зима́
zimáfeminine
The Russian word for winter is зима́ (zimá).
Зима́ is the standard and all-encompassing noun used to describe the fourth season, characterized by short days and the lowest temperatures. If you wish to use winter as an adjective, such as in the phrase 'winter forest', you should use the masculine adjective зимний.
Meaning: fourth season, marked by short days and the lowest temperatures (noun)
Which one should you use?
While зима́ is the common noun for the season, the adjective зимний is used to describe things related to winter. To express the idea of spending the winter in a particular place, such as on holiday, you can use the verbs зимова́ть or проводи́ть зиму.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something happens during winters or throughout the winter seasons, you can use the instrumental plural form зима́ми.
How do you pronounce it?
zimá
Did you know?
- In Russian, there is a specific word зимник for a road that exists only in winter, created by freezing marshes and rivers to allow transport into remote areas.
- Russian folklore often personifies зима́ as a female character, contrasting with the masculine personification of 'Father Frost' Дед Мороз.
- The phrase в зимнем режиме (in winter mode) is used colloquially to describe people who become less social or more sluggish during the cold months.
Examples in context
- Зима в России замечательна.Winter in Russia is wonderful.
- Зима́ была очень холодной.Zima byla ochen' kholodnoy.The winter was very cold.
- Зима́ наступила внезапно.Zima nastupila vnezapno.Winter arrived suddenly.
Example conversation
Sergey and Ekaterina are talking about the weather.
- Сергей SergeyТы ждёшь, когда́ начнётся зима́?Ty zhdyosh, kogda nachnyotsya zima?Are you waiting for winter to start?
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, я люблю́ снег.Da, ya lyublyu sneg.Yes, I love snow.
- Сергей SergeyНо зима́ всегда́ слишком длинна́я.No zima vsegda slishkom dlinnaya.But winter is always too long.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЗато́ мы сможем ката́ться на лы́жах.Zato my smozhem katatsya na lyzhakh.But we will be able to ski.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “winter” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
