оце́нка
océnkafeminine
The English phrase grade can be translated into Russian as оце́нка (océnka), отме́тка or балл.
Meaning: performance expressed by a number, letter, or other symbol (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| оце́нка | océnka | feminine | |
| отме́тка | otmétka | feminine | |
| балл | ball | [baɫ] (narrow) | masculine |
When referring to performance expressed by a number, letter or other symbol, you can use different Russian terms depending on the context. In a school setting, the verb phrase вы́ставить оце́нку is the standard way to say 'to assign a grade' or 'to give a grade'.
Which one should you use?
While all these words relate to a grade, they differ in nuance. оце́нка is the most common term for a grade or assessment in an educational context, often referring to the qualitative evaluation of a student's work.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of балл is баллы.
How do you pronounce it?
оце́нка is pronounced océnka.
Did you know?
- The word балл is used not only for grades but also to describe the intensity of wind or the magnitude of an earthquake on a specific scale.
- In Russian schools, the concept of a 'grade' is often tied to a 'five-point scale', where '5' is the highest and '2' is a failing grade. This is the opposite of many English-speaking systems where 1 is the lowest.
- A student who consistently gets the highest grade of пять is sometimes jokingly called a пятеро́чник, a noun formed directly from the grade itself.
Examples in context
- Какой у Тома средний балл в школе?What's Tom's grade point average?This sentence uses балл to ask about a grade point average.Tatoeba #7762407 by odexed, translation #7547051 by CK
- Скольким студентам вы дали высший балл?To how many students have you given the highest grade?This sentence uses балл to discuss giving a highest grade to students.Tatoeba #4640145 by odexed, translation #408044 by Dorenda
- Мои оценки по математике отличные.My grades in mathematics are excellent.
- Он учится в шестом классе.He is in the sixth grade.
- Какой балл ты получил по английскому?What grade did you get in English?
- На этот раз я получил хорошую отметку.This time, I got a good grade.
- Эта оце́нка очень важна для меня.Eta otsyenka ochen' vazhna dlya menya.This grade is very important to me.
Example conversation
Sergey and Ekaterina are discussing a recent school exam.
- Сергей SergeyКакая у тебя была последняя оце́нка?Kakaya u tebya byla poslednyaya otsyenka?What was your last grade?
- Екатерина EkaterinaЯ получила пятёрку за тест.Ya poluchila pyatyorku za test.I got a five on the test.
- Сергей SergeyТы молодец, это отличная оценка!Ty molodets, eto otlichnaya otsyenka!Well done, that is an excellent grade!
- Екатерина EkaterinaСпасибо, я очень старалась.Spasibo, ya ochen' staralas'.Thank you, I worked very hard.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grade” translations and entries балл, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
