коза́
kozáfeminine
The Russian word for goat is коза́ (kozá). Wiktionary also lists козёл (kozjól).
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| коза́ | kozá | feminine | |
| козёл | kozjól | [kɐˈzʲɵɫ] (narrow) | masculine |
The term refers to the animal. In slang, the masculine form козёл is often used as an offensive term to mean jerk or ass.
Which one should you use?
The forms are distinguished by gender: коза́ specifically refers to a female goat, while козёл specifically refers to a male goat.
How do you pronounce it?
kozá
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use the word for 'goat' generically, but in Russian, you must distinguish between the gendered forms коза́ (female) and козёл (male).
Did you know?
- The word козёл is such a strong insult in Russian prisons that it is used specifically to denote the lowest caste of inmates.
- In some Russian dialects, the word козёл can be used to refer to a specific type of tool or a structural support in construction.
- Because козёл is such a common vulgarity, many Russian software developers use coded language or different terms to avoid triggering automated profanity filters.
Examples in context
- Это не баран, это козёл!This isn't a ram, it's a goat!This sentence is useful for clarifying that an animal is a козёл rather than a ram.Tatoeba #5320144 by Selena777, translation #5320038 by Adelpa
- Это козёл, и он абсолютно нормален.It's a goat and it is absolutely normal.This sentence is useful for stating that a козёл is normal.Tatoeba #1467870 by Biga, translation #1314920 by Luornu
- Я козёл.I'm a goat.This sentence is useful for calling oneself a козёл.Tatoeba #13452055 by EugeneGS, translation #12129745 by shekitten
- Ты похож на козла с этой прической!You look like a goat with this hairstyle!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goat” translations and entries козёл, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
