вина́
vináfeminine
The Russian word for guilt is вина́ (viná). Wiktionary also lists чу́вство вины́ (čúvstvo viný).
Meaning: regret for having done wrong (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| вина́ | viná | feminine |
| чу́вство вины́ | čúvstvo viný | neuter |
вина́ refers to the concept of guilt, which can mean either the internal feeling of regret for doing wrong or the external fact of being at fault or responsible for a mistake. To specifically describe the psychological emotion of feeling guilty, it is more common to use the phrase чу́вство вины́.
Which one should you use?
While вина́ covers both the abstract concept of guilt and the external state of being at fault, the phrase чу́вство вины́ is used when you want to emphasize the actual emotion of guilt.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase чу́вство вины́, the form вины́ is the genitive singular of вина́, used after words like чувство (feeling) to express 'of guilt'.
How do you pronounce it?
viná
Did you know?
- Russian has a vivid metaphor for an intense, obsessive sense of guilt: самобичевание. While it literally translates to 'self-flagellation', it is commonly used in conversation to describe someone who is being excessively hard on themselves.
- The phrase я винова́т (I am guilty) is frequently used as a standard way to apologize, even for minor accidents like bumping into someone. In these cases, it functions more like 'my bad' or 'sorry' than a deep admission of moral guilt.
- In Russian, the concept of guilt is closely tied to the word совесть, meaning 'conscience'. While чу́вство вины́ is the emotion, a 'guilty conscience' is described as муки совести, which literally translates to 'torments of conscience'.
Examples in context
- Ваша вина признанаYour guilt is recognized.
- Её гложет вина́.Yeyo glozhet vina.Guilt gnaws at her.
- Это была моя вина́.Eto byla moya vina.It was my fault/guilt.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “guilt” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
