Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| вор | vor | [vor] (narrow) | masculine |
| воро́вка | voróvka | feminine | |
| ворю́га | vorjúga | derogatory, feminine, masculine | |
| вори́шка | voríška | colloquial, feminine, masculine |
The term is used for one who carries out theft. In legal contexts, if you want to describe a swindler or a fraudster, you might use the formal term Мошенник.
Which one should you use?
The form вор is used for a male thief or as a generic masculine noun, while воро́вка is used specifically to refer to a female thief. The form вори́шка is a diminutive form used to describe a petty or insignificant thief.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term вори́шка is a colloquial way to describe a petty thief. For a more insulting tone, you can use the derogatory term ворю́га to refer to a thieving scoundrel. If you are in a formal or legal setting, the word Мошенник (swindler or fraudster) is appropriate.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun вор changes its form depending on the case: вора is used for the genitive case (of the thief) and вору is used for the dative case (to the thief). The plural form of the masculine noun is воры.
How do you pronounce it?
vor
Did you know?
- In Russian criminal subcultures, there is a legendary social status known as the 'Vory v Zakone', which translates to 'Thieves in Law'.
- The noun вор may be etymologically linked to the verb врать, which means 'to lie' in Russian. This suggests a linguistic connection between being a thief and being a liar.
- A вор в законе must adhere to a strict code of conduct, which historically included a ban on cooperating with any government authorities.
Examples in context
- Том вор и лжец.Tom is a thief and a liar.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a thief and a liar using вор.Tatoeba #4092738 by odexed, translation #6877408 by CK
- Вы думаете, я вор?Do you think I'm a thief?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is considered a thief using вор.Tatoeba #7766551 by marafon, translation #3819935 by CK
- Не пойман – не вор.Unless caught stealing, one is not a thief.This sentence is useful for expressing the proverb that one is not a thief unless caught using вор.Tatoeba #2484741 by marafon, translation #5650517 by Hybrid
- Ты видел этого воришку?Have you seen that little thief?
- 217 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dmitry and Ekaterina are discussing a news report about a robbery.
- Дмитрий DmitryЭтот вор забрал все деньги.Etot vor zabral vse den'gi.This thief took all the money.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЭто ужасно, Дмитрий.Eto uzhasno, Dmitriy.That is terrible, Dmitry.
- Дмитрий DmitryПолиция ищет вора.Politsiya ishchet vora.The police are looking for the thief.
- Екатерина EkaterinaНадеюсь, его скоро поймают.Nadeyus', yego skoro poymayut.I hope they catch him soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thief” translations and entries вор, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries вор, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
