Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| раб | rab | [rap] (narrow) | masculine |
| рабы́ня | rabýnja | feminine | |
| раба́ | rabá | feminine | |
| нево́льник | nevólʹnik | masculine | |
| нево́льница | nevólʹnica | feminine |
The term раб refers to a person owned as property. In modern Russian, it is also frequently used metaphorically to describe a person who is overly submissive or subservient to another's will.
What does it mean word for word?
The word нево́льник is literally "one without freedom," derived from the concept of captivity or a lack of freedom.
Which one should you use?
While раб refers to a person owned as property, нево́льник refers to someone who is a captive or a prisoner of war, referring to their lack of freedom rather than ownership. The term крепостной is a more specific term used for a serf.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is раб. For a female slave, use рабы́ня. However, раба́ is a feminine form used in specific grammatical cases or in certain archaic contexts. For a female captive or person deprived of freedom, use нево́льница.
How do you pronounce it?
rab
Did you know?
- In many historical Russian religious texts, the word раб is used in the phrase раб Божий, meaning 'servant of God', which is a respectful title rather than an insult.
- The root of нево́льник comes from воля, which means both 'will' and 'freedom'. Thus, a нево́льник is literally someone without their own will.
- In modern colloquial Russian, calling someone a раб in a workplace context is a common way to describe 'corporate slavery' and the exhaustion of the 9-to-5 grind.
Examples in context
- Я вам не раб.I'm not your slave.This sentence demonstrates the use of раб in a negative statement.Tatoeba #5565180 by marafon, translation #1935175 by Spamster
- Я Тому не раб.I'm not Tom's slave.This sentence shows how to use раб to indicate possession.Tatoeba #4651015 by marafon, translation #3723559 by CM
- Это твой раб, да?That's your slave, right?This sentence is an example of using раб in a question.Tatoeba #5695700 by Selena777, translation #7203669 by AlanF_US
- 61 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A history student and a teacher are discussing an ancient text.
- Сергей SergeyВ этом тексте часто упоминается раб.V etom tekste chasto upominayetsya rab.A slave is often mentioned in this text.
- Анастасия AnastasiaДа, это важная часть истории.Da, eto vazhnaya chast' istorii.Yes, it is an important part of history.
- Сергей SergeyМожет ли раб получить свободу?Mozhet li rab poluchit' svobodu?Can a slave gain freedom?
- Анастасия AnastasiaИногда это было возможно.Inogda eto bylo vozmozhno.Sometimes it was possible.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slave” translations and entries раб, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
