интере́сный
interésnyj
The English word "interesting" is translated into Russian as интере́сный (interésnyj). Wiktionary also lists заня́тный (zanjátnyj).
Meaning: arousing or holding the attention (adj)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| интере́сный | interésnyj |
| заня́тный | zanjátnyj |
The term is used to describe something that arouses or holds the attention.
Which one should you use?
While интере́сный is the standard term, заня́тный is a more colloquial and slightly more playful way to say "interesting" or "amusing".
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes based on the gender and number of the noun it describes: интере́сная is the feminine form, интере́сное is the neuter form and интере́сные is the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
interésnyj
Did you know?
- In Russian, you do not use the word интересный to say you are 'interested' in something. To say 'I am interested', you must use a completely different grammatical structure involving the verb 'to be interested' or the noun 'interest'.
- When a Russian speaker says это и́нтересно with a specific sarcastic intonation, it often means they find a situation suspicious or dubious rather than actually interesting.
- Be careful with the word интересный when discussing people in a professional setting, as calling a colleague 'interesting' can sometimes sound slightly condescending or imply they are 'odd' rather than 'good'.
Examples in context
- Эта книга очень интересная.This book is very interesting.
- Лекция оказалась очень занимательной.The lecture turned out to be very engaging.
- Фильм был настолько захватывающим, что я не мог оторваться от экрана.The movie was so gripping that I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.
- О, это интересно! Расскажи мне больше.Oh, that's interesting! Tell me more.
- У этой картины есть что-то интригующее.There's something intriguing about this painting.
- Это очень интере́сный фильм.Eto ochen' interesnyy fil'm.This is a very interesting movie.
Example conversation
Sergey and Ekaterina are discussing a new book.
- Сергей SergeyЕкатерина, ты читаешь эту книгу?Ekaterina, ty chitayesh' etu knigu?Ekaterina, are you reading this book?
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, она очень интере́сный роман.Da, ona ochen' interesnyy roman.Yes, it is a very interesting novel.
- Сергей SergeyО чём там рассказывается?O chyom tam rasskazyvayetsya?What is it about?
- Екатерина EkaterinaТам очень необычная история.Tam ochen' neobychnaya istoriya.There is a very unusual story there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “interesting” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
