Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| шутни́к | šutník | masculine |
| шутни́ца | šutníca | feminine |
| остря́к | ostrják | masculine |
| остря́чка | ostrjáčka | feminine |
In Russian, you use different words depending on whether you are describing a person's personality or referring to a specific character or a playing card. The terms шутни́к and its variations describe a person who makes jokes or acts as a prankster. However, if you are referring to the playing card or the fictional villain from the Batman series, the loanword Джо́кер is used instead.
What does it mean word for word?
The word шутни́к is derived from the root шутка, which means joke, combined with the suffix –ник, which denotes a person associated with that thing.
Which one should you use?
Use шутни́к (masculine) or шутни́ца (feminine) for a person who makes jokes or is a prankster. Use the loanword Джо́кер specifically for the character (such as the Batman villain) or a playing card.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify the gender of the person being described, use the masculine form шутни́к or остря́к and the feminine form шутни́ца or остря́чка.
How do you pronounce it?
šutník
Did you know?
- While шутни́к describes a general prankster, остря́к suggests someone with a 'sharp' wit. The root comes from о́стрый, meaning 'sharp' or 'spicy', linking mental acuity to a physical sensation.
- In Russian, if someone is a 'joker' in a way that is annoying or excessive, you might call them a шут (fool). While шутни́к is neutral or positive, шут carries a much more derogatory, medieval connotation of a buffoon.
- Russian has a specific word for a 'practical joker' or 'prankster', пранке́р, which is a modern loanword from English used primarily by younger generations and internet users.
Examples in context
- Андрей – он шут профессиональный.Andrey is a professional joker.
- Антон всегда смешной! Он хороший шутник.Anton is always funny! He's a great joker.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “joker” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
