Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| паб | pab | [pap] (narrow) | masculine |
| бар | bar | [bar] (narrow) | masculine |
| пивна́я | pivnája | feminine | |
| каба́к | kabák | masculine | |
| тракти́р | traktír | masculine | |
| корчма́ | korčmá | dated, feminine | |
| таве́рна | tavérna | feminine | |
| пивну́шка | pivnúška | colloquial, feminine |
The term for a public house varies depending on the specific atmosphere and type of establishment you are describing, ranging from Western-style pubs to traditional inns or modest beer shops.
Which one should you use?
The word паб is a loanword used specifically to describe a Western-style pub, which often implies a British or Irish atmosphere. For a neutral description of an establishment where the primary focus is the sale and consumption of beer, use пивная. If you are referring to a traditional, often old-fashioned tavern or inn that serves both food and drink, use трактир. For a more low-end, shabby or rowdy drinking establishment that may carry a negative connotation, use кабак. The word таве́рна can also be used for a tavern. The dated term корчма́ refers to an older style of inn.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
пивнушка is a colloquial, diminutive way to refer to a small and often modest beer establishment. кабак is a colloquial term for a low-end or shabby place.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word паб after the preposition в (in) to indicate a location, the form changes to пабе.
How do you pronounce it?
pab
Did you know?
- The word кабак is an old loanword from Turkic languages, reflecting the influence of Central Asian trade routes on Russian drinking culture.
- While бар is a direct loanword from English, its French origin stems from the word for a 'barrier' or 'bar' that physically separates the server from the customers.
- While пивная is neutral, the diminutive пивнушка is often used with a sense of nostalgia or irony to describe the small beer shops common during the Soviet era.
Examples in context
- Я собираюсь в паб.I'm going to the pub.This sentence is useful for expressing an intention to go to a pub.Tatoeba #5209929 by astru, translation #5205392 by Palores
- Том уже ждал нас в пабе.Tom was already waiting for us in the pub.This sentence is useful for describing someone waiting in a pub.Tatoeba #13469445 by Wezel, translation #11073978 by sundown
- В этом пабе пиво разбавляют.They water down the beer in that pub.This sentence is useful for making a comment about the beer quality in a pub.Tatoeba #7339528 by marafon, translation #7241062 by CK
- В этом городе есть много хороших пивныхIn this city, there are many good pubs.
- Пойдем в бар на выходныхLet's go to a bar on the weekend.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andrey and Olga are deciding where to go for dinner.
- Андрей AndreyОльга, пойдём в этот паб?Ol'ga, poydyom v etot pab?Olga, shall we go to this pub?
- Ольга OlgaДа, я хочу в паб.Da, ya khochu v pab.Yes, I want to go to the pub.
- Андрей AndreyТам отличная музыка и еда.Tam otlichnaya muzyka i yeda.They have great music and food there.
- Ольга OlgaТогда пошли скорее.Togda poshli skoreye.Then let's go quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pub” translations and entries паб, бар, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries бар, паб, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
