де́вочка
dévočkafeminine
The English phrase 'little girl' is translated into Russian as де́вочка (dévočka). Wiktionary also lists девчо́нка (devčónka).
Meaning: a female child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| де́вочка | dévočka | feminine |
| девчо́нка | devčónka | feminine |
This term is used to refer to a female child.
Which one should you use?
While де́вочка is the standard term, девчо́нка acts as a more diminutive and informal way to say 'little girl' or 'girlie'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of де́вочка is де́вочки. If де́вочка is used as the direct object of a verb, it changes to the accusative form де́вочку.
How do you pronounce it?
dévočka
Did you know?
- In Russian, the diminutive suffix in девчо́нка can express not just smallness, but also a sense of mischief or 'tomboy' energy.
- The word де́вочка is derived from дева, an archaic word for 'maiden' or 'virgin'. In modern Russian, using дева instead of де́вочка sounds like poetry or a fairy tale.
- While де́вочка means 'little girl', the word девушка refers to an adolescent or young woman. Mixing these up can be awkward, as calling a teenager a де́вочка can seem belittling.
Examples in context
- Здравствуйте! Ваш ребёнок – прекрасная девочка! Сколько ей лет?Hello! Your child is a lovely little girl! How old is she?
- Смотри, там кроха играет в парке! Необычайно мило, не так ли?Look, there's a little girl playing in the park! Incredibly adorable, isn't she?
- Эта де́вочка очень весёлая.Eta devochka ochen' vesyolaya.This little girl is very cheerful.
- Маленькая де́вочка рисует в саду.Malen'kaya devochka risuyet v sadu.A little girl is drawing in the garden.
- У него есть дочка, она хорошая де́вочка.U nego yest' dochka, ona khoroshaya devochka.He has a daughter, she is a good little girl.
Example conversation
Aleksandr and Ekaterina are walking in a park.
- Александр AleksandrСмотри, вон та де́вочка бежит к нам.Smotri, von ta devochka bezhit k nam.Look, that little girl is running towards us.
- Екатерина EkaterinaОна очень быстро бегает!Ona ochen' bystro begaet!She runs very fast!
- Александр AleksandrЕкатерина, кажется, она потеряла маму.Ekaterina, kazhetsya, ona poteryala mamu.Ekaterina, it seems she lost her mother.
- Екатерина EkaterinaДавай поможем ей.Davay pomozhem ey.Let's help her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little girl” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
