дождь
doždʹ[doʂtʲ]masculine
The English word 'rain' is дождь (doždʹ) in Russian. Wiktionary also lists ли́вень (lívenʹ).
Meaning: an instance of particles falling (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| дождь | doždʹ | [doʂtʲ] (narrow) [doɕː] (narrow) |
masculine |
| ли́вень | lívenʹ | masculine |
The term дождь refers to general rain. To describe the act of rain falling, Russians use the verb идти́ (to go), as in идёт дождь (it is raining). You may also use the phrases ли́ть or идти́ to mean rain is falling from the sky, or сы́паться дождём and сы́паться гра́дом to say that something is falling in large quantities.
Which one should you use?
While дождь refers to general rain, ли́вень specifically refers to a heavy downpour or torrential rain.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
дождь is a masculine noun that ends in a soft sign (ь). Its genitive singular form is дождя and its plural form is дожди́.
How do you pronounce it?
doždʹ
Did you know?
- The phrase сы́паться дождём can be used metaphorically to describe things like tears, bullets or words falling in an overwhelming, torrential quantity.
- The word дождь is a linguistic fossil that preserves a spelling way back from Church Slavonic traditions.
- The plural form of rain, дожди́, is often used in Russian literature and song to evoke a sense of melancholy or a long period of damp weather.
Examples in context
- А вот и дождь.Here comes the rain.This sentence shows how to point out that the rain has arrived using дождь.Tatoeba #7360218 by marafon, translation #6703302 by Eccles17
- Я не люблю дождь.I do not like the rain.This sentence expresses a dislike for дождь.Tatoeba #3344672 by odexed, translation #854407 by piksea
- У вас дождь идёт?Are you guys getting rain?This sentence asks if it is currently raining using дождь.Tatoeba #11769614 by marafon, translation #12389934 by Miktsoanit
- Они гуляли в парке, пока их не застал дождь.They were walking in the park until the rain caught them.
- Утро началось с сильного ливня.The morning started with a heavy rainfall.
- Сегодня идет слабый дождик.Today, there is a light rain.
- 947 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Dmitry are looking out the window together.
- Екатерина EkaterinaСмотри, какой сильный дождь!Smotri, kakoy silnyy dozhd!Look, what heavy rain!
- Дмитрий DmitryДа, мы не успеем выйти.Da, my ne uspeyem vyyti.Yes, we won't be able to go out.
- Екатерина EkaterinaНадеюсь, этот дождь скоро закончится.Nadeyus, etot dozhd skoro zakonchitsya.I hope this rain ends soon.
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ тоже так думаю, Катя.Ya tozhe tak dumayu, Katya.I think so too, Katya.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rain” translations and entries дождь, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries дождь, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
