Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| люби́мый | ljubímyj |
| возлю́бленный | vozljúblennyj |
| жела́нный | želánnyj |
The term is used to describe someone or something that is much loved. In a common context, люби́мый человек is the natural way to say 'beloved person' or 'loved one'. While it can describe people, it is also used for objects that are a person's favorite.
Which one should you use?
люби́мый is the most common way to express 'beloved' or 'favorite' in everyday Russian for both people and objects. In contrast, возлю́бленный is a high-register, poetic or archaic term for 'beloved' that is rarely used in casual conversation. Another related term, жела́нный, emphasizes that something is 'desired' or 'longed-for' rather than simply deeply loved.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective changes based on the gender and number of the noun it describes: люби́мый is the masculine form, люби́мая is the feminine form, люби́мое is the neuter form (for example, when describing a 'heart') and люби́мые is the plural form. When used as a noun to mean 'someone who is loved', the forms возлю́бленный and люби́мый can also take feminine versions like возлю́бленная.
How do you pronounce it?
ljubímyj
Did you know?
- While люби́мый is the standard word for 'beloved', Russian speakers often use the word дорого́й, meaning 'expensive', to call someone 'dear'.
- In Russian, you can turn люби́мый into a diminutive form люби́менький to make it sound even more tender and sweet.
- The root word люб is shared with the word любо́вь, meaning 'love', but also with любо́пытный, meaning 'curious'.
Examples in context
- Спокойной ночи, любимый.Good night, my beloved.
- С днем рождения, любимая подруга!Happy birthday, beloved friend!
- Не волнуйся, милая, я всегда буду рядом с тобой.Don't worry, darling, I will always be by your side.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beloved” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
