баскетбо́л
basketbólmasculine
Basketball in Russian is баскетбо́л (basketból).
The term refers to the sport of basketball. To specifically describe the activity or the act of playing the sport, Russians often use the phrase игра в баскетбо́л, which means "the game of basketball".
Meaning: the sport (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word баскетбо́л is a masculine noun. Related terms include кольцо (hoop) and игрок (player).
How do you pronounce it?
basketból
Did you know?
- In Russian, the word баскетбо́л is used for both the sport and the ball itself, similar to how 'football' works in English.
- Russian has a specific word for a 'three-pointer' called трёхочковый, which describes the points rather than the shot itself.
- In Russia, the term кольцо́ (hoop/ring) is used both for the basketball hoop and for a finger ring, requiring context to distinguish them.
Examples in context
- Хочу поиграть в баскетбол.I want to play basketball.
- Кто ваш любимый баскетболист?Who is your favorite basketball player?
- Я очень люблю баскетбо́л.Ya ochen' lyublyu basketbol.I love basketball very much.
- Баскетбо́л это динамичный вид спорта.Basketbol eto dinamichnyy vid sporta.Basketball is a dynamic sport.
- Мы будем смотреть баскетбо́л по телевизору.My budem smotret' basketbol po televizoru.We are going to watch basketball on TV.
Example conversation
Andrey and Anastasia are discussing their hobbies at home.
- Андрей AndreyТы любишь баскетбо́л?Ty lyubish' basketbol?Do you like basketball?
- Анастасия AnastasiaНет, мне больше нравится волейбол.Net, mne bol'she nravitsya voleybol.No, I like volleyball more.
- Андрей AndreyА я обожаю баскетбо́л!A ya obozhayu basketbol!But I adore basketball!
- Анастасия AnastasiaТогда смотри матч сам.Togda smotri match sam.Then watch the match yourself.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “basketball” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
