бюстга́льтер
bjustgálʹtermasculine
In Russian, the word for bra is бюстга́льтер (bjustgálʹter). Wiktionary also lists ли́фчик (lífčik).
Meaning: brassiere (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| бюстга́льтер | bjustgálʹter | masculine |
| ли́фчик | lífčik | masculine |
The term refers to a brassiere.
Which one should you use?
бюстга́льтер is the standard term, while ли́фчик is much more common in casual, everyday conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
бюстга́льтер is the formal and standard term. In contrast, ли́фчик and Бюстик are informal, diminutive versions used in casual speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
бюстга́льтер is a masculine noun. It follows standard declension. For example, the genitive singular form is бюстга́льтера.
How do you pronounce it?
bjustgálʹter
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly treat бюстга́льтер as a feminine noun because it refers to an item of women's clothing, but it is grammatically masculine in Russian.
Did you know?
- The formal word бюстга́льтер is actually a loanword from the German 'Büstenhalter', meaning 'bust-holder'.
- The informal word ли́фчик comes from the word лиф, which refers to the bodice of a dress or a woman's blouse.
- Unlike in English, where 'bra' is almost universal, using бюстга́льтер in a casual setting can sound overly technical, like saying 'chest-support apparatus'.
Examples in context
- Я хочу купить новый бюстгальтер.I want to buy a new bra.
- Где я могу найти красивое женское белье?Where can I find beautiful women's underwear?
- Вчера я купила новый бюстик.Yesterday I bought a new bralette.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bra” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
