дрон
dron[dron]masculine
The English word "drone" (unmanned aircraft) is translated into Russian as дрон. Wiktionary also lists беспило́тный лета́тельный аппара́т (bespilótnyj letátelʹnyj apparát) and БПЛА (BPLA).
Meaning: unmanned aircraft (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| дрон | dron | [dron] (narrow) | masculine |
| беспило́тный лета́тельный аппара́т | bespilótnyj letátelʹnyj apparát | masculine | |
| БПЛА | BPLA | masculine | |
| беспило́тник | bespilótnik | masculine |
The word дрон is a direct loanword from English and is most commonly used when referring to consumer or hobbyist quadcopters used for photography.
Which one should you use?
While дрон is used in everyday conversation, the acronym БПЛА is used in official, military or technical contexts. For a slightly more informal way to refer to a drone than the technical БПЛА, you can use беспило́тник.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
БПЛА is the formal choice for official, military or technical contexts. беспило́тник is a common, slightly more informal way to refer to the device compared to the technical БПЛА.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
dron
Did you know?
- In Russian military slang, you may encounter the word пти́чка, meaning 'little bird', as a coded or affectionate term for a drone.
- The Russian word беспило́тник is literally constructed from 'without' (бес-) and 'pilot' (пило́тник). It tells you exactly what the machine is missing: a human driver.
- The formal term БПЛА is an acronym for беспило́тный лета́тельный аппара́т, which literally translates to 'pilotless flying apparatus'.
Examples in context
- Новосибирский фотограф заснял на дрон белых мишек, хозяйничавших на метеостанции.A photographer from Novosibirsk used his drone to film polar bears, who were having their way with the weather station.This sentence shows how a photographer might use a дрон to film animals.Tatoeba #13481575 by Parasysciamuiri, translation #13481586 by Parasysciamuiri
- Университет закупил новый беспилотник для исследования дикой природы.The university acquired a new drone for wildlife research.
- Этот дрон очень быстро летает.Etot dron ochen' bystro letayet.This drone flies very fast.
- Я купил новый дрон для съёмок.Ya kupil novyy dron dlya syomok.I bought a new drone for filming.
Example conversation
Andrey and Olga are discussing a new hobby in the park.
- Андрей AndreyОльга, посмотри на мой новый дрон.Ol'ga, posmotri na moy novyy dron.Olga, look at my new drone.
- Ольга OlgaОн выглядит очень круто, Андрей.On vyglyadit ochen' kruto, Andrey.It looks very cool, Andrey.
- Андрей AndreyХочешь, я запущу этот дрон?Khochesh', ya zapushchu etot dron?Do you want me to launch this drone?
- Ольга OlgaДа, с удовольствием!Da, s udovol'stviiem!Yes, with pleasure!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drone” translations and entries дрон, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
