челове́к
čelovékmasculine
The English word 'person' is translated into Russian as челове́к (čelovék).
челове́к is the most common and neutral term used to mean 'person' or 'human being'.
Meaning: specifically a human being (noun)
Which one should you use?
While челове́к refers to a person or human being, it is distinct from terms like мужчина (man) or женщина (woman) which are used to specify gender.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or professional and academic contexts, you might use Индивид (individual) or Лицо (person). In casual or slang settings, you can use Тип (guy or bloke), Парень (guy or fellow) or the slang term Чувак (dude or guy).
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive singular form of челове́к is человека. To refer to 'people', the plural is not a standard pluralization of the word itself, but is the collective noun люди.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is čelovék.
Did you know?
- The formal term лицо́, meaning 'person', literally translates to 'face'. In legal documents, a 'legal entity' is called юриди́ческое лицо́, or a 'juridical face'.
- In Russian, the word челове́к is used to express a sense of moral character, often implying a 'noble person' or someone with high ethical standards.
- The word челове́к is used in the phrase хоро́ший челове́к, which can be a genuine compliment or a sarcastic way to describe someone who is naive or easily fooled.
Examples in context
- Все чуваки там собираются на вечеринке.All the dudes are gathering there for the party.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “person” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
