Word Meanings In English
| Russian Word | English Translation | Phonetic |
|---|---|---|
| Семья | Family | Syem-ya |
| Родители | Parents | Rodee-tely |
| Мать | Mother | Mat’ |
| Отец | Father | Atyets |
| Дети | Children | Dye-tee |
| Дочь | Daughter | Doch’ |
| Сын | Son | Syn |
| Брат | Brother | Brat |
| Сестра | Sister | Ses-tra |
| Бабушка | Grandmother | Ba-boosh-ka |
| Дедушка | Grandfather | Dye-doosh-ka |
| Внук | Grandson | Vnook |
| Внучка | Granddaughter | Vnoo-chka |
| Тётя | Aunt | Tyot-ya |
| Дядя | Uncle | Dya-dya |
Family holds the highest importance in Russian culture. Russian families tend to be large and close-knit, extending beyond the nuclear family to include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives
History or interesting facts for each of the main family words in Russian:
Семья (Family)
The word “семья” comes from the Proto-Slavic *sěmьja, which originally meant “household” or “domestic group”.
Мать (Mother)
This word has ancient Indo-European roots, related to the Latin “mater” and English “mother”.
Отец (Father)
Derived from the Old East Slavic “отьць” (otĭcĭ), it’s related to the Latin “atta” meaning “daddy”.
Сын (Son)
This word has remained largely unchanged since Proto-Slavic times.
Дочь (Daughter)
In Old Russian, it was “дъчи” (dŭči), showing how the pronunciation has evolved over time.
Брат (Brother)
Like many family terms, this word has ancient Indo-European origins.
Сестра (Sister)
This term is closely related to the Latin “soror” and English “sister”.
Бабушка (Grandmother)
Derived from “баба” (baba), which originally meant “old woman” or “grandmother”.
Дедушка (Grandfather)
The root “дед” (ded) is related to the English word “dad”.
Тётя (Aunt)
This is a diminutive form of the older word “тетка” (tetka).
Дядя (Uncle)
Originally meant “elder” in Old Slavic, showing the importance of age in family structures.
Жена (Wife)
In Old Russian, this word meant both “woman” and “wife”.
Муж (Husband)
Originally meant “man” or “warrior” in Old Russian, reflecting historical gender roles.
These words showcase the rich linguistic history of Russian family terms, with many having roots in ancient Indo-European languages and reflecting cultural values and social structures over time.
