те́ло
téloneuter
The Russian word for "body" is те́ло (télo).
те́ло refers to the physical structure of a human or an animal.
Meaning: physical structure of a human or animal (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word Фигура is used when referring to the shape or figure of the body.
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun те́ло changes its form depending on its role in a sentence. For the genitive singular or the nominative plural, use тела́. The dative singular form is те́лу, and the instrumental singular form is те́лом.
How do you pronounce it?
télo
Did you know?
- In Russian crime dramas and police reports, the word те́ло is often used as a slang term for a corpse.
- When talking about a 'body of water', Russian does not use те́ло but instead uses водный бассе́йн or водоём.
- The word те́ло is used in physics and geometry to describe any physical object or a three-dimensional solid, regardless of whether it is organic.
Examples in context
- Она чувствует боль в своем теле.She feels pain in her body.
- Ее фигура прекрасна.Her figure is beautiful.
- Они заботятся о своей фигуре.They take care of their bodies (figure).
- Положи его на землю, ладно? Мне нужно заняться его туловищем.Put him on the ground, alright? I need to deal with his body (torso).
- У меня после тренировки каждая мышца туловища болела.After the workout, every muscle in my body (torso) was hurting.
- Его те́ло было очень сильным.Yego télo bylo ochen' sil'nym.His body was very strong.
- Спорт укрепляет те́ло и дух.Sport ukreplyayet télo i dukh.Sport strengthens the body and spirit.
- У этого животного длинное те́ло.U etogo zhivotnogo dlinnoye télo.This animal has a long body.
Example conversation
A trainer and a client are discussing a workout program.
- Анастасия AnastasiaСергей, ты хочешь укрепить те́ло?Sergey, ty khochesh' ukrepit' télo?Sergey, do you want to strengthen your body?
- Сергей SergeyДа, я хочу быть здоровым.Da, ya khochu byt' zdorovym.Yes, I want to be healthy.
- Анастасия AnastasiaТогда мы начнём тренировку сейчас.Togda my nachnyom trenirovku seychas.Then we will start the workout now.
- Сергей SergeyХорошо, я готов.Khorosho, ya gotov.Okay, I am ready.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “body” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
