вдова́
vdováfeminine
The English word "widow" is translated into Russian as вдова́ (vdová). If unsure, use вдова́. Wiktionary also lists вдови́ца (vdovíca).
Meaning: woman whose spouse has died (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| вдова́ | vdová | feminine |
| вдови́ца | vdovíca | feminine, obsolete |
The term refers to a woman whose spouse has died.
Which one should you use?
вдова́ is the most common and neutral term for a widow. The form вдови́ца is an obsolete version of the word. The form вдовушка is an affectionate form used in a friendly or endearing manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive singular form of вдова́ is вдовы́, which is used after prepositions or verbs requiring the genitive case.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is vdová.
Did you know?
- While English uses 'widow' for both the person and a specific type of layout in typography, the Russian term вдова́ is used exclusively for people and does not apply to printed text.
- In certain traditional Russian village customs, a вдова́ was expected to wear specific head coverings that signaled her status to the community without her having to speak.
- The diminutive вдовушка can be used ironically or sarcastically in modern colloquial speech to mock someone who acts like a victim.
Examples in context
- Моя соседка – вдова уже много лет.My neighbor has been a widow for many years.
- Муж Марины умер два года назад, теперь она вдова.Marina's husband passed away two years ago, now she's a widow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “widow” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
