сват
svat[svat]masculine
The English phrase "matchmaker" is translated into Russian as сват (svat). Wiktionary also lists сва́ха (sváxa) and сва́тья (svátʹja).
Meaning: someone who finds suitable marriage partners (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| сват | svat | [svat] (narrow) | masculine |
| сва́ха | sváxa | feminine | |
| сва́тья | svátʹja | colloquial, feminine |
A matchmaker is someone who finds suitable marriage partners.
Which one should you use?
While сват is the masculine form, use сва́ха specifically when the matchmaker is a woman.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form сва́тья is a colloquial feminine way to refer to a matchmaker.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form сваты refers to the relationship between the parents of the bride and the parents of the groom.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is svat.
Did you know?
- The word сва́ха often appears in Russian folklore and fairytales as a cunning or opportunistic character, similar to the 'old crone' trope in Western stories.
- The term 'сватовство' can sometimes be used metaphorically in modern Russian to describe any situation where someone is trying to broker a deal or an arrangement between two parties.
- The word сват can actually be used as a way to address the father of one's child's spouse during social gatherings.
Examples in context
- Старый сват всегда находил отличные пары.Staryy svat vsegda nakhodil otlichnyye pary.The old matchmaker always found excellent couples.
- Он был известным сватом в деревне.On byl izvestnym svatom v derevne.He was a famous matchmaker in the village.
Example conversation
Anastasia and Andrey are discussing their grandparents' traditions.
- Анастасия AnastasiaТы знаешь, кто такой сват?Ty znayesh', kto takoy svat?Do you know who a matchmaker is?
- Андрей AndreyДа, это человек, который ищет пару.Da, eto chelovek, kotoryy ishchet paru.Yes, it is a person who finds a partner.
- Анастасия AnastasiaМой прадедушка был очень успешный сват.Moy pradedushka byl ochen' uspeshnyy svat.My great-grandfather was a very successful matchmaker.
- Андрей AndreyЭто очень интересная профессия.Eto ochen' interesnaya professiya.That is a very interesting profession.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “matchmaker” translations and entries сват, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
