ку́рица
kúricafeminine
The English word chicken can be translated into Russian as ку́рица (kúrica), цыплёнок or пету́х depending on the context.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ку́рица | kúrica | feminine | |
| цыплёнок | cypljónok | [t͡sɨˈplʲɵnək] (narrow) | masculine |
| пету́х | petúx | masculine |
In Russian, the word used for chicken depends heavily on whether you are referring to the bird's biological sex or its use as food. While ку́рица can mean chicken in a culinary sense, its primary biological meaning is 'hen'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on biological sex and culinary context. ку́рица refers to a hen or is used generally for chicken meat. пету́х is the specific term for a male chicken (rooster).
How does it change in a sentence?
ку́рица is a feminine noun, while цыплёнок and пету́х are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
kúrica
Did you know?
- The word пету́х is used in the Russian slang term петух to describe someone who is considered an outcast or a social inferior, particularly in prison culture.
- Russian has a specific idiom ку́рицей ходить, which describes writing with very messy, illegible handwriting that looks like a chicken scratched it.
- The diminutive form цыплёночек is frequently used as a term of endearment for children or romantic partners, translating roughly to 'little chick'.
Examples in context
- Цыплёнок был немного сухим.The chicken was a bit dry.This sentence shows how to describe the texture of цыплёнок.Tatoeba #4129145 by odexed, translation #4121143 by Hybrid
- Жареный цыплёнок одно из моих любимых блюд.Roast chicken is one of my favorite dishes.This sentence expresses a preference for a dish made from цыплёнок.Tatoeba #12134816 by Wezel, translation #29450 by CM
- Это цыплёнок.That's chicken.This sentence is used to identify something as цыплёнок.Tatoeba #1742526 by soweli_Elepanto, translation #898049 by CM
- Мне бы хотелось заказать жареного цыпленка, пожалуйста.I would like to order roasted chicken, please.
- Пойду приготовлю курицу для ужина.I will cook chicken for dinner.
- Моя бабушка готовит самую вкусную курицу на всем свете.My grandmother cooks the most delicious chicken in the world.
- У вас есть бройлер на продажу?Do you have broiler chicken for sale?
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alexander and Catherine are walking in the countryside.
- Александр AleksandrСмотри, вон там бегает ку́рица.Smotri, von tam begayet kuritsa.Look, there is a chicken running over there.
- Екатерина EkaterinaОна выглядит очень пушистой.Ona vyglyadit ochen' pushistoy.She looks very fluffy.
- Александр AleksandrЭта ку́рица совсем не боится нас.Eta kuritsa sovsem ne boyitsya nas.This chicken is not afraid of us at all.
- Екатерина EkaterinaКажется, она хочет есть.Kazhetsya, ona khochet yest'.It seems she wants to eat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken” translations and entries цыплёнок, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
