терпе́ние
terpénijeneuter
In Russian, the word for patience can be expressed as терпе́ние (terpénije) or терпели́вость.
Meaning: quality of being patient (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| терпе́ние | terpénije | neuter |
| терпели́вость | terpelívostʹ | feminine |
The term is used to describe the quality of being patient, but the specific word you choose depends on whether you are talking about a person's character or their ability to endure a specific hardship.
Which one should you use?
терпе́ние refers to the capacity to endure hardship, suffering or provocation (forbearance). In contrast, терпели́вость refers to the character trait or disposition of being a patient person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun терпе́ние changes to терпе́ния in the genitive case, which is often used after words like нет (there is no patience).
How do you pronounce it?
terpénije
When do people say it?
The phrase терпе́ния тебе! is a common way to express sympathy or encouragement to someone undergoing a difficult situation.
Did you know?
- If a Russian says моё терпе́ние лопнуло, they are saying 'my patience has burst', which is a common way to express that one has finally lost their temper.
- In Russian culture, there is a traditional virtue known as терпение и смирение, which means 'patience and humility'. This pairing reflects a historical and religious emphasis on accepting one's fate without complaint.
- While English uses 'patience' for both waiting in line and enduring a hardship, Russian distinguishes between the two using different verbs. терпеть is for endurance, while ждать is for waiting.
Examples in context
- Ваше терпе́ние было вознаграждено.Vashe terpen'ye bylo voznagrazhdeno.Your patience was rewarded.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “patience” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
