я́шма
jášmafeminine
The English word 'jasper' is translated into Russian as я́шма (jášma) or я́спис.
Meaning: precious stone (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| я́шма | jášma | feminine |
| я́спис | jáspis | masculine |
Both terms refer to the precious stone known as jasper.
Which one should you use?
я́шма is the more common, general word for jasper, whereas я́спис is a more specific, often archaic or technical term for certain types of jasper or chalcedony.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the common word я́шма is я́шмы. The masculine form я́спис declines in the genitive case as я́списа.
How do you pronounce it?
jášma
Did you know?
- While я́шма is used in daily speech, я́спис is almost exclusively found in the Russian Synodal Translation of the Bible to describe the stones of the New Jerusalem.
- The word я́шма is a rare loanword in Russian that likely entered the language through Persian or Arabic rather than Greek, unlike many other gemstone names.
- In the Ural mountains of Russia, local legends often link the abundance of я́шма to the magical powers of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain.
Examples in context
- Эта я́шма очень красивая.Eta yashma ochen' krasivaya.This jasper is very beautiful.
- На столе лежит красная я́шма.Na stole lezhit krasnaya yashma.There is red jasper on the table.
Example conversation
Sergey and Maria are looking at a collection of gemstones in a museum.
- Сергей SergeyМария, посмотри на эту я́шму!Mariya, posmotri na etu yashmu!Maria, look at this jasper!
- Мария MariaДа, Сергей, она великолепна.Da, Sergey, ona velikolepna.Yes, Sergey, it is magnificent.
- Сергей SergeyТы любишь такие тёмные камни?Ty lyubish' takie tyomnye kamni?Do you like such dark stones?
- Мария MariaОчень, особенно когда это я́шма.Ochen', osobenno kogda eto yashma.Very much, especially when it is jasper.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jasper” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
