попуга́й
popugájmasculine
The Russian word for "parrot" is попуга́й (popugáj).
The noun попуга́й refers to the kind of bird. Related to this, the verb попуга́йничать describes the act of mindlessly repeating what someone else has said or the verb phrase механи́чески повторя́ть can be used to mean to repeat exactly without showing understanding.
Meaning: kind of bird (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of попуга́й is попуга́и.
How do you pronounce it?
popugáj
Did you know?
- The word попуга́й is used in Russian slang to describe something that is overly colorful or garish, similar to how an English speaker might say 'loud' colors.
- While попуга́й means 'parrot', Russian has a specific word for the mimicry of sounds called попуга́йство, which can be used to describe plagiarism or intellectual theft.
- In Russian slang, the term can be used to describe a person who is a 'copycat' in social situations, not just in speech.
Examples in context
- Малыш очень любит наблюдать за попугаем в зоопарке.The baby loves observing the parrot at the zoo.
- Посмотри, какой забавный попугайчик!Look at that adorable little parrot!
- Можешь покормить попугайчика?Can you feed the parrot?
- Этот попуга́й очень красивый.Etot popugay ochen' krasivyy.This parrot is very beautiful.
- Мой попуга́й умеет говорить.Moy popugay umeyet govorit'.My parrot knows how to talk.
- В зоопарке есть большой попуга́й.V zooparke est' bol'shoy popugay.There is a big parrot in the zoo.
Example conversation
Andrei and Ekaterina are talking about a pet shop.
- Екатерина EkaterinaАндрей, ты видел того зелёного попуга́я?Andrey, ty videl togo zelyonogo popugaya?Andrei, did you see that green parrot?
- Андрей AndreyДа, этот попуга́й выглядит очень весёлым.Da, etot popugay vyglyadit ochen' vesyolym.Yes, that parrot looks very cheerful.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЯ хочу купить такого попуга́я.Ya khochu kupit' takogo popugaya.I want to buy a parrot like that.
- Андрей AndreyЕкатерина, это будет отличный подарок.Ekaterina, eto budet otlichnyy podarok.Ekaterina, that would be a great gift.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “parrot” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
