How to Say "Polar Bear" in Russian

бе́лый медве́дь

bélyj medvédʹmasculine

The Russian phrase for polar bear is бе́лый медве́дь (bélyj medvédʹ). Wiktionary also lists поля́рный медве́дь (poljárnyj medvédʹ).

Meaning: Ursus maritimus (noun)

Ways to say it

“polar bear” in Russian
Russian	Romanization (Wiktionary)	Note
бе́лый медве́дь	bélyj medvédʹ	masculine
поля́рный медве́дь	poljárnyj medvédʹ	masculine

Both provided terms refer to the animal Ursus maritimus.

The phrase бе́лый медве́дь literally translates to white bear.

бе́лый медве́дь is the most common way to refer to the animal in everyday speech, whereas поля́рный медве́дь sounds more scientific or geographical.

When using бе́лый медве́дь in the genitive case (for example, to say 'of the white bear'), the form changes to бе́лого медве́дя.

bélyj medvédʹ

In Russian, the word for 'bear' is ме́дведь, which is an ancient euphemism. It literally translates to 'honey-eater', a term used to avoid saying the animal's real name and attracting its attention.
Russian folklore often treats the медведь as a human in a fur coat, leading to the bear being called 'grandfather' or 'master' in traditional tales.
Because the word ме́дведь translates to 'honey-eater', a Russian speaker describing a polar bear is technically calling it a 'white honey-eater'.

Example sentences for Russian are not verified yet.

Andrey and Ekaterina are looking at animals in a zoo.

Андрей Andrey

Смотри, Катя, вон там бе́лый медве́дь!
Smotri, Katya, von tam belyy medved'!
Look, Katya, there is a polar bear!
Екатерина Ekaterina

Ой, какой он большой и пушистый!
Oy, kakoy on bol'shoy i pushistyy!
Oh, he is so big and fluffy!
Андрей Andrey

Мне кажется, бе́лый медве́дь сейчас будет спать.
Mne kazhetsya, belyy medved' seychas budet spat'.
I think the polar bear is going to sleep now.
Екатерина Ekaterina

Да, он выглядит очень уставшим.
Da, on vyglyadit ochen' ustavshim.
Yes, he looks very tired.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏