геро́й
gerójmasculine
The Russian word for hero is геро́й (gerój). Wiktionary also lists герои́ня (geroínja).
Meaning: person of great bravery (verb)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| геро́й | gerój | masculine |
| герои́ня | geroínja | feminine |
геро́й refers to a person of great bravery, but it is also used to describe the protagonist of a book, movie or play.
Which one should you use?
геро́й is the masculine form used for a male hero or when the gender of the hero is unspecified. Use герои́ня to refer specifically to a female hero.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the context of Russian folklore, you might encounter the terms Богатырь, which refers to a warrior or brave knight or Витязь, which refers to a knight or warrior who displays brave and honorable qualities.
How does it change in a sentence?
геро́й is a masculine noun, while герои́ня is the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
gerój
Did you know?
- While 'hero' in English often implies a moral paragon, calling someone a геро́й in a sarcastic tone can actually imply they are a 'clown' or an 'idiot'.
- Russian history saw the creation of a specific 'Hero City' (Го́род-геро́й) designation for cities that displayed extraordinary resilience during World War II.
- In the Soviet era, the title Геро́й Сою́за ('Hero of the Soviet Union') was the highest honorary title, often outweighing other military ranks in prestige.
Examples in context
- Он настоящий герой.He is a true hero.
- Она настоящая героиня.She is a true heroine.
- Ты наш герой!You are our hero!
- Он мой кумир.He is my hero.
- Он настоящий богатырь.He is a true hero (warrior/knight).
- Он великий витязь.He is a great hero (knight).
Example conversation
Maria and Alexander are discussing a news story about a rescue.
- Мария MariaТы видел этот фильм про спасателей?Ty videl etot fil'm pro spasateley?Did you see that movie about the rescuers?
- Александр AleksandrДа, главный геро́й там очень смелый.Da, glavnyy geroy tam ochen' smelyy.Yes, the main hero there is very brave.
- Мария MariaОн спас всех из огня!On spas vseh iz ognya!He saved everyone from the fire!
- Александр AleksandrТаких людей стоит уважать.Takikh lyudey stoit uvazhat'.People like that deserve respect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hero” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
