Slang from Russia
ban (бан)
A ban from a group, forum, or game (from the English "ban").
bez pontov (без понтов)
No showing off; without pretensions; keep it real.
chmishnik (чмырик)
A contemptible or pathetic person online (can be a troll or annoying user).
devushka/paren (девушка/парень)
Girlfriend/boyfriend (literally "girl" / "guy," commonly used for partners).
dusha moya (душа моя)
My soul; a profound term of endearment and connection.
elektrichka (электричка)
A commuter electric train (often used for short-distance suburban travel).
gnida (гнида)
Nit; despicable person (implies someone small and irritating).
gulyash (гуляш)
Goulash; often a hearty, simple meal common in cafeterias or home cooking.
kachok (качок)
A bodybuilder or muscular person (informal, sometimes derogatory).
kapyets (капец)
Damn it! The end! Disaster! (informal, strong expletive implying major trouble).
komunalka (коммуналка)
A communal apartment with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities (often refers to old Soviet housing).
kozyol (козёл)
Goat; used to call someone a jerk or a betrayer (mildly offensive).
krysha (крыша)
Roof; also means "sanity" or "mind" (e.g., "krysha poekhala" - lost ones mind).
lyubov-morkov (любовь-морковь)
Love-carrot (playful, somewhat sarcastic term for love, especially superficial or cheesy love).
marshrutka (маршрутка)
A fixed-route minibus or share-taxi (very common public transport).
modnik/modnitsa (модник/модница)
A person who is a trendy or fashion-conscious follower of trends.
navalyalsya (навалялся)
Got wasted; got very drunk (colloquial, masculine past tense).
nezhnost' (нежность)
Tenderness or gentleness; often related to intimate affection.
normalno (нормально)
Normal; okay; fine (used informally to mean "good" or "everythings alright").
otpad (отпад)
Awesome; amazing; a sensation (literally "falling off").
otsasnut’ (отсоснуть)
To rest (slang, literally "to suck out" the energy or stress).
panelka (панелька)
A large, usually drab, Soviet-era prefabricated concrete panel building.
para (пара)
A pair; two consecutive classes (e.g., "three pairs" for six hours of classes).
patsanski (пацански)
In a lad-like manner; cool, like a true guy (often associated with certain subcultures).
🔥 65 upvotespelmeni (пельмени)
Dumplings, often eaten quickly or as a simple meal (can be bought frozen and cooked).
peregril’sya (перегрелся)
Mentally exhausted or stressed (literally "overheated").
podarok (подарок)
Gift; present (can be used sarcastically for something bad/unwanted).
podpisatsya (подписаться)
To subscribe or follow a person/page online.
popsa (попса)
Generic or commercial pop music (often used somewhat disparagingly).
pozhrať (пожрать)
To grub; to gobble down food (vulgar/very informal way to say "to eat").
rayčik (райчик)
A great/cool neighborhood (diminutive of "ray" - paradise).
rodnulechka (роднулечка)
Affectionate, diminutive form meaning "little native one" or "dear one."
shashlik (шашлык)
Skewered and grilled meat (similar to kebab), very popular comfort food.
shaurma (шаурма)
Shawarma (very popular street food/takeaway, often a late-night snack).
sipyachiy (сипящий)
Hoarse; husky (can indirectly imply being drunk due to voice changes).
stilyaga (стиляга)
A style-conscious person from the 1950s/60s, a term for a fashionable person today.
strela (стрела)
A meeting, often informal and sometimes for a serious discussion (literally "arrow").
🔥 85 upvotessvidanie (свидание)
A date (romantic meeting - standard, but commonly used informally).
tema (тема)
Topic; theme; also, something cool or relevant (e.g., "Eto tema!" - Thats the thing!).
🔥 64 upvotestroika (тройка)
A "C" grade (literally "three," as in a 3 out of 5 grading system).
umilennyy (умиленный)
Feeling sentimental, touched, or overwhelmed by positive emotion.
vdrabgan (вдрызг)
Completely drunk; smashed (adverb, often used with "pyan" - drunk).
v dushu (в душу)
Feeling down; in low spirits (literally "in the soul").
vklyuchalsya (включался)
Got drunk; "turned on" (informal, often implying becoming more active due to alcohol).
vlyubitsya (влюбиться)
To fall in love (standard, but fundamental to dating terms).
zaichik (зайчик)
Bunny (can be used sarcastically as an insult for someone weak or easily scared).
zalyot (залёт)
A blunder; a serious mistake (often implying getting into trouble).
zhest (жесть)
Hardcore; tough; horrifying (literally "tin," implies extreme situation).
zhralovka (жраловка)
Food; grub (informal, often implying cheap or readily available food).
zubrit (зубрить)
To cram; to mug up (informal, often implies rote memorization).