Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "word" 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.

слово

Meaning: word, term, speech, address, promise

Pronunciation: [SLOH-vuh]

Part of speech: noun (neuter noun)

Rank: #104 (see frequency list)

The word "слово" typed in Russian font

Example sentences:

Что зна́чит э́то сло́во?
What does this word mean?
Ни сло́ва не говоря, Тиму́р кивну́л голово́й.
Not saying a word, Timour nodded his head.
Он повтори́л мой вопро́с сло́во в сло́во.
He repeated my question word for word.
Я попыта́юсь объясни́ть в не́скольких слова́х.
I will try to explain in a few words.
Я не верю вашим словам.
I don't believe what you say.
literal I don't believe your words/promises.
Это невозмо́жно переда́ть слова́ми.
It is impossible to put into words.
Эти слова́ прозвуча́ли ка́к-то стра́нно.
These words sounded in a strange manner.
Она́ говори́ла ме́дленно, подбира́я слова́.
She was talking slowly, selecting the [right] words.
Пожа́луйста, произнеси́те это сло́во.
Please, pronounce this word.
Вы сде́лали оши́бку в э́том сло́ве.
You made a mistake in this word.
По́сле выступле́ния дека́н дал сло́во студента́м.
After the speech, the dean gave the floor to students.

Idioms and set expressions:

Одним словом, ... = in short; in a word
Словом, ... = in a word
слово в слово = word for word
literal word in word
ни слова = not a word, not a syllable
Честное слово! = Honestly!; I'm not kidding!
literal honest word
другими словами = in other words
не то слово = it's not the right word (it's worse/better/different)
на словах = by word of mouth; in words
игра слов = play on words; pun
к слову = by the way
literal by word
давать слово (+ dative) = to give/pledge one's word; to give the floor
literal give word
по его словам = according to him
literal by his words
по словам кого-либо. = according to smb.
иными словами = in other words
печатное слово = printed word; publications, books, etc.
слово дня = word of the day
без лишних слов = without beating about the bush
literal without unnecessary words
бросать слова на ветер = to waste one's words
literal throw words to the wind
двух слов связать не может = he can't put two words together
он за словом в карман не полезет = he is never at a loss for words
literal he will not dive to a pocket for a word
ловить каждое слово = to hang upon smb's words
literal to catch every word
словом не обмолвиться = not to breathe a syllable; not to breathe a word
не описать словами = it's hard to put into words; words cannot describe this
не передать словами = it's hard to put into words; words cannot describe this
поймать на слове = to take smb at his/her word
взять свои слова обратно = to withdraw one's words
literal take one's words back

Related words:

словарь = dictionary
словечко = (diminutive form) word
словесный = verbal, oral, wordy
речь = speech
язык = tongue, language
буква = letter

Proverbs and sayings:

Слово не обух -- в лоб не бьёт.
Hard words break no bones.
Где много слов, там мало дела.
All talk and no action.
literal Where there are many words, there are few deeds.
Не давши слова -- крепись, а давши -- держись.
Don't make a promise you can't keep.
literal Not having given a word try to prevent to promise, but having had given a word be strong.
Дела говорят громче слов.
Actions speak louder than words.
Слову верь, а дело проверь.
Words are the wise man's counters and the fool's money.
literal Believe to a word, but verify the deed.
Меньше слов, больше дела.
Less gab and more action.
literal Less words, more deeds.
Ради красного словца не пожалеет ни мать, ни отца.
For the sake of an effect word, he won't pity his mother or the Lord.
Слово не воробей, вылетит -- не поймаешь.
A word is not a sparrow, once it flies out, you won't catch it.
Слово -- серебро, молчание -- золото.
Word is silver, silence is gold.
Красивыми словами сыт не будешь.
The belly is not filled with fair words.

Other forms of the word (declensions):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	сло́во	слова́
Genitive	сло́ва	сло́в
Dative	сло́ву	слова́м
Accusative	сло́во	слова́
Instrumental	сло́вом	слова́ми
Prepositional	сло́ве	слова́х

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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