Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "wall" 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.

стена

Meaning: wall

Pronunciation: [stee-NAH]

Part of speech: noun (feminine noun)

Rank: #289 (see frequency list)

The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world.
Photo by Nicolas M. Perrault

Example sentences:

Вели́кая кита́йская стена́ - са́мая дли́нная стена́ в ми́ре.
The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world.
literal Great Chinese wall - most long wall in the world.
Пе́ред на́ми кирпи́чная стена́.
There's a brick wall in front of us.
literal Before us brick wall.
Стро́йка была́ окружена́ стено́й.
A construction site was surrounded by the wall.
На стене́ виси́т карти́на.
There is a picture hanging on the wall.
Сте́ны в ко́мнате жёлтого цве́та.
The walls in the room are yellow.
На одно́й из стен была́ на́дпись.
There was a mural on one of the walls.
Э́тот го́род был окру́жен сте́нами.
This city was surrounded by walls.
На сте́нах бы́ло мно́го рису́нков.
There were a lot of murals on walls.
Вокру́г меня́ одни́ сте́ны.
There's nothing but walls around me.
literal Around me only walls.
Впереди́ - чёрная стена́ ды́ма.
There's a black wall of smoke ahead.
Дми́трий покра́сил сте́ну в жёлтый цвет.
Dmitry painted the wall yellow.
literal Dmitry painted the wall in yellow color.
Спра́ва от меня́ стои́т сте́на.
There is a wall on my right.
literal Right from me stands wall.
Не́сколько мужчи́н сиде́ли во́зле стены́.
Several men were sitting near the wall.
В стена́х э́того университе́та учи́лись мно́гие изве́стные лю́ди.
Many famous people studied within the precincts of this university. (note the stress: стена́х is more idiomatic)
В сте́нах э́того до́ма мно́го тре́щин.
There are many cracks in the walls of this house. (note the stress: сте́нах is more literal)
Она́ уда́рилась голово́й о сте́ну.
She banged her head against the wall.

Idioms and set expressions:

за стено́й = the other side of the wall, in the next room
literal behind a wall
в сте́нах / в стена́х = within the walls, inside
literal inside walls
в сте́нах / в стена́х че́го-либо = within the precincts of smth.
лезть на сте́ну = to be beside oneself; to climb up the wall
literal clime on a wall
припере́ть ко́го-либо к стене́ = to drive smb into a corner; to back smb against the wall
в четырёх стена́х = within the four walls
жить стена́ в сте́ну с ке́м-либо = to be close neighbours with smb
го́лые сте́ны = bare walls
обнести́ стено́й = to wall, surround by a wall
стена́ рассе́лась = the wall cracked
ро́спись стен = mural
как за ка́менной сте́ной = safe
literal as behind a stone wall
би́ться голово́й об сте́ну = to beat one's head against the wall
запере́ться / жить в четырёх стена́х = to immure oneself
literal to lock oneself / live inside four walls
сплошна́я стена́ = solid wall
как об сте́ну горо́х = like talking to a brick wall
literal as peas against a wall
быть припёртым к стене́ = to have one's back to the wall, to be in a tight corner
ви́деть сквозь сте́ну = to see through the brick wall, to see everything with a clear eye
дождь льёт стено́й = it rains cats and dogs
literal rain pours in a wall
Вели́кая кита́йская стена́ = Great Wall of China (万里长城)

Related words:

прегра́да = barrier, obstacle
огра́да = fence
сте́нка = wall (diminutive)
сте́ночка = small wall (diminutive)
потоло́к = celing

Proverbs and sayings:

До́ма стены́ помога́ют.
My house is my castle.
literal At home walls help.
У стен есть у́ши.
Walls have ears.

Other forms of the word (declensions):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	стена́	сте́ны
Genitive	стены́	сте́н
Dative	стене́	сте́нам
Accusative	сте́ну	сте́ны
Instrumental	стено́й	сте́нами
Prepositional	стене́	сте́нах

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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