Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| больни́ца | bolʹníca | feminine |
| го́спиталь | góspitalʹ | masculine |
| кли́ника | klínika | feminine |
| лече́бница | lečébnica | feminine |
While больни́ца is the most common term for a hospital, кли́ника refers to smaller-scale outpatient clinics or private medical facilities and го́спиталь is often used for large, specialized institutions or military hospitals.
What does it mean word for word?
The word больни́ца is derived from the root боль, which means "pain".
Which one should you use?
больни́ца is the general, most common word for a hospital. In contrast, го́спиталь specifically denotes a military hospital or a very large, specialized institution. кли́ника is used for smaller-scale facilities or outpatient clinics rather than large inpatient hospitals. Finally, лече́бница is a more formal or old-fashioned term that emphasizes a "place of treatment," often used for sanatoriums or treatment centers.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing movement toward a hospital using verbs like идти or ехать, the form больни́ца changes to больни́цу due to the accusative case.
How do you pronounce it?
bolʹníca
Did you know?
- The term лече́бница is frequently associated with 'sanatoriums', which are specialized health resorts common in post-Soviet culture used for long-term recovery and wellness.
- Russian speakers often use the word кли́ника to signal a higher prestige or a private, paid service, whereas больни́ца can carry a connotation of a crowded state institution.
- In historical contexts or literature, you may see го́спиталь used for poorhouses or shelters, reflecting its ancient European root as a place for guests and the needy.
Examples in context
- Ваша мать сейчас находится в больнице.Your mother is currently in the hospital.
- Саша лежит в больничке после операции.Sasha is lying at the hospital after the surgery.
- Эта больни́ца находится в центре.Eta bol'nitsa nakhoditsya v tsentre.This hospital is located in the center.
- Где находится ближайшая больни́ца?Gde nakhoditsya blizhayshaya bol'nitsa?Where is the nearest hospital?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hospital” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
