пти́ца
ptícafeminine
The Russian word for bird is пти́ца (ptíca). Wiktionary also lists пта́шка (ptáška) and пта́х (ptáx).
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| пти́ца | ptíca | feminine |
| пта́шка | ptáška | feminine |
| пта́х | ptáx | masculine, obsolete |
| пта́ха | ptáxa | colloquial, feminine |
| по́тка | pótka | dialectal, feminine |
All the forms provided refer to the animal (noun) known as a bird.
Which one should you use?
пти́ца is the standard term for bird. пта́шка is a diminutive form used to mean 'little bird' or 'birdie', often used when speaking to children or expressing affection. пта́ха is a colloquial form. пта́х is an obsolete masculine form. по́тка is a dialectal variation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
пта́шка is informal. пта́ха is colloquial. пта́х is obsolete.
Is it said differently in some regions?
по́тка is a dialectal form of the word for bird.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the standard word пти́ца is пти́цы. When the word пти́ца is the direct object of a sentence (e.g., 'I see a bird'), it changes to пти́цу.
How do you pronounce it?
ptíca
Did you know?
- In Russian folklore and fairy tales, the Жар-птица or 'Firebird' is a magical glowing bird that can light up the darkness and is often the object of a dangerous quest.
- The phrase птица высокого полета literally means 'a bird of high flight' and is used to describe someone of high rank or noble birth.
- The term пти́чий (the adjective form of 'bird') is often used in the phrase пти́чий язык to describe 'gibberish' or someone speaking an unintelligible language.
Examples in context
- В парке живут разные виды птиц.Various species of birds live in the park.
- Слушай, как поют эти красивые птицы!Listen to how these beautiful birds are singing!
- Увидела вчера такую милую птичку в саду.I saw such a cute little bird in the garden yesterday.
- Эта пти́ца очень красивая.Eta ptitsa ochen' krasivaya.This bird is very beautiful.
- В лесу поёт маленькая пти́ца.V lesu poyot malen'kaya ptitsa.A small bird is singing in the forest.
- Смотри, какая странная пти́ца!Smotri, kakaya strannaya ptitsa!Look, what a strange bird!
Example conversation
Maria and Sergey are walking through a park.
- Мария MariaСергей, посмотри на дерево!Sergey, posmotri na derevo!Sergey, look at the tree!
- Сергей SergeyЧто там? Я ничего не вижу.Chto tam? Ya nichego ne vizhu.What is there? I don't see anything.
- Мария MariaТам сидит редкая пти́ца.Tam sidit redkaya ptitsa.A rare bird is sitting there.
- Сергей SergeyОго, действительно очень красивая!Ogo, deystvitel'no ochen' krasivaya!Wow, it really is very beautiful!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bird” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
