Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| солда́т | soldát | masculine |
| во́ин | vóin | masculine |
| военнослу́жащий | vojennoslúžaščij | masculine |
| вое́нный | vojénnyj | masculine |
| воя́ка | vojáka | derogatory, masculine |
| солдафо́н | soldafón | derogatory, masculine |
| жолнёр | žolnjór | masculine |
| ци́рик | círik | masculine |
| аске́р | askér | masculine |
The term солда́т is the general word used in contemporary Russian to describe a soldier regardless of gender. You may also encounter военнослу́жащий, which has a broader meaning, encompassing anyone serving in the military. The word вое́нный can also be used as a noun to refer to a person in the military, but it is more commonly used as an adjective meaning 'military' (e.g., military personnel or military matters).
Which one should you use?
While солда́т refers to a common soldier or private, во́ин carries a more heroic, poetic or historical connotation. In contrast, военнослу́жащий is the official, bureaucratic term used in legal or formal military contexts to mean 'service member' or 'person in military service'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you wish to be derogatory or dismissive, you can use воя́ка, which often implying someone who is a brawler or a crude fighter or солдафо́н.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of во́ин is во́ины.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is soldát.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful with the stress: English speakers often mispronounce the stress in солда́т, placing it on the first syllable, but the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The word солдафо́н describes a person who behaves like a soldier in civilian life, often characterized by an annoying obsession with discipline and barking orders.
- The word во́ин is the root for the Russian word for 'war', война́, linking the person and the act of conflict in a way 'soldier' and 'war' are not linked in English.
- The word воя́ка is not just dismissive of rank but is often used to describe someone who is aggressive and prone to fighting in a non-military setting.
Examples in context
- В нашей армии служат множество молодых солдат.In our army, there are many young soldiers.
- Что делаешь, рядовой?What are you doing, private?
- Вчера я встретил своего друга, он военнослужащий.Yesterday, I met my friend, he is a serviceman.
- Этот солда́т очень смелый.Etot soldat ochen' smelyy.This soldier is very brave.
- Мой брат обычный солда́т.Moy brat obychnyy soldat.My brother is an ordinary soldier.
- Молодой солда́т стоял на посту.Molodoy soldat stoyal na postu.The young soldier stood at his post.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soldier” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
