Белару́сь
Belarúsʹfeminine
The English phrase 'Belarus' is translated into Russian as Белару́сь (Belarúsʹ). Wiktionary also lists Белору́ссия (Belorússija) and Бе́лая Русь (Bélaja Rusʹ).
Meaning: country (name)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Белару́сь | Belarúsʹ | feminine |
| Белору́ссия | Belorússija | feminine |
| Бе́лая Русь | Bélaja Rusʹ | feminine, historical, poetic |
These terms refer to the country of Belarus.
Which one should you use?
Белару́сь is the official name used in formal, political and international contexts. Белору́ссия is a traditional name that remains widely used in common speech, though it is often considered less politically correct than Белару́сь. Бе́лая Русь is a poetic and historical name for the country, typically found in literature or songs.
How does it change in a sentence?
All three forms are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
Belarúsʹ
Did you know?
- While Беларусь is used in Russian, the Belarusian language has its own distinct alphabet that includes a letter not found in Russian, the ў.
- The word Русь in the name of the country is a distant relative of the English word 'Russia' through their shared root in the name of the Varangians.
- The choice between Беларусь and Белоруссия is not just about formality but is a sensitive political statement regarding national sovereignty and identity.
Examples in context
- Мой друг из Беларуси.My friend is from Belarus.
- Вчера я читал о Республике Беларусь.Yesterday, I was reading about the Republic of Belarus.
- Поехали в Беларусь на выходные!Let's go to Belarus for the weekend!
- Беларусь – это красивая страна с богатой культурой.Belarus is a beautiful country with a rich culture.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “belarus” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Русь, CC BY-SA 4.0.
