свято́й
svjatójmasculine
The Russian word for "saint" is свято́й (svjatój). Wiktionary also lists свята́я (svjatája).
Meaning: person proclaimed as saint (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| свято́й | svjatój | masculine |
| свята́я | svjatája | feminine |
The word is used to describe a person proclaimed as a saint. It also functions as an adjective meaning "holy" or "saintly". When referring to specific saints by name, such as Saint Nicholas, use свято́й as a title preceding the name.
Which one should you use?
The masculine form is свято́й and the feminine form is свята́я.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on gender: свято́й is masculine and свята́я is feminine. The plural form is святы́е. Do not confuse the noun for a person with the noun святы́ня, which refers to a holy thing or a relic.
How do you pronounce it?
svjatój
Did you know?
- In Russian, if you want to call someone a 'saint' in a sarcastic or hyperbolic way to describe their patience, you might use the phrase свято́ша, though this carries a much more mocking and negative connotation than the English equivalent.
- In Russian, the term for 'saint' can also be used as an adjective to describe something as 'sacred' or 'untouchable', often used figuratively to describe a person's reputation or an idea that is beyond reproach.
- If a person is described as свято́й in a non-religious, secular context, it often implies they are 'incorruptible' or 'too pure' for the real world, sometimes with a hint of being naive.
Examples in context
- Мария Скобцова была святой женщиной, посвятившей свою жизнь служению бедным.Maria Skobtsova was a holy woman who dedicated her life to serving the poor.
- Сегодня почитается множество святых, которые были живы в разные исторические периоды.Today, many saints who lived in different historical periods are revered.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “saint” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
