Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| маши́на | mašína | feminine | |
| механи́зм | mexanízm | masculine | |
| аппара́т | apparát | masculine | |
| устройство | ustrojstvo | [ʊˈstrojstvə] (narrow) | neuter |
| маши́нка | mašínka | feminine |
маши́на is the general word for a mechanical or electrical machine, and it appears in names of appliances. In everyday speech, though, it most often means a car.
Which one should you use?
механи́зм refers to the internal working parts or mechanism of a machine. аппара́т is used for complex technical or scientific devices, such as medical or telecommunications equipment. устройство is a broad, neutral word for any device, gadget or piece of equipment. маши́нка is the diminutive and is used for small machines, such as a toy car or a hair clipper.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
маши́нка is a diminutive form with an affectionate, informal feel.
How does it change in a sentence?
маши́на and маши́нка are feminine, and the plural of the diminutive is машинки. аппара́т and механи́зм are masculine, and the plural of аппарат is аппараты. устройство is neuter.
How do you pronounce it?
маши́на is romanized as mašína, with the stress on the second syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use маши́на for any mechanical device, but on its own it will almost always be understood as car. When you mean a gadget or device, устройство is usually the safer choice.
Did you know?
- If you call a person a маши́на, you are giving them a slang compliment meaning they are incredibly powerful or efficient, similar to calling an athlete a 'beast' in English.
- The word маши́нка serves a double purpose in daily life, as it is the standard term for both a toy car and a hair clipper.
- The word устройство is derived from the verb строить, which means 'to build' or 'to construct'.
Examples in context
- Вот как он изобрёл это устройство.That's how he invented the machine.Here устройство is used for the machine someone invented.Tatoeba #12409444 by Nattiko, translation #49757 by CK
- «Хватит! Я больше не могу этого терпеть. Твоё устройство полная хрень, и ему здесь совсем не место!» «Как и твоему нытью»."Enough! I cannot take this anymore. Your machine is a piece of shit and it has absolutely no place here!" "Neither does your whining."In this angry exchange Твоё устройство means your machine.Tatoeba #3080646 by Ooneykcall, translation #3080644 by Ooneykcall
- Можете, пожалуйста, включить аппарат?Could you please turn on the machine?
- Куда ты положил новую технику?Where did you put the new machine/appliance?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “machine” translations and entries устройство, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries устройство, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
