Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| макия́ж | makijáž | masculine | |
| грим | grim | [ɡrʲim] (narrow) | masculine |
| гримиро́вка | grimiróvka | feminine |
In Russian, different words are used depending on whether you are referring to daily cosmetics or theatrical transformations. макия́ж is the standard term for everyday cosmetic makeup applied to the face. If you want to speak broadly about all cosmetic products and practices, you can use the term Косметика. To say 'to do makeup' in a daily context, the common collocation is делать макия́ж.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the purpose of the makeup. макия́ж is used for standard, everyday cosmetic makeup. In contrast, грим refers specifically to heavy, transformative theatrical makeup used by actors, performers or for special effects. While макия́ж refers to the look itself, гримиро́вка refers to the actual process or act of applying that theatrical makeup.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term грим is predominantly used in theatrical contexts or in certain Russian regions with vibrant theater traditions.
How does it change in a sentence?
макия́ж and грим are masculine nouns. гримиро́вка is a feminine noun. If you wish to describe the action of applying makeup, you can use the verb Накраситься (to put on makeup). When referring to the theatrical application specifically, the phrase накладывать грим is the standard collocation.
How do you pronounce it?
makijáž
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might say they are 'doing' their makeup, a Russian speaker often uses the verb краситься, which is derived from the root for 'beautiful' or 'color'.
- When using накладывать грим for theatrical makeup, the verb накладывать literally means 'to lay' or 'to place', treating the makeup like a physical layer or mask.
- In a Russian theater, the room where actors apply their грим is also called a гримёрка, a word that shares the same root as the transformative makeup itself.
Examples in context
- Актёр накладывает грим.The actor is putting on makeup.This sentence is useful for demonstrating the use of the word грим.Tatoeba #5284451 by marafon, translation #5284385 by tabular
- Я быстро накрасилась утром и пошла на работу.I quickly put on makeup in the morning and went to work.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “makeup” translations and entries грим, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
