же́нщина
žénščinafeminine
The Russian word for woman is же́нщина (žénščina). Wiktionary also lists жена́ (žená) and ба́ба (bába).
Meaning: adult female person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| же́нщина | žénščina | feminine |
| жена́ | žená | archaic, feminine, poetic |
| ба́ба | bába | feminine, pejorative |
же́нщина is the term used to refer to an adult female, regardless of age. The term девушка is used to refer to a female aged between teenage years and early adulthood.
Which one should you use?
The word ба́ба is a derogatory or highly informal way to refer to a woman, often implying she is coarse or unattractive. There is also the archaic and poetic form жена́.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms listed are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
žénščina
Did you know?
- In traditional Russian folklore, the term ба́ба appears in the name of the mythical Ба́ба Я́га, the forest witch, linking the word to ancient mythological figures rather than just modern social descriptors.
- The phrase ба́ба с характе́ром (a woman with character) uses the informal ба́ба to describe a woman who is strong-willed and formidable, turning a potentially negative word into a sign of respect.
- In many Russian regions, the word ба́ба is used by older generations to mean 'grandmother' or 'matriarch' without any intended insult, which can confuse younger speakers or outsiders.
Examples in context
- Встретилась с женщиной, которая помогла мне с моим исследованием.I met a woman who helped me with my research.
- Сегодня я увидела очень красивую девушку на улице.Today, I saw a very beautiful girl on the street.
- Эта же́нщина очень добрая.Eta zhenshchina ochen' dobraya.This woman is very kind.
- Эта же́нщина мой врач.Eta zhenshchina moy vrach.This woman is my doctor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “woman” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
