Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| темнота́ | temnotá | feminine | |
| тьма | tʹma | [tʲma] (narrow) | feminine |
| мрак | mrak | [mrak] (narrow) | masculine |
| потёмки | potjómki | [pɐˈtʲɵmkʲɪ] (narrow) | feminine, plural |
Russian uses different words for darkness depending on whether you are describing a physical environment, a poetic concept, a gloomy atmosphere or a metaphorical unknown. While темнота́ refers to the state of being dark, тьма often carries a more profound or ominous weight. In specific literary contexts, тьма can also mean a vast multitude or a great number of something, such as a host.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the nuance you wish to convey: темнота́ describes the neutral physical state of an environment being dark. тьма is used for poetic, profound or ominous darkness, often implying an overwhelming void or evil. мрак describes a heavy, gloomy or murky darkness. Finally, потёмки is used idiomatically to refer to the unknown or obscurity.
How does it change in a sentence?
темнота́ and тьма are feminine nouns. мрак is a masculine noun. потёмки is a feminine noun used in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
temnotá
Did you know?
- The word тьма has two completely different origins. One comes from a Proto-Indo-European root for 'dark', while the other was borrowed from a Mongolic word for a military unit of 10,000 men.
- The word потёмки only exists in the plural form and cannot be used in the singular to describe a single dark spot.
- The word тьма is frequently used in Russian to describe an 'innumerable' amount of something, similar to the English word 'myriad'.
Examples in context
- Тьма – это отсутствие света.Darkness is the absence of light.This sentence defines the concept of darkness using тьма.Tatoeba #4310404 by soniamiku, translation #28394 by CK
- В эпоху света поднимается тьма.In an age of light a darkness rises.This sentence uses тьма in a literary context regarding an age of light.Tatoeba #12378074 by dimitris, translation #12378073 by dimitris
- Мы видели тусклый свет во мраке.We saw a dim light in the darkness.This sentence describes seeing light within the gloom of мрак.Tatoeba #2927562 by corvard, translation #28415 by CM
- В комнате царит полная темнота.The room is filled with complete darkness.
- За окном уже наступила темнота.Darkness has already fallen outside.
- Снаружи полная тьма.It's pitch dark outside.
- Этот подвал такой темный – полная тьма!This basement is so dark – pitch black!
- В этой комнате царит полный мрак.This room is filled with complete darkness.
- После захода солнца наступает полный мрак.After sunset, complete darkness sets in.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dmitry and Maria are walking home at night without a flashlight.
- Дмитрий DmitryЗдесь такая темнота́, что я ничего не вижу.Zdes' takaya temnota, chto ya nichego ne vizhu.It is such darkness here that I can't see anything.
- Мария MariaПопробуй включить фонарик на телефоне.Poprobuy vkluchit' fonarik na telefone.Try turning on the flashlight on your phone.
- Дмитрий DmitryМой телефон разрядился в этой темноте́.Moy telefon razryadilsya v etoy temnote.My phone died in this darkness.
- Мария MariaТогда иди за мной и держись за руку.Togda idi za mnoy i derzhis' za ruku.Then follow me and hold my hand.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “darkness” translations and entries тьма, мрак, потёмки, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries мрак, тьма, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
