год
god[ɡot]masculine
The English word 'year' is translated into Russian as год (god). Wiktionary also lists лет (let) and ле́то (léto).
Meaning: time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| год | god | [ɡot] (narrow) | masculine |
| лет | let | [lʲet] (narrow) | genitive, plural |
| ле́то | léto | neuter, poetic | |
| годи́на | godína | feminine, poetic |
The standard way to refer to the time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun is год. год is the most common and neutral way to say year in Russian.
Which one should you use?
In modern everyday Russian, лето almost exclusively means 'summer', although it can poetically mean 'year'. For a more poetic feeling, one might use годи́на to mean 'year'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Годок is an informal variant used in certain regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on the number preceding it. Use год for the number 1. Use the genitive singular form года after the numbers 2, 3 and 4. Use the genitive plural form лет for quantities from 5 through 20 and after most other quantities.
How do you pronounce it?
god
Did you know?
- The Russian word for 'year', год, shares an ancient root with the English word 'good'. This is because the word originally meant a 'suitable' or 'fitting' period of time.
- The diminutive form годок can be used to describe a 'short' or 'brief' year, often implying a temporary period.
Examples in context
- Из года в год.From one year to another year.Tatoeba #6932897 by odexed, translation #3856089 by Maasikas
- Я год не ходил.I didn't walk for a year.Tatoeba #8217711 by marafon, translation #5184936 by CK
- Я здесь уже год.I've been here for a year.Tatoeba #7091109 by marafon, translation #5825896 by CK
- В каком году вы посетили Россию?In which year did you visit Russia?
- Согласно нашему летоисчислению, это событие произошло в 1917 году.According to our dating system, this event happened in 1917.
- В 1945 году произошло завершение Второй мировой войны.In the year 1945, the end of World War II occurred.
- Моему брату 30 лет.My brother is 30 years old.
- 2144 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Dmitry are discussing their plans for the next year.
- Мария MariaКакой сейчас год?Kakoy seychas god?What year is it now?
- Дмитрий DmitryСейчас две тысячи двадцать четвёртый год.Seychas dve tysyachi dvadtsat chetvyortyy god.It is now the year 2024.
- Мария MariaДмитрий, ты планируешь отпуск в этом году?Dmitriy, ty planiruyesh' otpus' v etom godu?Dmitry, are you planning a vacation this year?
- Дмитрий DmitryДа, я хочу поехать к морю.Da, ya khochu poekhat' k moryu.Yes, I want to go to the sea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “year” translations and entries год, лет, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries год, лет, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
