вампи́р
vampírmasculine
The Russian word for vampire is вампи́р (vampír). If unsure, use вампи́р. Wiktionary also lists вампи́рша (vampírša) and упы́рь (upýrʹ).
Meaning: mythological creature (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| вампи́р | vampír | masculine |
| вампи́рша | vampírša | feminine |
| упы́рь | upýrʹ | masculine |
| вурдала́к | vurdalák | masculine |
The terms in this language all refer to the mythological mythological creature that drinks the blood of the living.
Which one should you use?
вампи́р is the standard, modern term for a vampire. In contrast, упы́рь is a more archaic and folkloric term used in Slavic mythology to describe a blood-sucking undead creature. Similarly, вурдала́к is a more literary or archaic term, frequently appearing in older horror stories or folklore contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun вампи́р becomes вампи́ры in its plural form. The feminine form вампи́рша changes to вампи́рши when used in the genitive singular case.
How do you pronounce it?
vampír
Did you know?
- The word вурдала́к is thought to have roots in Turkic languages, reflecting the historical cultural exchanges between Slavic and Steppe peoples.
- In old Russian folklore, an упы́рь could be prevented from rising by placing a coin or a brick in its mouth.
- If you see the word вампи́рша in a modern text, it might not be describing a female vampire, but could be a derogatory or slang way to describe a predatory woman in a social context.
Examples in context
- Моя коллега по работе любит читать книги о вампирах.My coworker likes reading books about vampires.
- Бабушка рассказывала мне страшные сказки про упырей.My grandmother used to tell me scary stories about vampires.
- В последнем эпизоде сериала появился новый вамп.A new vamp appeared in the latest episode of the series.
- На костюмной вечеринке многие решили переодеться в кровососов.Many people decided to dress up as bloodsuckers at the costume party.
Example conversation
Sergey and Olga are discussing a book they are reading.
- Сергей SergeyКто главный герой этой истории?Kto glavnyy geroy etoy istorii?Who is the main character of this story?
- Ольга OlgaГлавный герой загадочный вампи́р.Glavnyy geroy zagadochnyy vampír.The main character is a mysterious vampire.
- Сергей SergeyОн живет в старом замке?On zhivet v starom zamke?Does he live in an old castle?
- Ольга OlgaДа, он живет там уже сто лет.Da, on zhivet tam uzhe sto let.Yes, he has lived there for a hundred years.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vampire” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
