Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| това́рищ | továrišč | masculine | |
| друг | drug | [druk] (narrow) [drux] (Russia, Southern, narrow) |
masculine |
| подру́га | podrúga | feminine |
това́рищ is used to refer to a comrade, colleague or associate. It typically describes a relationship based on a shared purpose, profession or political affiliation. In a historical context, it was the standard way to address others in Soviet-era political and military settings.
Which one should you use?
There are important distinctions between the available forms based on the nature of the relationship and gender. While това́рищ refers to a comrade or associate, друг refers to a close personal friend. Regarding gender, подру́га is strictly used for a female personal friend, whereas това́рищ can be used for both men and women in a professional or political sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun това́рищ changes to това́рища in the genitive case.
How do you pronounce it?
továrišč
Did you know?
- While подру́га means 'female friend', it is frequently used by women to refer to their female friends regardless of the romantic status, but used by men it often implies a romantic partner.
- The word друг originally meant 'another' or 'someone else', acting as a short form of the word друго́й.
- In the Russian military, това́рищ is still used as a formal prefix before a rank, such as това́рищ полко́вник for 'comrade colonel'.
Examples in context
- Он хороший боевой това́рищ.On khoroshiy boyevoy tovarishch.He is a good comrade-in-arms.
Example conversation
Olga and Aleksandr are discussing a coworker.
- Ольга OlgaКто этот человек в синем костюме?Kto etot chelovek v sinem kostyume?Who is that man in the blue suit?
- Александр AleksandrЭто мой старый това́рищ по работе.Eto moy staryy tovarishch po rabote.That is my old associate from work.
- Ольга OlgaВы давно знакомы с ним, Александр?Vy davno znakomy s nim, Aleksandr?Have you known him for a long time, Aleksandr?
- Александр AleksandrДа, мы вместе работали пять лет.Da, my vmeste rabotali pyat let.Yes, we worked together for five years.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “comrade” translations and entries друг, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries друг, CC BY-SA 4.0.
