сорня́к
sornjákmasculine
The English word "weed" (unwanted plant) is translated into Russian as сорня́к (sornják). Wiktionary also lists со́рная трава́ (sórnaja travá).
Meaning: unwanted plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| сорня́к | sornják | masculine |
| со́рная трава́ | sórnaja travá | feminine |
The verb поло́ть refers specifically to the manual act of weeding, such as pulling plants by hand or with a tool. To express that a weeding task has been successfully completed, use the perfective form прополо́ть.
Which one should you use?
While сорня́к refers to a single weed, со́рная трава́ (literally 'weedy grass') is a more general term used to describe a mass of weeds or the general presence of weeds in a garden or field.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the masculine noun сорня́к is сорня́ки.
How do you pronounce it?
sornják
Did you know?
- The word со́рная can be used as an adjective for things other than plants, such as со́рная почта, which is the Russian term for 'spam email'.
- In old Russian rural traditions, the act of поло́ть was often performed in communal groups, turning a tedious chore into a social event for singing and storytelling.
- The word сорня́к shares a root with сор, which means 'trash' or 'debris'. This implies that in the Russian mindset, a weed is not just a plant, but literal rubbish growing in the soil.
Examples in context
- Привет, ты любишь травку?Hi, do you like weed?
- Этот сорня́к очень быстро растёт.Etot sornyak ochen' bystro rastet.This weed grows very fast.
- Я вырвал сорня́к из огорода.Ya vyrval sornyak iz ogoroda.I pulled the weed out of the garden.
- Там в углу вырос большой сорня́к.Tam v uglu vyros bol'shoy sornyak.A big weed grew there in the corner.
Example conversation
Sergey and Olga are working in their garden.
- Сергей SergeyОльга, посмотри на этот сорня́к.Ol'ga, posmotri na etot sornyak.Olga, look at this weed.
- Ольга OlgaДа, он очень мешает цветам.Da, on ochen' meshayet tsvetam.Yes, it is really bothering the flowers.
- Сергей SergeyЯ сейчас его вырву.Ya seychas ego vyrvu.I will pull it out now.
- Ольга OlgaСпасибо, Сергей, это поможет саду.Spasibo, Sergey, eto pomozhet sadu.Thanks, Sergey, that will help the garden.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “weed” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
