Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ублю́док | ubljúdok | masculine | |
| су́ка | súka | feminine, masculine | |
| гад | gad | [ɡat] (narrow) | masculine |
| су́кин сын | súkin syn | masculine | |
| сво́лочь | svóločʹ | feminine, masculine | |
| вы́родок | výrodok | masculine | |
| мерза́вец | merzávec | masculine | |
| подо́нок | podónok | masculine | |
| негодя́й | negodjáj | masculine |
In Russian, several terms can translate to "bastard" depending on whether you are describing a despicable person, a sneaky individual or the literal concept of a mongrel. While ублю́док is a heavy, derogatory insult for a person, it also carries the literal meaning of a mongrel or a crossbreed animal. The adjective нечистокро́вный can be used to describe something that is of or like a mongrel or a bastardized creature.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase су́кин сын literally translates to "son of a bitch".
Which one should you use?
The choice of word changes the nuance of the insult. While ублю́док is a heavy insult, гад is specifically used to describe someone who is particularly sneaky, vile or repulsive. Сво́лочь is used to describe a despicable person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There is a wide range of formality among these terms. For a formal or literary context, use негодя́й to call someone a scoundrel or a rogue or Незаконнорожденный if you are strictly referring to someone born out of wedlock. In informal or vulgar situations, ублю́док is a strong, derogatory term and су́кин сын acts as a direct equivalent to "son of a bitch". Падла is an informal slang word that translates to "cur".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word сво́лочь is grammatically a feminine noun, but it is commonly used to refer to both men and women.
How do you pronounce it?
ubljúdok
Did you know?
- In Russian criminal slang, сука refers to a prisoner who collaborated with the prison authorities. In this context, it is one of the most dangerous and hated labels a person can have.
- The term подо́нок is derived from the word for 'sediment' or the dregs at the bottom of a vessel. Calling someone a 'bastard' in this sense suggests they are the lowest scum of society.
- The word гад originally referred to crawling creatures like snakes or reptiles. This biological connection is why the word carries a sense of being low, creeping, or repulsive.
Examples in context
- Найду – убью гада.If I find him, I'll kill the bastard.This example shows how to use гад when expressing a threat.Tatoeba #13181897 by marafon, translation #13194125 by atitarev
- От такого гада мне даже колбасы не надо.I wouldn't even accept sausage from a bastard like that.This example illustrates the use of гад to express disdain for someone's actions.Tatoeba #570332 by FeuDRenais, translation #570331 by FeuDRenais
- Мне известно, что он является незаконнорожденным ребенком.I know that he is born out of wedlock.
- Этот ублюдок так нагло обманул меня!That bastard deceived me shamelessly!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bastard” translations and entries гад, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
