полоса́
polosáfeminine
The Russian word for a roadway lane is полоса́ (polosá).
полоса́ refers to a division of a roadway. In technical or formal contexts, the full term for a road lane is дорожная полоса́.
Meaning: division of roadway (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form, used for both the nominative plural and the genitive singular, is полосы́. If you are expressing movement into a lane, such as when saying 'change into the lane', use the accusative form полосу́.
How do you pronounce it?
polosá
Did you know?
- In Russian common speech полоса́ is used in the phrase белая полоса́, meaning a 'white streak' of good luck. Conversely чёрная полоса́ describes a period of misfortune.
- While полоса́ is the physical lane, Russian speakers often use the word ряд (meaning 'row') when talking about traffic lanes in cities. This can lead to confusion between the technical road marking and the flow of cars.
- The word полоса́ is used in Russian to describe the 'runway' of an airport. An airport runway is called a взлётно-посадочная полоса́, literally a 'take-off and landing stripe'.
Examples in context
- Перейдите улицу и сверните на проезд Ленина.Cross the street and turn onto Lenin Drive.
- Давай встретимся на переулке Кирова.Let's meet on Kirov Lane.
- перестроиться в левую полосу́To change into the left lane
- Эта полоса́ предназначена для автобусов.Eta polosa prednaznachena dlya avtobusov.This lane is intended for buses.
- Вторая полоса́ сейчас перекрыта.Vtoraya polosa seychas perekryta.The second lane is currently closed.
Example conversation
Olga and Sergey are driving in heavy traffic.
- Ольга OlgaСергей, левая полоса́ движется быстрее.Sergey, levaya polosa dvizhetsya bystree.Sergey, the left lane is moving faster.
- Сергей SergeyЯ сейчас перестроюсь туда.Ya seychas perestroyus' tuda.I will merge there now.
- Ольга OlgaБудь осторожен, там очень плотный поток.Bud' ostorozhen, tam ochen' plotnyy potok.Be careful, the traffic is very dense there.
- Сергей SergeyХорошо, я вижу свободное место.Khorosho, ya vizhu svobodnoye mesto.Okay, I see a gap.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lane” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
