пеще́ра
peščérafeminine
The English word "cave" is translated into Russian as пеще́ра (peščéra). Wiktionary also lists подземе́лье (podzemélʹje) and печо́ра (pečóra).
Meaning: large, naturally occurring cavity formed underground (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| пеще́ра | peščéra | feminine |
| подземе́лье | podzemélʹje | neuter |
| печо́ра | pečóra | archaic, feminine |
The primary term for a large, naturally occurring cavity formed underground is пеще́ра.
Which one should you use?
While пеще́ра refers specifically to a natural cave, подземе́лье is a broader term for any underground space or the underworld. Additionally, печо́ра is an archaic form of the word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term печо́ра is archaic and is primarily encountered in classical literature or poetry.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the feminine noun пеще́ра is пеще́ры.
How do you pronounce it?
peščéra
Did you know?
- Historically, Russian monks sought печо́ры as sites for hesychasm, a tradition of silent prayer. This gives the archaic word a strong connotation of spiritual asceticism and holiness.
- Russian has a specific distinction between пеще́ра and гро́т. While both mean 'cave', гро́т is often reserved for smaller, more decorative, or man-made ornamental caves found in gardens.
- If you call an underground space подземе́лье, you are not just describing a cave, but often implying a 'dungeon' or a place of imprisonment.
Examples in context
- Вчера я ходил в пещеру, чтобы прогуляться.Yesterday, I went to the cave for a walk.
- Эта пеще́ра очень глубокая.Eta peshchera ochen' glubokaya.This cave is very deep.
Example conversation
Andrey and Olga are hiking in the mountains.
- Андрей AndreyСмотри, там в горе пеще́ра!Smotri, tam v gore peshchera!Look, there is a cave in the mountain!
- Ольга OlgaОна выглядит очень тёмной.Ona vyglyadit ochen' tyomnoy.It looks very dark.
- Андрей AndreyДавай зайдём внутрь.Davay zaydyom vnutr'.Let's go inside.
- Ольга OlgaЯ боюсь заходить в пеще́ру без фонарика.Ya boyus' zakhodit' v peshcheru bez fonarika.I am afraid to enter the cave without a flashlight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cave” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
