зади́ра
zadírafeminine, masculine
In Russian, the word for bully is зади́ра (zadíra). If unsure, use зади́ра. Wiktionary also lists забия́ка (zabijáka) and громи́ла (gromíla).
Meaning: a person who is intentionally cruel to others (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| зади́ра | zadíra | feminine, masculine |
| забия́ка | zabijáka | feminine, masculine |
| громи́ла | gromíla | feminine, masculine |
| хулига́н | xuligán | masculine |
| тира́н | tirán | masculine |
The term зади́ра is used for someone who picks fights or teases others, often in social or playground settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun зади́ра is derived from the verb задира́ть, which means to provoke or to pick a fight. Literally, it means "one who picks a fight."
Which one should you use?
зади́ра refers to a person who is a provocateur or a teaser rather than a violent criminal. If the bully is a physical brute who uses their size to intimidate, use громи́ла. The word забия́ка can also be used for a bully or troublemaker.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The nouns зади́ра, забия́ка and громи́ла are common gender nouns, meaning they can refer to both a male and a female bully without changing their form.
How do you pronounce it?
zadíra
Did you know?
- The word хулига́н is a loanword from English 'hooligan' that became so integrated into Russian that it now describes a specific legal category of petty crime in the Russian criminal code.
- The root of задира́ть also means to push something upwards or to wear clothes too high, reflecting the idea of 'poking' or 'prodding' someone to provoke them.
- The word забия́ка shares a root with би́ть, meaning 'to hit', but it is often used with a touch of irony or nostalgia for a 'mischievous' childhood troublemaker.
Examples in context
- Марина столкнулась с хулиганами во дворе.Marina encountered bullies in the yard.
- Петя всегда задирает других учеников.Petya always bullies other students.
- Этот пацанчик постоянно притесняет своих младших братьев.This boy constantly bullies his younger brothers.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bully” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
