Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "the best" 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.

лучший

Meaning: the best, better, the best, better

Pronunciation: [LOOCH-shiy]

Part of speech: adjective

Rank: #500 (see frequency list)

I have the best job ever!
Photo by sam_churchill CC-BY-2.0

Example sentences:

У меня́ сáмая лу́чшая рабóта в ми́ре!
I have the best job ever!
literal I have the best job in the world!
Онá подари́ла мне сáмый лу́чший, сáмый совремéнный компью́тер!
She gave me the best, the most modern computer as a present!
Фильм э́того режиссëра был при́знан лу́чшей карти́ной гóда.
The film by this director was recognized as the best movie of the year.
Не переживáй: лу́чшие дни ещë настáнут.
Don't worry, better days are still to come.
В шкóле я был сáмым лу́чшим ученикóм.
I was the best pupil at school.
А тепéрь - лу́чшие из лу́чших ру́сского рóка!
And now, the very best of the Russian rock!
Вáжно всегдá вéрить в себя́ и надéяться на лу́чшее.
It's important to have faith in oneself and hope for the better.
В лу́чшем слу́чае мы полу́чим ты́сячу éвро.
We'll receive 1000 € at best.
literal In the best case, we'll receive 1000 €.
В Пскóве провóдится кóнкурс на лу́чшего пиани́ста.
There's the best pianist contest going on in Pskov.
Никогдá не знáешь, мóжет, э́то всë к лу́чшему.
You never know, it's probably for the better.
literal You never know, everything is probably for the better.

Idioms and set expressions:

лу́чший из лу́чших = the very best
literal best of the best
лу́чшая деся́тка = the top ten
надéяться на лу́чшее = to hope for the better
в лу́чшем случае = at best
literal in best case
за неимением лу́чшего = for want of anything better
literal for not having better
к лу́чшему = for the better
оберну́ться к лу́чшему = to turn out for the best
оставля́ть желáть лу́чшего = to leave much to be desired

Related words:

лу́чше = better (adverb)
хорóший = good, nice

Proverbs and sayings:

Лу́чшее - враг хорóшего.
The best is the enemy of the good.

Vocabulary lesson: By Russificate blog exclusively for MasterRussian

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.

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