маке́т
makétmasculine
The English phrase 'dummy' can be translated into Russian as маке́т (makét) when referring to a nonfunctional placeholder. Wiktionary also lists бутафо́рия (butafórija).
Meaning: a deliberately nonfunctional placeholder (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| маке́т | makét | masculine |
| бутафо́рия | butafórija | feminine |
Which one should you use?
Use маке́т when the dummy is a physical scale model or a structural mockup used for design or demonstration. Use бутафо́рия when referring to nonfunctional items used as props in a play, film or set.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the masculine маке́т is маке́ты.
How do you pronounce it?
makét
Did you know?
- Unlike in English where 'dummy' can sometimes mean a silly person, the Russian terms маке́т or бутафо́рия are strictly limited to inanimate objects.
- A person who acts as a 'dummy' or a decoy in a military or tactical sense is called a мане́кен, which is also the word for a tailor's 'dummy'.
- In Russian, маке́т is used not only for physical 'dummies' but also for the 'dummy' layout of a newspaper or a website before it goes to print.
Examples in context
- Где находятся манекены?Where are the dummies?
- Ты снова потерял ключи? Болван!You lost your keys again? Dummy!
- Нам нужно подготовить маке́т для презентации.Nam nuzhno podgotovit' maket dlya prezentatsii.We need to prepare a dummy for the presentation.
- Архитектор показал новый маке́т проекта.Arkhitektor pokazal novyy maket proyekta.The architect showed a new scale model of the project.
Example conversation
Olga and Andrey are looking at a new phone in a store window.
- Ольга OlgaСмотри, какой красивый телефон!Smotri, kakoy krasivyy telefon!Look, what a beautiful phone!
- Андрей AndreyЭто просто маке́т, он не работает.Eto prosto maket, on ne rabotayet.It's just a dummy, it doesn't work.
- Ольга OlgaПочему он не включается?Pochemu on ne vklyuchayetsya?Why won't it turn on?
- Андрей AndreyПотому что это выставочный образец.Potomu chto eto vystavochnyy obrazets.Because it is a display model.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dummy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
