruzhit’) – “To detect” [verb]
• Случайно (Sluchayno) – “Randomly” / “Accidentally” [adverb]
• Приложение (Prilozheniye) – “Appendix” [noun]

Он случайно обнаружил приложение к методическому пособию. 

On sluchayno obnaruzhil prilozheniye k metodicheskomu posobiyu.

“He accidentally discovered an appendix to the guideline.”

• Таблица (Tablitsa) – “Chart” / “Table” [noun]

Таблица является полезным инструментом. 

Tablitsa yavlyayetsya poleznym instrumentom.

“The chart is a useful tool.”

• Кругозор (Krugozor) – “Prospect” / “Horizons” [noun]

У него широкий кругозор. 

U nego shirokiy krugozor.

“He has broad horizons.”

• Абзац (Abzats) – “Paragraph” [noun]

Абзац форматируется как заголовок. 

Abzats formatiruyetsya kak zagolovok.

“A paragraph is formatted as a heading.”

• Решающий (Reshayushchiy) – “Crucial” [adjective]
• Ядерный (Yаdernyy) – “Nuclear” [adjective]

Первым пунктом повестки дня должна стать ратификация улучшений решающего инструмента обеспечения ядерной безопасности. 

Pervym punktom povestki dnya dolzhna stat’ ratifikatsiya uluchsheniy reshayushchego instrumenta obespecheniya yadernoy bezopasnosti.

“At the top of the agenda should be the ratification of improvements to a crucial nuclear security instrument.”

• Расписание (Raspisaniye) – “Schedule” / “Timetable” [noun]
• Минимальный (Minimal’nyy) – “Minimum” [adjective]

Студенты получили ориентировочное расписание с минимальным количеством занятий. 

Studenty poluchili oriyentirovochnoye raspisaniye s minimal’nym kolichestvom zanyatiy.

“Students received an indicative timetable with a minimum number of classes.”

• Ориентировочный (Oriyentirovochnyy) – “Preliminary” / “Approximate” [adjective]
• Общежитие (Obshchezhitiye) – “Dormitory” [noun]

В общежитии был беспорядок. 

V obshchezhitii byl besporyadok.

“The dormitory was a mess.”

• Формат (Format) – “Format” [noun]

Сдайте работу в формате pdf. 

Sdayte rabotu v formate pdf.

“Submit your work in PDF format.”

• Среда (Sreda) – “Medium” [noun]

Питательная среда содержит лактопептон. 

Pitatel’naya sreda soderzhit laktopepton.

“The nutrition medium contains lactopeptine.”

• Продолжительность (Prodolzhitel’nost’) – “Duration” [noun]

Продолжительность занятия — 30 минут. 

Prodolzhitel’nost’ zanyatiya — 30 minut.

“The duration of the lesson is 30 minutes.”

• Убеждённый (Ubezhdyonnyy) – “Convinced” [adjective]

Убеждённый европеец, он рассматривал европейский идеал строго в рамках международного сотрудничества. 

Ubezhdyonnyy yevropeyets, on rassmatrival yevropeyskiy ideal strogo v ramkakh mezhdunarodnogo sotrudnichestva.

“A convinced European, he set the European ideal squarely in a framework of international cooperation.”

2. Advanced Business Words

Business vocabulary is not limited to business contexts; many of the advanced Russian words presented below are used in ordinary everyday conversations as well. While going through this list, keep in mind that each specialty requires a specific vocabulary set. Daily meetings with colleagues, negotiations with business partners, communication by phone and email—all these things require a special skill set and a specific set of vocabulary.

• Стратегия (Strategiya) – “Strategy” [noun]
• Встречное предложение (Vstrechnoye predlozheniye) – “Counteroffer” [noun]

Встречное предложение партнёра было частью запасной стратегии. 

Vstrechnoye predlozheniye partnyora bylo chast’yu zapasnoy strategii.

“The partner’s counteroffer was part of a fallback strategy.”

• Фискальный (Fiskal’nyy) – “Fiscal” [adjective]

Бухгалтерский и налоговый учёт фискального накопителя

Bukhgalterskiy i nalogovyy uchyot fiskal’nogo nakopitelya

“Accounting and tax accounting of the fiscal driver”

• Сотрудничество (Sotrudnichestvo) – “Collaboration” / “Cooperation” [noun]
• Соглашение / Договор (Soglasheniye / Dogovor) – “Agreement” [noun]

Частью сотрудничества является подписание договора. 

Chast’yu sotrudnichestva yavlyayetsya podpisaniye dogovora.

“Part of cooperation is the signing of an agreement.”

• Бюджет (Byudzhet) – “Budget” [noun]

Бюджет академии увеличился на 11 процентов. 

Byudzhet akademii uvelichilsya na 11 protsentov.

“The budget for the academy was raised by 11 percent.”

Russia was the sixth-largest economy in the world in 2019, the World Bank estimates. In nominal terms, Russia ranks eleventh.

• Бухгалтер (Bukhgalter) – “Accountant” [noun]
• Отдел (Otdel) – “Department” [noun]
• Визитка (Vizitka) – “Business card” [noun]

На визитке бухгалтера был указан его отдел. 

Na vizitke bukhgaltera byl ukazan yego otdel.

“The accountant’s business card indicated his department.”

• Валюта (Valyuta) – “Currency” [noun]
• Товар (Tovar) – “Commodity” [noun]
• Покупатель (Pokupatel’) – “Customer” [noun]

Покупатель купил товар за валюту. 

Pokupatel’ kupil tovar za valyutu.

“The buyer bought the product with foreign currency.”

• Эффективность (Effektivnost’) – “Efficiency” [noun]

Отдел повысил показатели эффективности. 

Otdel povysil pokazateli effektivnosti.

“The department has improved efficiency indicators.”

• Упаковочный лист (Upakovochnyy list) – “Packing list” [the word лист is a noun and упаковочный is an adjective]
• Срок (Srok) – “Deadline” / “Time” [noun]
• Счёт (Schyot) – “Invoice” [noun]

Срок поставки по счёту и упаковочному листу — сегодня. 

Srok postavki po schyotu i upakovochnomu listu — segodnya.

“The invoice and packing list delivery time is today.”

• Инвестиции (Investitsii) – “Investment” [noun]
• Директор (Direktor) – “Managing director” [noun]
• Переговоры (Peregovory) – “Negotiation” [noun]

Директор провёл переговоры, касающиеся инвестиций. 

Direktor provyol peregovory, kasayushchiyesya investitsiy.

“The managing director negotiated investments.”

• Вакансия (Vakansiya) – “Opening” / “Vacancy” [noun]

Вакансия руководителя этого проекта заполнена. 

Vakansiya rukovoditelya etogo proekta zapolnena.

“The leadership vacancy on this project has been filled.”

• Прибыльный (Pribyl’nyy) – “Profitable” [adjective]
• Заказ (Zakaz) – “Purchase order” [noun]

Компания выполнила прибыльный заказ. 

Kompaniya vypolnila pribyl’nyy zakaz.

“The company has completed a profitable order.”

• Резюме (Rezyume) – “Resumé” / “Curriculum vitae” [noun]

Я отправила моё резюме на вакантные места. 

Ya otpravila moyo rezyume na vakantnyye mesta.

“I sent my resumé for a few job openings.”

• Подпись (Podpis’) – “Signature” [noun]

Подпись не нужна, только инициалы. 

Podpis’ ne nuzhna, tol’ko initsialy.

“You don’t have to sign it; just your initials.”

• Поставка (Postavka) – “Supply” [noun]
• Налог (Nalog) – “Tax” [noun]

Поставка не облагается налогом. 

Postavka ne oblagayetsya nalogom.

“The supply is tax-deductible.”

• Сделка (Sdelka) – “Transaction” / “Deal” [noun]

Сделка была прибыльной. 

Sdelka byla pribyl’noy.

“The deal was profitable.”

3. Advanced Medical Words

Imagine that you’re in Russia when you start to feel unwell. To get the help you need, you’ll have to describe your symptoms and overall condition (knowing a little about the Russian health system would help, too). In this section, we’ll introduce you to the most useful advanced Russian words related to healthcare. 

• Биопсия (Biopsiya) – “Biopsy” [noun]

Эндометриальная биопсия нужна, чтобы проверить эффективность прививки. 

Endometrial’naya biopsiya nuzhna, chtoby proverit’ effektivnost’ privivki.

“An endometrial biopsy is needed to test the vaccine efficacy.”

• Деменция (Dementsiya) – “Dementia” [noun]

Совет фонда считает, что у меня деменция. 

Sovet fonda schitayet, chto u menya dementsiya.

“The foundation board thinks I have dementia.”

• Ординатура (Ordinatura) – “Residency” [noun]

Мне так сильно понравилась ординатура, что я прошёл её дважды.

Mne tak sil’no ponravilas’ ordinatura, chto ya proshyol yeyo dvazhdy.

“I liked residency so much that I did it twice.”

• Заболевание (Zabolevaniye) – “Disease” / “Illness” [noun]

Заболевание является серьёзным тормозом для развития. 

Zabolevanie yavlyayetsya ser’yoznym tormozom dlya razvitiya.

“The disease is a major problem for development.”

• Рецепт (Retsept) – “Prescription” [noun]

Врач выписал мне рецепт. 

Vrach vypisal mne retsept.

“The doctor wrote me a prescription.”

Health is one of the crucial things in life that money can’t buy. Please, stay healthy!

• Астма (Astma) – “Asthma” [noun]

Ну, у её дочери астма. 

Nu, u yeyo docheri astma.

“Well, her daughter has asthma.”

• Зависимость (Zavisimost’) – “Addiction” [noun]

Ричардс лечился от алкогольной зависимости в 2006 году. 

Richards lechilsya ot alkogol’noy zavisimosti v 2006 godu.

“Richards was in rehab for alcohol addiction in 2006.”

• Поликлиника (Poliklinika) – “Outpatient department” [noun]

Поликлиника была создана для диагностики. 

Poliklinika byla sozdana dlya diagnostiki.

“The outpatient department was set up to provide diagnostic care.”

• Медицинский центр (Meditsinskiy tsentr) – “Health care center” [the word центр is a noun and медицинский is an adjective]
• Cтоматологический (Stomatologicheskiy) – “Dental” [adjective]

Стоматологические клиники и медицинские центры в России могут быть частными. 

Stomatologicheskiye kliniki i meditsinskiye tsentry v Rossii mogut byt’ chastnymi.

“Dental clinics and medical centers in Russia can be private.”

• Медицинский полис (Meditsinskiy polis) – “Health insurance certificate” [the word полис is a noun and медицинский is an adjective]

Медицинский полис будет только через месяц. 

Meditsinskiy polis budet tol’ko cherez mesyats.

“The health insurance certificate will be ready in a month.”

• Приёмный покой (Priyomnyy pokoy) – “Emergency room” [the word покой is a noun and приёмный is an adjective]
• Больничная палата (Bol’nichnaya palata) – “Hospital ward” [the word палата is a noun and больничная is an adjective]

В приёмном покое много больничных палат. 

V priyomnom pokoye mnogo bol’nichnykh palat.

“There are many hospital wards in the emergency room.”

• Операционная (Operatsionnaya) – “Operating room” [noun]
• Реанимация (Reanimatsiya) – “Intensive care unit” [noun]
• Пациент, больной (Patsiyent, bol’noy) – “Patient” [noun]

Из операционной пациента перевели в реанимацию. 

Iz operatsionnoy patsiyenta pereveli v reanimatsiyu.

“The patient was transferred from the operating room to the intensive care unit.”

• Стационарный больной (Statsionarnyy bol’noy) – “Inpatient” [the word больной is a noun and стационарный is an adjective] Please note that the word больной can also be used as an adjective, just as “patient” can be a noun or an adjective in English.  
• Амбулаторный больной (Ambulatornyy bol’noy) – “Outpatient” [the word больной is a noun and амбулаторный is an adjective]
• Медсестра (Medsestra) – “Nurse” [noun]
• Терапевт (Terapevt) – “Physician” [noun]
• Отоларинголог (Otolaringolog) – “ORT specialist” [noun]

Медицинское обслуживание стационарных и амбулаторных больных осуществляется разными группами докторов и медсестёр, в том числе терапевтами и отоларингологами. 

Meditsinskoye obsluzhivaniye statsionarnykh i ambulatornykh bol’nykh osushchestvlyayetsya raznymi gruppami doktorov i medsestyor, v tom chisle terapevtami i otolaringologami.

“Medical services for inpatient and outpatient care are provided by various groups of doctors and nurses, including physicians and ORT specialists.”

• Записаться на приём (Zapisat’sya na priyom) – “To make an appointment” [verb]

Записаться на приём было очень сложно. 

Zapisat’sya na priyom bylo ochen’ slozhno.

“It was very difficult to make an appointment with a doctor.”

According to statistics, more than half of Russians trust alternative and complementary medicine. Previously, only old ladies knew and shared amongst themselves all the recipes of alternative medicine; now, these recipes can be found on TV and the internet. Healing properties are attributed to herbal tinctures, the steam of boiled potatoes, and other methods of alternative medicine. Here are some advanced Russian words related to complementary medicine:

• Народная медицина (Narodnaya meditsina) – “Alternative medicine” / “Complementary medicine” [the word медицина is a noun and народная is an adjective]
• Грелка (Grelka) – “Hot water bottle” [noun]
• Горчичник (Gorchichnik) – “Mustard plaster” [noun]
• Отвар (Otvar) – “Brew” [noun]
• Целебные травы (Tselebnyye travy) – “Medicinal herbs” [the word травы is a noun (plural of трава – “herb”) and целебные is an adjective]

Отвар из целебных трав, горчичники и грелка являются популярными средствами в народной медицине. 

Otvar iz tselebnykh trav, gorchichniki i grelka yavlyayutsya populyarnymi sredstvami v narodnoy meditsine.

“Medicinal herb brews, mustard plasters, and a hot water bottle are popular remedies in alternative medicine.”

4. Advanced Legal Words

While these legal words and phrases may be long, difficult to remember, and even harder to spell, they’re sure to prove useful in a number of contexts. Memorize these advanced Russian words to get a leg up in the business world and to enrich your personal life (these are words you might find used on news stations and in the paper). 

• Гражданин (Grazhdanin) – “Passport holder” / “Resident” [noun]
• Закон (Zakon) – “Law” [noun]
• Нарушать закон (Narushat’ zakon) – “To break the law” [verb]

Граждане не должны нарушать закон. 

Grazhdane ne dolzhny narushat’ zakon.

“Residents must not break the law.”

• Тяжба (Tyazhba) – “Lawsuit” [noun]
• Юрисконсульт (Yuriskonsul’t) – “Legal adviser” [noun]
• Законный представитель (Zakonnyy predstavitel’) – “Legal representative” [the word представитель is a noun and законный is an adjective]

Законный представитель и юрисконсульт помогут с судебными тяжбами. 

Zakonnyy predstavitel’ i yuriskonsul’t pomogut s sudebnymi tyazhbami.

“A legal representative and a legal adviser will help with filing a lawsuit.”

• Нотариус (Notarius) – “Notary public” [noun]

Нотариус проверяет чистоту сделки и следит за тем, чтобы недвижимость продавалась свободной от долгов. 

Notarius proveryayet chistotu sdelki i sledit za tem, chtoby nedvizhimost’ prodavalas’ svobodnoy ot dolgov.

“A notary public verifies the purity of a deal and ensures that property is sold free of debts.”

• Бездействие (Bezdeystviye) – “Omission” / “Nonfeasance” [noun]

Такие нарушения могут иметь место в силу действия или бездействия государства.

Takiye narusheniya mogut imet’ mesto v silu deystviya ili bezdeystviya gosudarstva.

“Such violations can occur by state action or omission.”

• Юрист (Yurist) – “Lawyer” [noun]
• Суд (Sud) – “Court” [noun]
• Спорить (Sporit’) – “To dispute” [verb]

Юрист оспорил это решение в суде. 

Yurist osporil eto resheniye v sude.

“The lawyer disputed this decision in court.”

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation is the highest judicial body of constitutional supervision in the Russian Federation.

• Мошенничество (Moshennichestvo) – “Fraud” [noun]
• Прокурор (Prokuror) – “Prosecutor” [noun]

Прокурор предъявил обвинение в мошенничестве. 

Prokuror pred’yavil obvineniye v moshennichestve.

“The prosecutor indicted for fraud.”

• Обжалование (Obzhalovaniye) – “Appeal” [noun]
• Виновный (Vinovnyy) – “Liable” / “Guilty” [adjective]
• Обвинительное заключение (Obvinitel’noye zaklyucheniye) – “Indictment” [the word заключение is a noun and обвинительное is an adjective]

Виновный обжаловал обвинительное заключение. 

Vinovnyy obzhaloval obvinitel’noye zaklyucheniye.

“The person found guilty appealed against the indictment.”

• Судебное постановление (Sudebnoye postanovleniye) – “Injunction” [the word постановление is a noun and судебное is an adjective]

Это судебное постановление у нас в кармане. 

Eto sudebnoye postanovleniye u nas v karmane.

“This injunction is in the bag.”

• Правосудие (Pravosudiye) – “Justice” / “Justice systems” [noun]
• Приговор (Prigovor) – “Verdict” / “Sentence” [noun]

В то же время женщины теряют доверие к системе правосудия, если приговоры минимальны и не обеспечивают им какую-либо защиту. 

V to zhe vremya zhenshchiny teryayut doveriye k sisteme pravosudiya, yesli prigovory minimal’ny i ne obespechivayut im kakuyu-libo zashchitu.

“At the same time, women lose faith in justice systems where sentences are minimal and fail to offer them any protection.”

• Свидетель (Svidetel’) – “Witness” [noun]

Свидетель видел золотой рисунок. 

Svidetel’ videl zolotoy risunok.

“The witness saw a gold stripe.”

• Правоотношение (Pravootnosheniye) – “Legal arrangement” / “Legal relation” [noun]

Ссылка на конкретное правоотношение может не вполне подходить для некоторых правовых систем. 

Ssylka na konkretnoye pravootnosheniye mozhet ne vpolne podkhodit’ dlya nekotorykh pravovykh sistem.

“The reference to a defined legal relationship might not easily be accommodated in certain legal systems.”

• Права человека (Prava cheloveka) – “Human rights” [noun]

Права человека также являются основой внешней политики. 

Prava cheloveka takzhe yavlyayutsya osnovoy vneshney politiki.

“Human rights also constitute one of the key pillars of foreign policy.”

5. Alternative Words for Academic or Professional Writing 

To write a really good essay, you need to have a sufficient vocabulary of advanced Russian words. Developing the necessary language skills for writing a persuasive argument is crucial. In this section, we’ll equip you with the words and phrases you’ll need to write a great essay or to compose other forms of academic/professional writing. We have also included a number of advanced Russian words that are hard to pronounce, long, or hyphenated. 

Alternative Words

In the first column, you’ll find a simple Russian word; in the second column, you’ll find a more advanced or nuanced replacement you could use instead. 

поэтому (poetomu) – “so” Conjunction	таким образом (takim obrazom) – “therefore” Conjunction
Таким образом, курс рубля повысился.  Takim obrazom, kurs rublya povysilsya.  “Therefore, the ruble has been appreciated.”

большой (bol’shoy) – “big” Adjective	огромный (ogromnyy) – “huge” / “enormous” Adjective
Это огромный успех.  Eto ogromnyy uspekh.  “This is a huge success.”

любить (lyubit’) – “to love” Verb	обожать (obozhat’) – “to adore” Verb
Я обожаю этот сериал.  Ya obozhayu etot serial.  “I adore this show.”

хорошо (khorosho) – “good” Adjective	прекрасно / замечательно (prekrasno / zamechatel’no) – “beautiful” / “wonderful” Adjective
Это прекрасно, просто замечательно.  Eto prekrasno, prosto zamechatel’no.  “It’s wonderful, just beautiful.”

Complex Linking Words

• Для того чтобы (Dlya togo chtoby) – “For the purpose of” / “In order to” 

This linking word can be used to introduce an explanation.

Example:

Нужно прийти домой пораньше, для того чтобы успеть сделать уроки.

Nuzhno priyti domoy poran’she, dlya togo chtoby uspet’ sdelat’ uroki.

“You need to come home early in order to have time to do your homework.”

• Другими словами / Иными словами (Drugimi slovami / Inymi slovami) – “In other words” 

Use the linking word другими словами or иными словами when you want to express something more simply so that it’s easier to understand, or to emphasize or expand upon a point of view.

Example:

Иными словами, он переживает кризис.

Inymi slovami, on perezhivayet krizis.

“In other words, he is in a state of crisis.”

Complicated Words for Russian Learners

Are you up for a challenge? Then try memorizing a few of these more complicated Russian words for advanced learners! 

• Подбираться, подкрадываться (Podbirat’sya, podkradyvat’sya) – “To sneak up” / “To creep up” [verb]

Он подобрался незаметно. 

On podobralsya nezametno.

“He crept up unnoticed.”

• Растеряться (Rasteryat’sya) – “To become confused” [verb]
• Вдобавок (Vdobavok) – “In addition” [adverb]

Я растерялась и вдобавок забыла, что хотела сказать.

Ya rasteryalas’ i vdobavok zabyla, chto khotela skazat’.

“I was confused and, in addition, forgot what I wanted to say.”

• Неудовлетворённость (Neudovletvoryonnost’) – “Discontent” [noun]

Они вечно показывали неудовлетворённость работой. 

Oni vechno pokazyvali neudovletvoryonnost’ rabotoy.

“They were forever discontent with work.”

• Правописание (Pravopisaniye) – “Spelling” [noun]

Одно ясно — его правописание оставляет желать лучшего. 

Odno yasno — yego pravopisaniye ostavlyayet zhelat’ luchshego.

“One thing is certain—his spelling leaves much to be desired.”

• Самообладание (Samoobladaniye) – “Self-control” [noun]

Самообладание очень важно в любом обществе. 

Samoobladaniye ochen’ vazhno v lyubom obshchestve.

“Self-control is crucial to any society.”

• Приспосабливаться (Prisposablivat’sya) – “To adapt” [verb]

Эти голограммы способны учиться и приспосабливаться. 

Eti gologrammy sposobny uchit’sya i prisposablivat’sya.

“These holograms have the ability to learn and adapt.”

• Орудовать (Orudovat’) – “To work by tool” / “To wield” [verb]

Я даже не знаю, как орудовать ножом. 

Ya dazhe ne znayu, kak orudovat’ nozhom.

“I wouldn’t even know how to wield a knife.”

• Махнуть рукой (Makhnut’ rukoy) – “To give up” / “A lost cause” [verb]

А ты, на тебя можно махнуть рукой. 

A ty, na tebya mozhno makhnut’ rukoy.

“You, however—you’re a lost cause.”

• Истолковывать (Istolkovyvat’) – “To interpret” / “To translate” [verb]
• Ненадлежащий (Nenadlezhashchiy) – “Improper” [adjective]

Ненадлежащее поведение и поступки можно оценивать и истолковывать по-разному. 

Nenadlezhashcheye povedeniye i postupki mozhno otsenivat’ i istolkovyvat’ po-raznomu.

“Improper behavior and conduct can be appraised and interpreted in different ways.”

• Несподручно (Nespodruchno) – “Awkwardly” / “Inconveniently” / “Uncomfortably” [colloquialism] [adverb]

В смысле… для меня это, как бы, несподручно. 

V smysle… dlya menya eto, kak by, nespodruchno.

“I mean, I’m not comfortable with that.”

Hyphenated Words

In the Russian language, compound words are often hyphenated. These words include compound nouns, compound names, the names of compass points, shades of color, and so on. Here are some examples:

• Северо-восточный (Severo-vostochnyy) – “Northeast” [adjective]

Подул северо-восточный ветер. 

Podul severo-vostochnyy veter.

“The northeast wind blew.”

• Фруктово-ягодный (Fruktovo-yagodnyy) – “With/made from fruits and berries” [adjective]
• Изумрудно-зелёный (Izumrudno-zelyonyy) – “Emerald-green” [adjective]

Это был фруктово-ягодный изумрудно-зелёный джем.

Eto byl fruktovo-yagodnyy izumrudno-zelyonyy dzhem.

“It was a fruit and berry emerald-green jam.”

• Диван-кровать (Divan-krovat’) – “Convertible sofa bed” [noun]
• Купля-продажа (Kuplya-prodazha) – “Buy/sell” / “Sale and purchase” [noun]

Фирма занималась куплей-продажей диванов-кроватей. 

Firma zanimalas’ kupley-prodazhey divanov-krovatey.

“The company was engaged in the sale and purchase of sofa beds.”

• Мало-помалу (Malo-pomalu) – “Little by little” [adverb]

Мало-помалу каждая часть головоломки становится на своё место. 

Malo-pomalu kazhdaya chast’ golovolomki stanovitsya na svoyo mesto.

“Little by little, every piece of the jigsaw is falling into place.”

• Перекати-поле (Perekati-pole) – “Rolling stone” [noun]

Потому что ты и я, мы — перекати-поле. 

Potomu chto ty i ya, my — perekati-pole.

“Cause you and I, we’re rolling stones.”

6. Conclusion

In this article, you have learned more than 100 new advanced Russian words and phrases that will help you improve and enrich your Russian vocabulary. 

RussianPod101.com has plenty of resources designed to help you reach your Russian learning goals, no matter your current proficiency level. If you’re feeling confident, we recommend creating your free lifetime account today and checking out our advanced Russian course. 

In case you found this topic a bit difficult to grasp on your own, you can upgrade to Premium PLUS in order to use our MyTeacher service. A personal tutor will gladly help you memorize and use new Russian words and phrases, provide you with personalized assignments, and more! 

Before you go: Which of the above words and phrases do you find most useful? Please, let us know in the comments.

Shuba and glasnost: historical borrowings

One of the earliest borrowings from Russian was the word “sable” (from the Russian: sobol — a
carnivorous mammal of the Mustelidae family native to northern Europe and Asia). In the 12th-13th
centuries, this animal’s fur was a form of currency, and in 14th century English dictionaries the word
«sable’’ can be found. In addition to the meaning of the noun, it became an adjective for “black.”

A large number of Russian borrowings came to the English language in the 16th century, which was a
time of growing Russian-English trade and political relations. Many such words concerned traded goods:

Beluga — a type of whale or sturgeon

Starlet — a small sturgeon of the Danube basin and Caspian Sea; farmed and commercially fished for its flesh and caviar

Kvass — a fermented mildly alcoholic beverage made from rye flour or bread with malt; sometimes translated into English as “bread drink”

Shuba — a fur coat

Czar (or tsar) – Russia’s ruler until the 1917 Revolution

Ztarosta (starosta) — a title that designates an official or unofficial leader; the head of a community
(church starosta, or school starosta)

Moujik (muzhik) — a male peasant

In the 18th and 19th centuries, other Russian words originally specific to Russian history entered into
English. Nowadays, however, they mostly can be found only in historical works or books of fiction:

Ispravnik — the chief of the district police

Obrok – an annual tax formerly paid by a Russian peasant engaged in trade

Barshina — forced labor of peasants on a landlord’s land

In the 19th century, words related to the socialist and democratic movements in Russia entered into
English:

Decembrist — a participant of the uprising against Czar Nicholas I at the time of his accession in St.
Petersburg on Dec. 14, 1825

Nihilist, nihilism — a denial of the validity of traditional values and beliefs. The term spread after
publishing of the novel, Fathers and Sons (1862), by Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, where the main
character is the nihilist Bazarov.

Narodnik (from Russian “narod” — people) – a member of the 19th century rural socialist movement who
believed that political propaganda among the Russian peasantry would lead to the awakening of the
masses to challenge the czarist regime. 

Intelligentsia – society’s intellectual elite

Of course, the words “nihilist,” “decembrist,” and “intelligentsia” are not truly Russian in origin and are
borrowed from Latin. However, these words came into English from Russian.

After the 1917 Revolution many Russian words appeared in many languages. Most are used to denote
completely new things and notions specific to Russia and Russian politics.

Here is a list of some well-known Russian words from the Soviet era:

Bolshevik (from Russian for “majority”) — a member of the majority faction of the Russian Social
Democratic Party, which was renamed the Communist Party after seizing power in the October
Revolution in 1917.

Samizdat — a system in the USSR and countries within its orbit by which forbidden literature was
clandestinely printed and distributed; also such literature

Soviet — a revolutionary council of workers or peasants in Russia before the Revolution; also, an elected
local, district, or national council in the former Soviet Union.

Sputnik (originally – “a traveling companion”) — the name given to a series of Soviet-era satellites; the
first objects launched into space

Cosmonaut — a Russian astronaut

Kolkhoz (abbreviation for Russian “kollektivnoye khozyaystvo”) – a cooperative agricultural enterprise
operated on state-owned land by peasants; a collective farm

Tovarishch — a companion or fellow traveler; used as a direct form of address in the Soviet Union;
equivalent to comrade

Gulag — originally an acronym for a Soviet-era system of forced-labor camps; it now can refer to any
repressive or coercive environment or situation

Apparatchik – the name given the Communist Party machine in the former Soviet Union; also a member
of the Communist Party and an official in a large organization, typically in a political one.

American
academic and author James Billington describes one as «a man not of grand plans, but of a hundred
carefully executed details.” It’s often considered a derogatory term, with negative connotations in terms
of the quality, competence, and attitude of a person thus described.

The words “pioneer” and “brigade” had existed in English, but they got new meanings as “a member of
the children’s Communist organization” and «labour collective» after the revolution in Russia. A new political regime in the 1990s created the new words, “glasnost” and “perestroika.”

Glasnost — an official policy in the former Soviet Union (especially associated with Mikhail Gorbachev)
emphasizing openness with regard to discussion of social problems and shortcomings.

Perestroika — a reform of the political and economic system of the former Soviet Union, first proposed
by Leonid Brezhnev at the 26th Communist Party Congress in 1979, and later actively promoted
by Mikhail Gorbachev starting in 1985.

Borscht and kazachoc: cultural borrowings

Other borrowings relate to Russian cultural and gastronomic traits.

Pelmeni — an Eastern European dumpling filled with minced meat, especially beef and pork, wrapped in
thin dough, and then boiled

Borscht (Borshch) — a beet soup served hot or cold, usually with sour cream

Kissel — a viscous fruit dish, popular as a dessert and as a drink

Vodka (barely needs to be introduced) — a distilled beverage composed primarily of water and ethanol,
sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings, 40 percent alcohol by volume ABV (80 US proof).

Medovukha — a Russian honey-based alcoholic beverage similar to mead

Molotov cocktail — a makeshift bomb made of a breakable container filled with flammable liquid and
with a rag wick that is lighted just before being hurled. “Cocktail” named after Vyacheslav Molotov:
while dropping bombs on Helsinki, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov claimed the Soviets were
only dropping food and drink to their comrades.

Russian roulette — a very dangerous game of chance where each player points at their own head with
a gun that has one bullet in it and five empty chambers

Kazachoc (literally translated it means «Little Cossack») — A Slavic dance, chiefly Russian and Ukrainian,
with a fast tempo featuring a step in which a squatting dancer kicks out each leg alternately to the front.

Sambo — a Soviet martial art originally developed in the former Soviet Union. The word «SAMBO» is
an acronym for SAMozashchita Bez Oruzhiya, which literally translates as «self-defense without
weapons.»

You definitely have heard the Russian word “babushka.” When it entered into the English language, in
addition to its original meaning “grandmother,” it got another one: a type of scarf commonly worn by
babushkas.

After 1991, there were some new words such as “gopnik” or “silovik” still coming to other languages.

Gopnik — a pejorative term to describe a particular subculture in Russia and other Slavic countries that
refers to aggressive young men or women of the lower-class from families of poor education and
income, somewhat similar to American “white trash.”

Silovik — a word for state officials from the security or military services, often officers of the former KGB,
GRU, FSB, SVR, the Federal Drug Control or other security services who wield enormous political and
state power.

Some linguists even claim that one of the most popular verbs in modern English, “to talk,” has
Scandinavian roots — “tolk,” which is originally from the Russian “tolk,” “tolkovat”. And the word «milk»
was borrowed from Slavic tribes as «meolk,» and then as «milk.» There’s a similar story for other words
such as «honey» (Old English — meodu, Russian — mjod).

Try to guess the meaning of these words of Russian origin:

Shapka

Pirozhki (also piroshki)

Spetsnaz (or Specnaz)

Zek

Which Russian words have you met in other languages? Share your comments!

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• #1

How do you say in Russian?

What do you do for work? (familiar)

My try: Что рабоста делаеш?

Thanks

• #3

How do you say in Russian?

What do you do?

Thanks

It means what are you engaged in, what is your position now (at work), or, generally speaking, where do you work and what particularly your work is.

«Чем ты занимаешься?»

If you have noticed, I have eliminated the word «for work» in the sentence above. In my opinion, in order to find out what is the person’s profession and position in some organization (see my russian equivalent in bold) it will be enough to say «What do you do?»

Last edited: Jan 5, 2009

• #4

чем ты занимаешься can be asked about your hobbies or how you are spending your time or days in general so I prefer the «Кем работаешь? «

Last edited by a moderator: Jan 6, 2009

• #5

чем ты занимаешься can be asked about ur hobbies or how you are spending your time or days in general so i prefer the «Кем работаешь? »

About our hobbies the questions are «Чем увлекаешься?» and slightly less straightforward «Чем интересуешься?» I would choose the first alternative, it is more natural and may be used in both formal and informal contexts.

If you want to find out what a person is currently doing in general (maybe, he is on holidays and there are plenty of various occupations to do) you may also say «Чем занимаешься». But for me still this question is more associated with your professional carreer.

• #6

So you would use Чем занимаешься? And not Кем работаешь? If you want to ask someone about his work?

Last edited by a moderator: Jan 6, 2009

• #8

I think it is not very polite to ask “Кем ты работаешь”. That’s why many people ask «Чем ты занимаешься”. Though indeed the one who is asked can be confused if it is not clear from the context what exactly he is asked about. In internet I was often asked “чем ты по жизни занимаешься” when the one I was talking to wanted to diffirentiate from «what are you doing now”.

• #9

So you would use Чем занимаешься? And not Кем работаешь? If you want to ask someone about his work?

If I want to find out what a person’s occupation is I usually ask: «Чем вы занимаетесь?» This way of forming this type of question is the most polite, I think, the most neutral and the most suitable here.

Of course, one might say that this question is slighly ambiguous because, generally speaking, it may mean several completely different things. They involve such possibilities as wondering about a person’s occupation (what we are currently discussing here), or the way he spends his leisure time
(if he/she is on holiday), or just what he is doing just now (e.g., if you see someone doing a thing which seems strange to you you may ask «Чем вы занимаетесь?»). In addition, I must say that sometimes it is even not a question but a reproach, a critisism when you do not approve of someone else’s actions or behaviour: «Чем вы занимаетесь?!» In this case, aside from a question mark, we also need an exclamation mark at the end of the sentence since we also reveal our great surprise and disapproval.

Returning to our main line, my final alternative is «Чем вы занимаетесь?».The poissibility you suggested » Кем работаешь?» is also possible but sounds more likely as an interrogation at the police station. It is not polite and should be avoided when talking to unfamiliar people or those who are older than you. However, you still may use it when communicating with your close friends.