мо́лния
mólnijafeminine
The English word "lightning" is translated into Russian as мо́лния (mólnija).
The noun мо́лния refers to the electrical discharge itself. You can also use the related adjective молниено́сный to describe something as being lightning-fast or extremely fast.
Meaning: discharge (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word молния refers to the lightning discharge itself, whereas the related adjective молниеносный refers to speed.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun мо́лния is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
mólnija
Did you know?
- The word мо́лния is also the Russian word for a 'zipper' on clothing. While the electrical phenomenon and the fastener are spelled identically, they are conceptually distinct in a way that might confuse a beginner.
- In Russian folklore, lightning was sometimes viewed as a weapon of the god Perun, the Slavic equivalent of Thor or Zeus.
- The root of the word мо́лния is connected to the concept of 'grinding' or 'crushing', a common pattern in many Indo-European languages where the sound of thunder or the strike of light is associated with violent, crushing force.
Examples in context
- Вдали прогремел гром, а гроза осветила небо молнией.Thunder roared in the distance, and the lightning illuminated the sky.
- Мо́лния ударила в дерево.Mol'niya udarila v derevo.Lightning struck a tree.
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Andrey are watching a storm through the window.
- Екатерина EkaterinaСмотри, какая яркая мо́лния!Smotri, kakaya yarkaya mol'niya!Look, what a bright flash of lightning!
- Андрей AndreyДа, она была очень сильной.Da, ona byla ochen' sil'noy.Yes, it was very strong.
- Екатерина EkaterinaАндрей, ты слышишь гром?Andrey, ty slyshish' grom?Andrey, do you hear the thunder?
- Андрей AndreyДа, гроза начинается.Da, groza nachinayetsya.Yes, the thunderstorm is starting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lightning” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
