цирк
cirk[t͡sɨrk]masculine
The Russian word for circus is цирк (cirk).
The word цирк refers to a company that travels.
Meaning: company that travels (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes its ending depending on how it is used in a sentence. Use the genitive form цирка to indicate possession or belonging, such as an artist of the circus. Use the dative form цирку after verbs of motion or direction, such as going to the circus. To indicate location, use the prepositional form цирке after the preposition в, as in being in the circus.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is cirk.
Did you know?
- Russian culture places a high prestige on the цирк, with state-funded institutions like the Big Moscow State Circus treating circus arts as a high academic discipline.
- Historically, the Soviet Union used the цирк as a tool for diplomacy, sending world-famous troupes abroad to showcase socialist cultural achievement.
- The word цирк was borrowed from Latin 'circus', likely entering the Russian language via the German word 'Zirkus'.
Examples in context
- Жизнь – это цирк.Life is a circus.This sentence uses цирк to describe life as a circus.Tatoeba #3268212 by Selena777, translation #2672076 by _undertoad
- Том – артист цирка.Tom is a circus artist.This sentence uses цирк to describe a circus artist.Tatoeba #6773221 by marafon, translation #6769158 by Hybrid
- Я никогда не был в цирке.I've never been to a circus.This sentence uses цирк to talk about having been to a circus.Tatoeba #3082561 by marafon, translation #2360017 by CK
- Я люблю ходить в цирк в свободное время.I enjoy going to the circus in my free time.
- Мои дети просили меня взять их в цирк.My children asked me to take them to the circus.
- Пойдем сегодня в цирк?Shall we go to the circus today?
- Посмотри, какой большой шапито!Look at that big circus tent!
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dmitry and Anastasia are walking through the city center.
- Дмитрий DmitryСмотри, в парке стоит большой цирк.Smotri, v parke stoit bol'shoy tsirk.Look, a big circus is set up in the park.
- Анастасия AnastasiaОй, это очень красиво!Oy, eto ochen' krasivo!Oh, it is very beautiful!
- Дмитрий DmitryХочешь пойти в этот цирк сегодня?Khochesh' poyti v etot tsirk segodnya?Do you want to go to this circus today?
- Анастасия AnastasiaДа, я с удовольствием!Da, ya s udovol'stviyem!Yes, I would love to!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “circus” translations and entries цирк, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries цирк, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
