Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| сла́ва | sláva | feminine |
| хвала́ | xvalá | feminine |
The term is used to denote honour, admiration or distinction. It is used in religious or highly formal exclamations, such as Сла́ва тебе!, which means 'Glory to you!' and is used to bestow glory upon a deity or a hero. Another common idiomatic usage is Сла́ва бо́гу or Слава богу!, which literally translates to 'Glory to God!' and is used to express relief or gratitude, similar to 'Thank God!' or 'Thank goodness!' in English.
Which one should you use?
сла́ва refers to widespread fame, renown or the concept of glory, whereas хвала́ refers to specific praise or commendation for an action.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word сла́ва is a feminine noun. Its genitive singular form is сла́вы, which is used after certain prepositions or to indicate possession (e.g., 'the pursuit of glory').
How do you pronounce it?
sláva
Did you know?
- In old Russian texts, сла́ва could refer to a speech, a report, or a spoken word, reflecting a time when 'glory' was something heard and told.
- The word сла́ва is the root of many Slavic names, such as Владисла́в and Мстисла́в, where it combines with meanings like 'rule' or 'revenge'.
- The adjective form of сла́ва, which is сла́вный, is often used colloquially to mean 'great' or 'wonderful' when describing something pleasant or fine.
Examples in context
- Уважение и слава сопровождали его на протяжении всей карьеры.Respect and glory accompanied him throughout his career.
- Ему пришла мировая сла́ва.Yemu prishla mirovaya slava.He achieved worldwide glory.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a local hero's achievement.
- Дмитрий DmitryТы слышала про его триумф?Ty slyshala pro yego triumf?Did you hear about his triumph?
- Анастасия AnastasiaДа, его сла́ва растёт с каждым днём.Da, yego slava rastyot s kazhdym dnem.Yes, his glory grows every day.
- Дмитрий DmitryОн заслужил это признание.On zasluzhil eto priznaniye.He deserved this recognition.
- Анастасия AnastasiaДмитрий, ты прав, он настоящий герой.Dmitriy, ty prav, on nastoyashchiy geroy.Dmitry, you are right, he is a true hero.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “glory” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
