музе́й
muzéjmasculine
The Russian word for museum is музе́й (muzéj).
музе́й is used to refer to a building or institution.
Meaning: building or institution (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form changes to музе́я when you want to say "of the museum" (genitive case). To refer to multiple museums in the nominative plural, use музе́и.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is muzéj.
Did you know?
- In some Russian contexts, the term музе́й is used ironically to describe a very old, cluttered apartment where nothing has been moved for decades.
- The word музе́й is a direct loan from the French 'musée', which entered Russian during the 18th century when the Russian nobility spoke French as their primary language of culture.
- The Hermitage in Saint Petersburg is often referred to simply as Эрмита́ж, but if a Russian says they are going to the музе́й while in that city, they are likely referring to it specifically.
Examples in context
- Я хочу посетить Эрмитаж – великий музей искусства в Санкт-Петербурге.I want to visit the Hermitage – a great art museum in Saint Petersburg.
- В Москве есть много интересных музеев, которые стоит посетить.Moscow has many interesting museums worth visiting.
- Давай сходим в художественный музей, у них интересная выставка.Let's go to the art museum, they have an interesting exhibition.
- После университета мы пойдем в музей науки и техники.After university, we will go to the science and technology museum.
- Музе́й закрыт в понедельник.Muzey zakryt v ponedel'nik.The museum is closed on Monday.
Example conversation
Dmitry and Ekaterina are walking downtown.
- Дмитрий DmitryКатерина, смотри, это музе́й!Katerina, smotri, eto muzey!Ekaterina, look, that's a museum!
- Екатерина EkaterinaОго, какой он большой.Ogo, kakoy on bol'shoy.Wow, it is so big.
- Дмитрий DmitryПойдём внутрь прямо сейчас?Poydyom vnutr' pryamo seychas?Shall we go inside right now?
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, я очень хочу.Da, ya ochen' khochu.Yes, I really want to.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “museum” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
