Russian Vocabulary - Wedding and Marriage

Learn how to say Russian words for wedding and marriage. This word list will teach you such terms as "bride", "groom" and "wedding ring" that you can use when talking about weddings, wedding registration, and wedding traditions in Russian.

Russian word	English translation	Pronunciation
сва́дьба	wedding	SVAHD'-bah
жени́х	groom	zhee-NEEKH
неве́ста	bride	nee-VYEHS-tuh
молодожёны	newlyweds	mah-lah-dah-ZHOH-ny
справля́ть сва́дьбу	celebrate one's wedding	sprahv-LYAHT' SVAHD'-boo
игра́ть сва́дьбу	celebrate one's wedding	eeg-RAHT' SVAHD'-boo
свиде́тели	witnesses	svee-DYEH-tee-lee
ша́фер	the best man	SHAH-fyehr
подру́жка неве́сты	maid of honor	pahd-ROOSH-kuh nee-VYEHS-ty
сва́дебное приглаше́ние	wedding invitation	SVAH-deeb-nah-yeh preeg-lah-SHEH-nee-yeh

The words below are used to talk about marriage registration and wedding attributes.

Russian word	English translation	Pronunciation
загс (ЗАГС)	registry office, ZAGS	zahks
ро́спись в за́гсе	civil ceremony; document signing in ZAGS	ROHS-pees' vzahk-seh
объяви́ть му́жем и жено́й	to pronounce husband and wife	ahb'-yah-VEET' MOO-zhem ee zhi-NOY
свиде́тельство о бра́ке	marriage certificate	svee-DYEH-teel'-stvuh uh BRAH-keh
сва́дебное кольцо́	wedding ring	SVAH-deeb-nah-yeh kahl'-TSOH
обруча́льное кольцо́	wedding ring	ahb-roo-CHAHL'-nah-yeh kahl'TSOH
помо́лвочное кольцо́	engagement ring	pah-MOHL-vuch-nuh-yeh kahl'TSOH
кольцо́ для помо́лвки	engagement ring	kahl'TSOH dlya pah-MOHLF-kee
тамада́	toastmaster, entertainer	tah-mah-DAH

The words below describe Russian wedding traditions and rituals.

Russian word	English translation	Pronunciation
вы́куп неве́сты	paying "ransom" for the bride	VY-koop nee-VYEHS-ty
сва́дебный обря́д	wedding ceremony
помо́лвка	engagement, betrothal
венча́ние	the wedding ceremony, traditional ceremony in a church
сватовство́	matchmaking
Го́рько!	literally, "bitter". A call for newlyweds to kiss after the first toast
деви́чник	bachelorette party, hen party
мальчи́шник	bachelor party
гуля́ние	festivities
сва́дебный пир	wedding feast
засто́лье	feast
тост	toast
первый тост	the first toast
медо́вый ме́сяц	honeymoon
сва́дебный день	wedding day

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