бума́га
bumágafeminine
The English word "paper" is translated into Russian as бума́га (bumága).
бума́га refers to the material known as paper. To describe something that is made of this material, you use the adjective бума́жный.
Meaning: sheet material (noun)
Which one should you use?
While бума́га is the standard term for the material, you may encounter other words depending on the context. Листик is used informally to refer to a small piece of paper, whereas Документ is a formal term used for a document or a piece of paper with legal significance.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word бума́га is a feminine noun and changes its form based on its role in a sentence. If it is the direct object of a verb (for example, "I need paper"), it becomes the accusative form бума́гу. The form бума́ги is the genitive singular or plural. It is used to mean "of paper" (such as a sheet of paper) or to denote "papers" in a collective sense.
How do you pronounce it?
bumága
Did you know?
- To describe the act of doing tedious paperwork, Russians use the phrase бума́жная волоки́та, which literally translates to 'paper dragging'.
- The diminutive form листик is not just used for 'a little piece of paper', but is also the standard word for a 'leaf' on a tree.
- In a bureaucratic context, бума́ги can refer to legal documents or identification papers, but it also serves as a common slang term for securities and stocks in the financial market.
Examples in context
- Спасибо за бумагу.Thank you for the paper.
- Лист бума́гиA sheet of paper
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paper” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
