спина́
spináfeminine
The Russian word for the anatomical back of the body is спина́ (spiná).
Use спина́ when referring to the rear part of the human or animal body.
Meaning: the rear of body (noun)
Which one should you use?
The noun спина́ refers specifically to the body part. If you want to express movement or direction (such as 'to go back'), use the adverb наза́д. If you are using 'back' as an adjective to describe the position of an object (such as 'the back seat'), use за́дний.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Russia, the word обратно may be used interchangeably with наза́д to convey the concept of 'back'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive singular form of спина́ is спины́, which is used to mean 'of the back'.
How do you pronounce it?
spiná
Did you know?
- The term спи́нка is a diminutive form of спина́ that can be used affectionately, but it is also the standard word for the 'spine' or 'back' of a book.
- The Russian word за́д is a more blunt, informal, and sometimes vulgar way to refer to the 'back' or 'rear' of something, often used to describe the 'back end' of an object or a person's buttocks.
- In Russian, if you want to say someone is 'back' from a trip, you do not use спина́ or наза́д, but rather the word верну́ться meaning 'to return'.
Examples in context
- Отойдите назад, пожалуйста.Please step back.
- Она вернулась назад домой.She went back home.
- Пойдем обратно к машине.Let's go back to the car.
- У меня болит спина́.U menya bolit spiná.My back hurts.
Example conversation
Sergey and Olga are at home after a long day of work.
- Сергей SergeyОльга, у меня очень болит спина́.Ol'ga, u menya ochen' bolit spiná.Olga, my back hurts very much.
- Ольга OlgaТебе нужно отдохнуть, Сергей.Tebe nuzhno otdokhnut', Sergey.You need to rest, Sergey.
- Сергей SergeyМожет, ты помажешь мне спи́ну мазью?Mozhet, ty pomazhesh' mne spinu maz'yu?Maybe you can rub some ointment on my back?
- Ольга OlgaКонечно, ложись на диван.Konechno, lozh'sya na divan.Of course, lie down on the sofa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “back” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
