Russian Meaning

UK /ˈrʌʃən/
US /ˈrʌʃən/
Word Definition
russian meaning

Russian Definition & Usage

adjective

Relating to Russia, its people, culture, language, or products.

Examples

  • "She is learning Russian to communicate better with her relatives in Moscow."
  • "Russian literature has influenced the development of world literary traditions."
  • "The Russian flag features three horizontal bands of white, blue, and red."
  • "He enjoyed Russian ballet performances, especially the works of Tchaikovsky."
  • "The Russian economy relies heavily on its energy exports, particularly oil and natural gas."
noun

A person from Russia or of Russian descent.

Examples

  • "The Russians are known for their rich cultural history and contributions to arts and science."
  • "Many Russians immigrated to the United States during the 1990s."
  • "He was born in St. Petersburg, making him a Russian citizen."
  • "Russian cuisine includes dishes like borscht and pelmeni."
  • "She married a Russian who moved to Canada for work."
noun

The Russian language, a Slavic language spoken primarily in Russia and surrounding countries.

Examples

  • "Russian is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world."
  • "Learning Russian can be challenging due to its complex grammar and Cyrillic alphabet."
  • "Many students in Eastern Europe study Russian as a second language."
  • "He is fluent in Russian after living in Moscow for five years."
  • "Russian pronunciation can be tricky for English speakers."

Cultural Context

Russia, the largest country in the world by land area, has a rich and complex cultural, historical, and political heritage. Its traditions in art, music, literature, and science have had a profound impact on global culture. The Russian language, an East Slavic language, has a complex system of grammar and vocabulary and uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Russian people have made significant contributions to the arts, politics, and science, with figures like Leo Tolstoy, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Sergey Korolev.

A Russian Winter Tale

Story

A Russian Winter Tale

It was a bitterly cold evening in St. Petersburg. Snowflakes danced in the streetlights, casting a soft glow on the city’s cobblestone streets. Elena, a Russian writer, sat in a cozy cafe sipping on tea, her mind wandering to her latest novel. She had always been captivated by the power of Russian literature—the way writers like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky had captured the depths of the human soul. Today, however, she was thinking about her own cultural heritage. She had spent years writing about Russian history, but had never fully explored what it meant to be Russian herself. Her grandmother had often told stories of the old Russian village where she grew up, and Elena realized that despite her deep understanding of Russian culture through books and academia, she had never truly lived it. The winter night felt like a mirror to her thoughts: cold and stark, yet full of possibility. ‘Isn’t it strange,’ she thought, ‘how being Russian is something you can feel, even in a faraway cafe in a foreign city, a sense that connects you to a land, a people, and a language?’ As Elena wrote in her notebook, a couple entered the cafe, speaking in fluent Russian. Elena overheard snippets of their conversation. They were discussing the Russian cuisine they had tasted during their recent trip to Moscow, and how it reminded them of the hearty dishes their mothers used to make in their childhood. Elena smiled, understanding their sentiment. As a Russian, she had a special connection to the food, the music, and even the deep philosophical ideas that had emerged from her country. When the couple left, Elena found herself reflecting on the larger picture. Being Russian wasn’t just about where you were born or what language you spoke; it was about a culture that spanned generations and continents. It was about the Russian soul—expressed in art, in music, in struggle, and in beauty. Elena closed her notebook and took a deep breath. She was proud to be Russian, and for the first time in her life, she felt truly connected to her roots.

A Russian Winter Tale