сова́
sováfeminine
The Russian word for owl is сова́ (sová), фи́лин or сыч depending on the specific type of bird.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| сова́ | sová | feminine | |
| фи́лин | fílin | masculine | |
| сыч | syč | [sɨt͡ɕ] (narrow) | masculine |
In Russian, different terms are used to distinguish between general owls, large species like eagle-owls and smaller or more specific types of owls.
Which one should you use?
сова́ is the general and most common term used for any owl. фи́лин specifically refers to larger owls, such as eagle-owls, which often have a large size and prominent ear tufts. сыч is a more specialized term used for certain smaller owl species.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
сыч is a poetic term and is frequently found in literature or specific biological contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun фи́лин follows standard masculine declension, such as the genitive singular form фи́лина.
How do you pronounce it?
sová
Did you know?
- The word сыч is often used as a slang term for a grumpy, unsociable or taciturn person.
- In Russian folklore, seeing a фи́лин was often considered a bad omen or a sign of impending misfortune.
- While сова́ is the word for the bird, calling a person a сова́ identifies them as a 'night owl' who is most productive late at night.
Examples in context
- домо́вый сыч(Athene noctua) little owlThis is useful for learning the name of the little owl using сыч.
- мохноно́гий сыч(Aegolius funereus) boreal owlThis is useful for learning the name of the boreal owl using сыч.
- Что это за сова?What kind of owl is this?
- Вчера увидел прекрасного филина в парке.Yesterday, I saw a beautiful owl in the park.
- У бабушки в сарае живет милая совка.There is a cute owl living in my grandmother's shed.
- В лесу жила большая сова́.V lesu zhila bol'shaya sova.A large owl lived in the forest.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “owl” translations and entries сыч, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
