приспе́шник
prispéšnikmasculine
The Russian word for minion is приспе́шник (prispéšnik). Wiktionary also lists шестёрка (šestjórka) and ве́рный слуга́ (vérnyj slugá).
Meaning: loyal servant of another more powerful being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| приспе́шник | prispéšnik | masculine | |
| шестёрка | šestjórka | [ʂɨˈsʲtʲɵrkə] (narrow) | |
| ве́рный слуга́ | vérnyj slugá | masculine |
приспе́шник refers to a loyal servant of a more powerful being. It is most commonly used in contexts involving crime, politics or villainous schemes to describe someone who follows a leader's orders.
Which one should you use?
приспе́шник is a standard term for an accomplice or minion. In contrast, шестёрка is a highly derogatory slang term used to describe a low-level lackey or someone who does another person's dirty work.
How does it change in a sentence?
Although шестёрка is grammatically feminine, it is used to refer to both male and female minions or lackeys.
How do you pronounce it?
prispéšnik
Did you know?
- The derogatory term шестёрка is derived from the number six in a standard 36-card Russian deck, where the six is the lowest card in a suit.
- The word приспе́шник shares a root with the Russian word for 'hurrying' or 'speeding up', suggesting a servant who is quick to obey.
- In Russian prison slang, calling someone a шестёрка implies they are at the absolute bottom of the social hierarchy.
Examples in context
- Фильм "Гадкий Я" очень популярен благодаря смешным миньонам.The movie "Despicable Me" is very popular because of the funny minions.
- Эти жёлтые человечки всегда радуют сердца детей.These yellow little people always bring joy to children's hearts.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “minion” translations and entries шестёрка, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries шестёрка, CC BY-SA 4.0.
