Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| живо́тное | živótnoje | neuter | |
| зверь | zverʹ | [zvʲerʲ] (narrow) | masculine |
| тварь | tvarʹ | [tvarʲ] (narrow) | feminine |
| скоти́на | skotína | feminine | |
| животи́на | životína | feminine |
The term 'animal' refers to an organism that is not human.
Which one should you use?
The neuter noun живо́тное is the standard, scientific or neutral term for an animal in a biological sense. In contrast, the masculine noun зверь typically refers to wild animals or beasts, often used in a more literary or descriptive context than the biological term. The feminine noun тварь can literally mean 'creature', but it is frequently used as a highly insulting term for a person or a repulsive living thing. Similarly, the feminine noun скоти́на refers to cattle or livestock, but when applied to a person, it is a harsh insult meaning a brute or a lowlife. Finally, the feminine noun животи́на is a colloquial, often slightly derogatory or informal way to refer to an animal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective звери́ный is derived from the masculine noun зверь and is used to describe things pertaining to wild animals (e.g., animal instincts).
Did you know?
- The word зверь is a distant relative of the Latin word 'ferus', which means 'wild' and is the root of the English word 'ferocious'.
- While тварь originally meant a 'creation' or 'thing' made by God, it has evolved into one of the most stinging insults one can use for a person.
- The term зверь can be used as a compliment for a person who is exceptionally skilled or powerful in their field, similar to calling someone 'a beast' in English.
Examples in context
- Я посмотрел на зверя, а зверь посмотрел на меня.I looked at the animal and the animal looked at me.Tatoeba #4581769 by marafon, translation #5198991 by AlanF_US
- Проклятый зверь, так и утащил капкан!The damn animal dragged away the trap.Tatoeba #2850947 by AqQoyriq, translation #10086789 by AlanF_US
- Какой зверь маленький?Which animal is small?Tatoeba #513405 by elsteris, translation #464496 by lukaszpp
- В зоопарке можно увидеть множество разных животных.In the zoo, you can see many different animals.
- Мой друг очень любит зверей, особенно собак.My friend really loves animals, especially dogs.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “animal” translations and entries зверь, тварь, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries зверь, тварь, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
