Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| же́мчуг | žémčug | masculine | |
| жемчу́жина | žemčúžina | feminine | |
| перл | perl | [pʲerɫ] (narrow) | figuratively, masculine, obsolete |
| би́сер | bíser | dated, masculine |
The term refers to the rounded concretion produced by certain mollusks. While же́мчуг is the most common way to express the concept, you can also use жемчу́жина when you are specifically referring to a pearl as a gemstone. The adjective жемчужный is used to describe things that are pearly or made of pearl.
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on whether you are treating pearl as a substance or an individual object. Use the mass noun же́мчуг when referring to pearl as a material or collective substance, such as in jewelry making. Use the count noun жемчу́жина when referring to a single, discrete pearl.
How does it change in a sentence?
же́мчуг is a masculine noun, while жемчу́жина is a feminine noun. The form жемчужок is a diminutive of pearl used to express affection or familiarity.
How do you pronounce it?
žémčug
Did you know?
- The word перл is a rare loanword likely borrowed from the German word 'Perl'.
- In Russian, the word жемчу́жина is frequently used as a metaphor for a hidden gem or a masterpiece, such as describing a beautiful building as a 'pearl' of architecture.
- While же́мчуг is the standard word for pearl, the word би́сер refers specifically to tiny seed pearls or glass beads used in embroidery.
Example sentences for Russian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Andrey is giving a gift to Olga.
- Андрей AndreyОльга, это подарок для тебя.Olga, eto podarok dlya tebya.Olga, this is a gift for you.
- Ольга OlgaО боже, это же́мчуг!O bozhe, eto zhemchug!Oh my god, it's a pearl!
- Андрей AndreyДа, он очень красивый.Da, on ochen' krasivyy.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- Ольга OlgaСпасибо, Андрей, мне очень нравится.Spasibo, Andrey, mne ochen' nravitsya.Thank you, Andrey, I like it very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pearl” translations and entries перл, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries перл, CC BY-SA 4.0.
