ветера́н
veteránmasculine
The Russian word for "veteran" is ветера́н (veterán).
The term is used to refer to an old soldier.
Meaning: old soldier (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ветера́н is the direct translation, you may encounter бывалый, which is used to describe a seasoned veteran or someone with extensive experience.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun ветера́н changes its form depending on the grammatical case and number. For example, it becomes ветера́на in the genitive case (such as when expressing "of the veteran") and ветера́ны in the nominative plural.
How do you pronounce it?
veterán
Did you know?
- In Russia, the term ветера́н is frequently used for non-military roles, such as ветера́н труда, which refers to a 'veteran of labor' who has worked for many years in a specific profession.
- The word ветера́н is a loanword that entered Russian through French and German, rather than being an indigenous Slavic creation.
- In Russia, the term ветера́н is most frequently used in the context of 'Great Patriotic War' veterans, referring specifically to the conflict against Nazi Germany rather than general military service.
Examples in context
- Я хотел бы выразить свою глубокую благодарность ветеранам за их службу.I would like to express my profound gratitude to the veterans for their service.
- Мой дедушка – бывалый ветеран, рассказывает впечатляющие истории о войне.My grandpa is a seasoned veteran who tells impressive stories about the war.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “veteran” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
