си́льный
sílʹnyj
The English word 'strong' can be translated into Russian as си́льный (sílʹnyj) or мо́щный.
Meaning: capable of producing great physical force (adj)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| си́льный | sílʹnyj |
| мо́щный | móščnyj |
си́льный is used to describe something or someone capable of producing great physical force. It is also used for mental fortitude or to describe intense sensations, such as a си́льный запах (strong smell) or a strong wind.
Which one should you use?
си́льный is the standard word for 'strong' when referring to physical strength or mental fortitude. In contrast, мо́щный means 'powerful' or 'mighty' and is used for things possessing great power, force or magnitude, such as an engine, a storm or a heavy blow.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective си́льный must agree with the gender and number of the noun it describes. It changes to си́льная for feminine nouns, си́льное for neuter nouns and си́льные for plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
sílʹnyj
Did you know?
- In Russian, a 'strong' coffee is often called крепкий rather than си́льный, because the latter sounds as if the coffee has its own physical muscles.
- If you want to describe a 'strong' connection or a 'strong' bond between people, Russians often use the word те́сный, which literally means 'tight' or 'close'.
- The word мо́щный is frequently used in modern slang to describe something 'cool' or 'impressive', similar to how an English speaker might call a person or a feat 'beastly' or 'epic'.
Examples in context
- Он очень сильный человек.He is a very strong person.
- Он крепкий парень.He is a strong guy.
- Я чувствую себя сильным после тренировки.I feel strong after the workout.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “strong” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
