жёлтый
žóltyj[ˈʐoɫtɨj]
The English word "yellow" is translated into Russian as жёлтый (žóltyj).
жёлтый is used as an adjective to describe something having the color yellow. If you wish to refer to the color itself as a noun phrase, you can use жёлтый цвет.
Meaning: having yellow as its color (adj)
Which one should you use?
While жёлтый is the standard term, you may also encounter желтенький, which is an informal diminutive form used to convey affection or playfulness.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, жёлтый changes its ending depending on the gender and number of the noun it describes: use жёлтая for feminine nouns, жёлтое for neuter nouns and жёлтые for plural nouns. Related verbs include желте́ть, meaning to become yellow or more yellow and пожелте́ть, which describes the process of becoming yellow.
How do you pronounce it?
žóltyj
Did you know?
- In Russian culture, the color жёлтый can symbolize betrayal or infidelity. Giving a partner a bouquet of yellow flowers is often seen as a sign of a breakup or a romantic warning.
- The Russian word жёлтый and the English word 'yellow' are distant cousins. Both trace their origins back to the same Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰelh₃-, which meant both 'green' and 'yellow'.
- In Russian, the word for 'yellow' is closely related to words for 'gall' and 'bile'. This historical linguistic link connects the color to the bitter fluids of the body.
Examples in context
- У них жёлтый дом.Their house is yellow.This sentence shows how to use жёлтый to describe a house.Tatoeba #9181713 by marafon, translation #9159784 by CK
- На нём жёлтый жилет.He's wearing a yellow vest.This sentence demonstrates the use of жёлтый to describe a vest.Tatoeba #10173499 by marafon, translation #10173593 by ddnktr
- У Тома жёлтый галстук.Tom's tie is yellow.This sentence illustrates жёлтый being used to describe a tie.Tatoeba #7025578 by marafon, translation #7020972 by JustRandomUsr
- Этот желтый цвет такой солнечный!This yellow color is so sunny!
- 68 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at flowers in a garden.
- Александр AleksandrСмотри, какой красивый жёлтый цветок!Smotri, kakoy krasivyy zhyoltyy tsvetok!Look, what a beautiful yellow flower!
- Анастасия AnastasiaДа, он очень яркий.Da, on ochen' yarkiy.Yes, it is very bright.
- Александр AleksandrАнастасия, тебе нравится этот цвет?Anastasiya, tebe nravitsya etot tsvet?Anastasia, do you like this color?
- Анастасия AnastasiaОчень, он мне нравится.Ochen', on mne nravitsya.Very much, I like it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yellow” translations and entries жёлтый, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries жёлтый, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
