дельфи́н
delʹfínmasculine
The Russian word for dolphin is дельфи́н (delʹfín).
дельфи́н refers to the aquatic mammal.
Meaning: aquatic mammal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun дельфи́н changes its form depending on its role in a sentence. The plural form is дельфи́ны. When the word is the direct object of a verb, such as in the sentence 'I see a dolphin', the accusative form дельфи́на is used.
How do you pronounce it?
delʹfín
Did you know?
- While дельфи́н is the general term, a 'porpoise' is often called морская свинья, which literally translates to 'sea pig'.
- The word дельфи́н is a loanword from the Greek delphis, which entered Russian through Western European languages.
- Unlike the English 'dolphin', which is used metaphorically for 'smart' or 'graceful', a Russian speaker would rarely use дельфи́н as a metaphor for a person without it sounding like a scientific observation.
Examples in context
- Этот дельфи́н очень дружелюбный.Etot del'fin ochen' druzelyubnyy.This dolphin is very friendly.
- Я видел дельфи́на в океа́не.Ya videl del'fina v okeane.I saw a dolphin in the ocean.
- Дельфи́н прыгнул над водой.Del'fin prygnul nad vodoy.The dolphin jumped over the water.
Example conversation
Anastasia and Dmitry are at an aquarium.
- Анастасия AnastasiaДмитрий, смотри, там плывёт дельфи́н!Dmitriy, smotri, tam plyvyot del'fin!Dmitry, look, there is a dolphin swimming!
- Дмитрий DmitryДа, он очень быстро плавает.Da, on ochen' bystro plavayet.Yes, he swims very fast.
- Анастасия AnastasiaМожно ли погладить дельфи́на?Mozhno li pogladit' del'fina?Is it possible to pet the dolphin?
- Дмитрий DmitryДумаю, здесь это запрещено.Dumayu, zdes' eto zapreshcheno.I think it is forbidden here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dolphin” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
