Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "face" in Russian

This Russian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

лицо

Meaning: face, front, countenance, person, individual

Pronunciation: [lee-TSOH]

Part of speech: noun (neuter noun)

Rank: #110 (see frequency list)

Face of a woman

Example sentences:

Я хорошо́ по́мню его́ лицо́.
I remember his face well.
Она́ закры́ла лицо́ рука́ми.
She covered her face with her hands.
Мы сиди́м лицо́м к лицу́.
We are sitting face to face.
Анто́н поверну́лся лицо́м к сте́нке.
Anton turned his face to the wall.
Но́чью неизве́стные ли́ца угна́ли автомоби́ль.
At night, unidentified persons stole a car.
Юриди́ческое лицо́ зарегистри́ровано в Москве́.
The legal entity is registered in Moscow.
Неожи́данно он измени́лся в лице́.
He suddenly changed his countenance.
Он ничу́ть не измени́лся в лице́.
He kept his countenance unchanged.
literal He not slightly changed in face.
Лю́ди бы́ли нарисо́ваны ме́лко, так что лиц не разберёшь.
People were drawn very finely, so that you can't tell their faces.

Idioms and set expressions:

знать в лицо́ = to know by sight
literal know in face
от лица́ (+ genitive case) = on behalf of; in the name of
literal from person
лицо́м к лицу́ = face to face
физическое лицо́ = individual (legal term)
юридическое лицо́ = legal entity, juridical person (legal term)
первое лицо = first person (grammar); the head (of company, country, etc)
второе лицо = second person (grammar); deputy of the head of the company or country
третье лицо = third person (grammar); third party (legal term)
должностное лицо = official, officer, executive
перед лицом (+ genitive) = in the face (of)
[что-либо] к лицу [кому-либо] = [something] suits [someone]
действующее лицо = personage, character
частное лицо = individual, private person (legal term)
смотреть правде в лицо = to face the truth
literal to look truth into face
измениться в лице = to change one's countenance
literal change in face
лицо мужского пола = male person
literal person of masculine sex
очень важное лицо = V.I.P.
стереть с лица земли = to crumble smth to dust
literal to erase from the face of the earth
показать своё истинное лицо = to show oneself in one's true colors
literal to show one's true face
в поте лица = in the sweat of thy face; by the sweat of one's brow

Related words:

лик = face, image
фасад = facade, front
облик = look, appearance
личность = personality, person
субъект = subject
лицевой = (adjective) facial
рожа = (colloquial) mug

Proverbs and sayings:

Что в сердце варится, то в лице не утаится.
Eyes are the window of the soul.
literal What is brewing in the heart, doesn't hide on the face.
С лица воду не пить.
A fair face may fade, but a beautiful soul last forever.
literal Not to drink water off the face.
Лицом хорош, да душой непригож.
Fair without, foul within.
Бел лицом, да худ отцом.
Wealth is poor substitution for a noble birth.
literal Rich by face but poor by father.
Хороший друг в лицо ругает, а за глаза хвалит.
Rebuke your friend privately -- praise him in public.
literal A good friend scolds you right to your face, but speaks well behind your back.

Other forms of the word (declensions):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	лицо́	ли́ца
Genitive	лица́	лиц
Dative	лицу́	ли́цам
Accusative	лицо́	ли́ца
Instrumental	лицо́м	ли́цами
Prepositional	лице́	ли́цах

Phrase recordings: Copyright(c) 2011 MasterRussian.com. All rights reserved.
Word recordings: Copyright(c) 2006 Streit Goulnara, Streit Eric, Vion Nicolas. Copyright(c) 2007 S. Sakhno, N. Vion. Distributed under CC-BY.

Got questions?

Ask them in the Russian Questions and Answers — a place for students, teachers and native Russian speakers to discuss Russian grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and other aspects of the Russian language.