ма́йя
májjamasculine
The English word 'maya' is translated into Russian as ма́йя (májja) when referring to the civilization.
The term ма́йя is used to refer to the Maya civilization. It is also the word used to refer to the Maya language. When used as a proper name for a person, the first letter is capitalized as Ма́йя.
Meaning: civilization (noun)
Which one should you use?
The form ма́йя refers to the civilization or the language, while the capitalized form Ма́йя is used for a person's name.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun ма́йя is masculine. In Russian, the name for the civilization and the language is spelled identically.
How do you pronounce it?
ма́йя (májja)
Did you know?
- The name Ма́йя is not indigenous to Russia but became popular as a Russian version of the Greek name 'Maia'.
- While ма́йя is masculine when referring to the people or the civilization, the name Ма́йя is a feminine given name in Russia.
- In Russian, ма́йя functions as an unchanging noun, meaning it does not change its ending regardless of whether it is the subject or object of a sentence.
Examples in context
- Здравствуйте, Ма́йя. Как ваши дела?Hello, Maya. How are you?
Example conversation
Olga and Sergey are visiting a museum exhibit.
- Ольга OlgaПосмотри на эти маски ма́йя.Posmotri na eti maski maya.Look at these Maya masks.
- Сергей SergeyОни выглядят очень необычно.Oni vyglyadyat ochen neobychno.They look very unusual.
- Ольга OlgaКультура ма́йя была очень развитой.Kultura maya byla ochen razvitoy.The Maya culture was very advanced.
- Сергей SergeyЯ согласен с тобой, Ольга.Ya soglasen s toboy, Olga.I agree with you, Olga.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maya” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
