волше́бник
volšébnikmasculine
The English word "wizard" can be translated into Russian as волше́бник (volšébnik), колду́н, маг, чароде́й or ведьма́к.
Meaning: person skilled with magic (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| волше́бник | volšébnik | masculine | |
| колду́н | koldún | masculine | |
| маг | mag | [mak] (narrow) | masculine |
| чароде́й | čarodéj | masculine | |
| ведьма́к | vedʹmák | masculine |
All provided forms are masculine nouns used to describe a person skilled in magic.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the tone and type of magic being described. волше́бник is the standard, neutral or positive term for a wizard. In contrast, колду́н often carries a dark or sinister connotation, similar to a sorcerer or warlock. чароде́й has a more poetic, archaic or folkloric feel, often used for an enchanter. ведьма́к is specifically associated with a professional monster hunter or a person using magic in a gritty way, a term popularized by the Witcher franchise.
How do you pronounce it?
volšébnik
Did you know?
- The word колду́н shares a root with the verb колдовать, which is used not only for magic but also to describe someone fiddling with a complex machine or computer.
- The term ведьма́к comes from the root ведать, meaning 'to know', implying that a wizard is someone who possesses secret knowledge.
- The word маг shares its ancient roots with the English word 'magic', both descending from the same Proto-Indo-European origin.
Examples in context
- Я маг.I'm a wizard.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of the word маг.Tatoeba #12927517 by marafon, translation #12927511 by rul
- Добрый день, уважаемый ВолшебникHello, esteemed wizard
- Простите, уважаемый колдун, нужно ли мне бояться ваших заклинаний?Excuse me, respected wizard, should I fear your spells?
- Привет, волшебник, как дела?Hey, wizard, how are you doing?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wizard” translations and entries маг, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries маг, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
