цель
celʹ[t͡sɛlʲ]feminine
The English word 'goal' is translated into Russian as цель (celʹ).
цель refers to an abstract objective, aim or the result one is attempting to achieve. If you are talking about a specific task or assignment that contributes to a larger goal, you might use Задача. In the context of an organization or project describing a long-term sense of purpose, the term Миссия is used. A common way to express the idea of pursuing an objective is the collocation преследовать цель.
Meaning: result one is attempting to achieve (noun)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between abstract aims and sports. Use цель for an abstract objective, but use the loanword гол specifically for a goal scored in sports like football. To talk about scoring a goal, you can use the verbs забива́ть гол or заби́ть гол.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine noun цель has the plural form цели. When expressing that something is being used 'as a goal' or 'with the goal of', the word changes to its instrumental case form, целью.
How do you pronounce it?
celʹ
Did you know?
- When a Russian speaker speaks of 'pursuing a goal' using the phrase преследовать цель, the verb преследовать also means to 'hunt' or 'stalk' a person or animal.
- In Russian, the word for an abstract aim, цель, is also the word used for the 'sight' or 'scope' of a rifle or a telescope.
- The Russian word цель was borrowed from the Polish word 'cel', which originally came from Middle High German.
Examples in context
- Цель не в этом.That's not the goal.This sentence is useful for clarifying what the objective is not.Tatoeba #5406404 by marafon, translation #5392545 by CK
- У нас одна цель.We have the same goal.This sentence is useful for expressing that people share a single objective.Tatoeba #7991230 by marafon, translation #5009619 by CK
- В чём ваша цель?What's your goal?This sentence is useful for asking someone about their objective.Tatoeba #12697686 by marafon, translation #2234173 by CK
- Моя цель – выучить русский язык за шесть месяцев.My goal is to learn Russian within six months.
- Какая у тебя цель на эти выходные?What's your goal for this weekend?
- 108 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andrei and Ekaterina are discussing their career plans.
- Андрей AndreyКакая у тебя сейчас основная цель?Kakaya u tebya seychas osnovnaya tsel'?What is your main goal right now?
- Екатерина EkaterinaМоя цель получить новую работу.Moya tsel' poluchit' novuyu rabotu.My goal is to get a new job.
- Андрей AndreyЭто отличная цель, Екатерина.Eto otlichnaya tsel', Ekaterina.That is an excellent goal, Ekaterina.
- Екатерина EkaterinaСпасибо, Андрей, я очень стараюсь.Spasibo, Andrey, ya ochen' starayus'.Thank you, Andrei, I am trying very hard.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goal” translations and entries цель, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries цель, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
