му́дрый
múdryj
The English word 'sage' can be translated into Russian. The default adjective for wise is му́дрый (múdryj). Wiktionary also lists у́мный (úmnyj) and разу́мный (razúmnyj).
Meaning: wise (adj)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| му́дрый | múdryj |
| у́мный | úmnyj |
| разу́мный | razúmnyj |
When describing a person or an action as wise, you use the adjectives му́дрый, у́мный or разу́мный. If you are referring to a sage as a person (a philosopher or a very wise man), use the noun мудре́ц. If you are referring to the herb (Salvia officinalis), use the noun шалфе́й.
Which one should you use?
The adjective му́дрый is used for deep, profound wisdom, often implying life experience or spiritual insight.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective му́дрый changes based on the gender and number of the noun it describes: му́драя is the feminine form, му́дрое is the neuter form and му́дрые is the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
múdryj
Did you know?
- The Russian word for the herb 'sage', шалфе́й, sounds nothing like the adjective for wisdom. This is because the herb's name is a loanword from Persian, whereas the adjective 'wise' has deep Slavic roots.
- Russian has a specific word, мудрость, for the quality of wisdom. This noun is frequently paired with the verb набраться, meaning 'to accumulate', as if wisdom is a physical substance one gathers over time.
- In Russian folklore, the 'wise' character is often a старе́ц (old man). The cultural association between му́дрый and old age is so strong that it is rare to describe a young person as му́дрый without adding a sense of irony.
Examples in context
- Восточные мудрецы считают шалфей ценным исцеляющим растением.Eastern sages consider sage a valuable healing plant.
- Гостиная оформлена в нежных тонах шалфея.The living room is decorated in soft shades of sage.
- Все в семье знают, что добавка шалфея придает блюдам особый вкус.Everyone in the family knows that adding sage gives dishes a special flavor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sage” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
