по́лночь
pólnočʹfeminine
The Russian word for midnight is по́лночь (pólnočʹ).
по́лночь is used to refer to the specific point of 12 o'clock at night.
Meaning: 12 o'clock at night exactly (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of полн- (full) and -ночь (night), literally meaning 'full night'.
Which one should you use?
While по́лночь refers to the specific point of midnight, the word ночь refers to the entire duration of the night.
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive singular form of по́лночь is полночи́, which is used to express 'of midnight'.
How do you pronounce it?
pólnočʹ
Did you know?
- The word по́лночь is a linguistic relative of the English word 'noon'. Both describe the 'full' or peak point of their respective time periods, though the Russian word for noon is по́лдень, meaning 'full day'.
- In traditional Russian folk tales, по́лночь is often the supernatural hour when the boundaries between the human world and the spirit world thin, making it the prime time for magical encounters.
- While по́лночь is a direct translation of 'midnight', Russians often prefer the phrase в двена́дцать но́чи in daily speech to avoid the heavy, poetic tone of the noun.
Examples in context
- Вечеринка продолжалась до полуночи.The party lasted until midnight.
- Уже полночь, пора спать.It's already midnight, time to sleep.
- Я вернулся домой около полночи.I came back home around midnight.
Example conversation
Dmitry and Olga are discussing when to leave a party.
- Дмитрий DmitryКоторый сейчас час, Ольга?Kotoryy seychas chas, Ol'ga?What time is it now, Olga?
- Ольга OlgaУже наступила по́лночь.Uzhe nastupila polnoch.It is already midnight.
- Дмитрий DmitryТогда нам пора уходить.Togda nam pora ukhodit'.Then it is time for us to leave.
- Ольга OlgaДа, я согласна с тобой, Дмитрий.Da, ya soglasna s toboy, Dmitriy.Yes, I agree with you, Dmitry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “midnight” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
