опа́рыш
opáryšmasculine
The English word maggot is translated into Russian as опа́рыш (opáryš). Wiktionary also lists личи́нка (ličínka) and червь (červʹ).
Meaning: dipterous insect's larva that eats decomposing organic matter (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| опа́рыш | opáryš | masculine | |
| личи́нка | ličínka | feminine | |
| червь | červʹ | [t͡ɕerfʲ] (narrow) | masculine |
A maggot is the larva of a dipterous insect that feeds on decomposing organic matter.
Which one should you use?
While опа́рыш refers specifically to a maggot, личи́нка is the general biological term for any larva.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
личи́нка is the formal translation, whereas червь is an informal way to refer to the creature.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun опа́рыш changes to опа́рыша in the accusative case, such as when it serves as the direct object of a verb. The feminine noun личи́нка takes the form личи́нки in the genitive singular or the nominative plural.
How do you pronounce it?
opáryš
Did you know?
- While червь refers to a maggot or worm, it is also used in the Russian name for the 'worm' suit in a deck of playing cards.
- The word червь shares an ancient linguistic ancestor with the English word 'kermes', which refers to a dye produced by scale insects.
- While опа́рыш is a biological term, it is also a common term used by fishermen to describe the bait they use for fishing.
Example sentences for Russian are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maggot” translations and entries червь, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries червь, CC BY-SA 4.0.
