пя́тка
pjátkafeminine
The English phrase "heel" (the part of the foot) is пя́тка (pjátka) in Russian. Wiktionary also lists пята́ (pjatá).
Meaning: anatomy: part of the foot (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| пя́тка | pjátka | feminine |
| пята́ | pjatá | feminine, poetic, rare |
In an anatomical context, the word refers to the back part of the human foot.
Which one should you use?
In contrast, пята́ is a poetic or archaic version of the word.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word пя́тка follows standard feminine declension. For example, the genitive singular form is пя́тки.
How do you pronounce it?
pjátka
Did you know?
- While пя́тка refers to the anatomy, the Russian word for the 'heel' of a shoe is каблук, showing a strict linguistic divide between the body and the clothing.
- The term пятка can also refer to the stub of a cigarette or a cigar that remains after it has been smoked. This is a common colloquialism in Russian.
- In Russian, the phrase наступать на пятки (to step on the heels) does not mean physical contact, but rather to follow someone closely or even to overtake them. It is often used to describe a competitor who is gaining on you.
Examples in context
- Я купила новые туфли с высоким каблуком.I bought new shoes with high heels.
Example conversation
Andrey and Ekaterina are discussing new shoes.
- Андрей AndreyЕкатерина, эти туфли тебе удобны?Ekaterina, eti tufli tebe udobny?Ekaterina, are these shoes comfortable for you?
- Екатерина EkaterinaНет, пя́тка сильно трёт.Net, pyatka silno tryot.No, they are really rubbing my heel.
- Андрей AndreyМожет, стоит купить другой размер?Mozhet, stoit kupit drugoy razmer?Maybe you should buy a different size?
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, я так и сделаю.Da, ya tak i sdelayu.Yes, that's what I'll do.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heel” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
