35 Most Used Russian Slang Words [with Audio]

To learn real Russian, you have to learn the Russian that’s spoken on the street. In short, you have to learn Russian slang.

Discover 35 of the very best and most widely-used Russian slang terms in the guide below. Audio pronunciation is also provided to make sure you’re saying everything correctly.

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1. Хрен знает — Who knows?

Literal definition: Horseradish knows.

Meaning: Who knows? (informal)

When you’re asked a question you simply don’t know the answer to, you can answer with this phrase. For example, the next time someone asks you what their dream really means, you might reply, “Хрен знает.”

However, note that хрен is a euphemism/replacement for a really bad swear word (referring to anatomy), so this phrase probably shouldn’t be used in polite or professional company. Think of it as on-par with “Who the hell knows?” or “Damned if I know” in English.

Хрен знает, какая погода будет завтра.
(Who knows what the weather will be like tomorrow.)

You can also check out this video to learn about the most used words and phrases between friends in Russian:

2. Бабки — Money

Literal definition: Grandmas

Meaning: Money

The term бабки has two meanings in Russian—it can mean grandmas, from the word бабкa (grandma), but it’s also a slang term to describe money.

There are a few theories about the origin of this term, from a dice game involving horse joints to a 100-ruble bill bearing the image Yekaterina II, who was the grandmother of two Russian emperors and became known as “tsar’s granny.”

Где бы бабки найти?
(Where can I find money?)

3. Тусить — To hang out

Literal definition: None

Meaning: To hang out, party

If Russians love anything, it’s having a good time. Anyone visiting Russia can see for themselves that Russians are often hanging out and partying in typical places, such as bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

However, it’s also not uncommon to see them dancing in public parks, drinking on street corners or bursting into song on a walk home.

Тусить is the perfect term to describe a Russian national pastime, as Russians love to get together with friends and loved ones to relax and have a great time.

Будем тусить в пятницу?
(Are we going to hang out on Friday?)

4. Бомба — It’s the bomb!

Literal definition: Bomb

Meaning: The bomb, amazing

You can describe something as “great,” but when something or someone blows all of your expectations, you say that it’s a бомба. It’s similar to the way it’s used in English.

Этот ресторан просто бомба!
(This restaurant is the bomb!)

Я встретил такую женщину, просто бомба!
(I met a woman, she’s just the bomb!)

5. Хавать — To eat

Literal definition: None

Meaning: To eat (informal, rude)

Grub, chow down, pig out—we have tons of slang English terms to express a favorite activity—eating! In Russian, xавать is a rude-ish way of expressing this physical need.

Идём хавать.
(Let’s go eat.)

This word is also often used metaphorically to mean “to eat up” lies or false promises.

Народ всё это хавает.
(The people eat it all up.)

6. Всё ништяк — It’s all good

Literal definition: None

Meaning: It’s all good

This term is so popular, it’s even included in the lyrics of a song called “Вокруг шум” (“Noise is Around”) by the group Каста (Kasta). If you haven’t heard Russian rap before, this is the perfect time!

The lyrics of the song include the following:

Вокруг шум. Пусть так. Ни кипешуй. Всё ништяк.
(Noise is around us. Let it be. Don’t worry. All is good.)

If someone asks you how you are, practice telling them all is okay by saying, “Всё ништяк!”

7. Чёрт — Shoot!

Literal definition: Devil

Meaning: Shoot!

This one is a milder version of a curse word you use when there’s a mishap. Whether you missed the bus, dropped and cracked your iPhone or overcooked your dinner—there’s always a reason to say, “Shoot!”

Чёрт, я уронила всю мою еду.
(Shoot, I dropped all of my food.)

8. Чувак — Dude

Literal definition: None

Meaning: Guy, dude

The term чувак (dude) is derived from the word чувиха (chick, gal) and dates back to the 1920s, when it was used to describe prostitutes. The word чувак went mainstream in the 1960s.

Чувак co мной вместе работает.
(The guy works with me.)

9. Tёлка — Chick, gal

Literal definition: A young female cow

Meaning: Chick, gal

In Russian, a slang word for a young woman is тёлка (chick, gal), and comes from agriculture, where it literally means “a young female cow”.

Tёлка возле меня в классе сидит.
(The gal sits next to me in class.)

10. Америкос — American

Literal definition: None

Meaning: American (informal, rude)

This rude term is used to describe the citizens of the U.S. It’s a combination of two different terms, Американец (American) and пиндос (no exact translation).

The term пиндос as a description for Americans has been traced to the late 1990s, when both American and Russian troops were fighting in Kosovo and both were critical toward each other in the press.  

Combining пиндос and Американец has led to the widespread acceptance of the slang word Америкос to describe Americans. Both пиндос and Америкос have a negative connotation.

Возле нас сидит америкос.
(An American is sitting next to us.)

11. Бухой / Бухая — Drunk

Literal definition: None

Meaning: Drunk

Russians love to drink, and there are a variety of terms to express drinking, such as бухать (to drink), бухнуть (to drink) and набухаться (to get drunk), as well as the terms listed above.

Бухой чувак пел песни в парке.
(A drunk guy sang songs in the park.)

Она согласилась со мной идти в кино, oна, наверное, бухая.
(She agreed to go to the movies with me, she must be drunk.)

12. Грузить — To mentally overload

Literal Definition: To load

Meaning: To overload someone mentally, to bore someone with excessive talking, to confuse someone

We’ve all been in a situation, whether in a group of friends, in class or at work, where another party talks incessantly and leaves us feeling mentally and emotionally overloaded.

Учитель так меня грузил, что у меня теперь голова болит.
(The teacher overloaded me so much that now I have a headache.)

13. Дешёвка — To be cheap

Literal definition: Something that’s cheap

Meaning: To be cheap

The word дешёвка originates from the Russian word дешёвый (cheap). It describes either an item that’s cheaply made and is a waste of money, or a steal!

Эта игрушка просто дешёвка.
(This toy is just cheaply made.)

Я купил мясо за 100 руб. Просто дешёвка!
(I bought meat for 100 rubles. It’s so cheap!)

14. Достал / Досталa — To annoy

Literal definition: Reached over and got

Meaning: To annoy

In Russian, to say that someone annoyed or irritated you, you would say they “got” you, to put it literally, or got to you.

Мама звонила 3 раза сегодня, достала меня.
(Mom called three times today, she is annoying me.)

Он всегда рассказывает скучные истории, достал уже.
(He always tells boring stories, he is annoying me.)

15. Мне до лампочки/Мне до фонаря — I don’t care

Literal definition: To me to light bulb/ to me to torch

Meaning: I don’t care

When you really want to stress that you don’t care about something or don’t find it interesting or relevant, this is a great way to express yourself.

Мне до лампочки, позвонишь ты мне или нет.
(I don’t care if you call or not.)

16. Офигеть — No way!

Literal definition: None

Meaning: Can’t believe it/wow/no way (informal)

We all know that cultures adopt words and phrases from other languages. Such is the case with this slang term. It all started with the German-derived word фиг, which is a milder English F-word, but still a bit rude.

That evolved into the Russian word фига, which despite not having a direct translation is the basis for a whole variety of Russian slang terms.

Офигеть is one you may hear to describe a situation where something unbelievable has happened.

Ты можешь поверить, что я только что выиграл миллион долларов?
(Can you believe I just won a million dollars?)

Офигеть!
(No freakin’ way!)

You can actually hear this word in use in the dub of the funny trailer for the movie “Downsizing” on FluentU, a language learning platform that uses authentic content.

17. Пошёл вон — Get lost!

Literal definition: Go away

Meaning: Get lost, go away (rude)

When you can’t stand someone’s presence, you can use the phrase пошёл вон to express your desire for them to leave.

It’s a more direct way of saying “get lost” and you can use it in moments of frustration or annoyance to express yourself.

Мне надо поработать, так что пошёл вон!
(I need to work, so get lost!)

Keep in mind that this expression is quite straightforward and can be considered impolite. Reserve it for situations where you’re comfortable using strong language or when the context allows for a more casual tone.

18. Лажа — A screw-up, a failure

Literal definition: None

Meaning: A screw-up, a failure

In Russian, when you experience moments of failure or mistakes, you can use the term лажа to describe the situation. It’s a great way to acknowledge that you messed-up without being overly formal.

Это была настоящая лажа, прости.
(This was a real screw-up, sorry.)

Next time you find yourself in a small blunder or a significant mishap, calling it лажа adds a touch of understanding and lightness to the situation, making it easier to move forward.

19. Кайф — Enjoyment, pleasure

Literal definition: None

Meaning: Enjoyment, pleasure

Russians have a knack for expressing their satisfaction, and кайф is the go-to term for describing a state of pure enjoyment or pleasure! It’s often used to convey the delight derived from various activities.

Этот фильм – настоящий кайф!
(This movie is pure enjoyment!)

Whether you’re savoring delicious food, enjoying a good book, or experiencing any other form of pleasure, кайф encapsulates that feeling of contentment.

20. Шарить — To understand, to know

Literal definition: None

Meaning: To understand, to know (slang)

When you’re in the know or have a deep understanding of something, you can use шарить to express your comprehension. It’s a great word to use in informal conversations with your Russian speaking friends.

Ты шаришь в этом вопросе?
(Do you understand this issue?)

This slang term adds a touch of familiarity to the fact that you’re knowledgeable about a particular subject. Use it when discussing topics in a relaxed and informal setting.

21. Замутить — To arrange/to organize

Literal definition: None

Meaning: To arrange, to organize (informal) or to start a romantic relationship

When you’re planning to set up an event or make something happen, замутить is the perfect slang term to use. In Russian, you can use it in informal situations like catching up with your friends.

Давай замутим вечеринку на выходных!
(Let’s organize a party this weekend!)

22. Прикол — A joke

Literal definition: None

Meaning: A joke, something funny or also “the kicker”, “the deal”

In Russia, when you want to refer to a humorous situation, joke, or anything amusing, use the term прикол. It’s a casual and common way to describe something funny.

Ты видел его новое видео? Полный прикол!
(Have you seen his new video? It’s hilarious!)

В чём его прикол?
(What’s the deal with him?)

Знаешь, в чём прикол? Он со мной даже не поздоровался.
(You know what the deal is? He didn’t even greet me.)

Но вот в чём прикол: ты можешь получить второй бесплатно.
(But here’s the kicker: you can get a second one for free.)

Go ahead and use this word to share a laugh with friends or comment on amusing situations in a laid-back manner.

23. Зависать — To hang out or chill

Literal definition: None

Meaning: To hang out, to chill

When you want to hang out together with your friends, use зависать. It’s a great way of inviting someone to spend time together without a specific plan.

Давай зависнем вечером, ничего не планируя.
(Let’s just hang out in the evening with no plans.)

This term is ideal for informal settings and emphasizes the laid-back nature of spending time together.

24. Фигня — Nonsense

Literal definition: None

Meaning: Nonsense, something insignificant

When you want to dismiss something as trivial or unimportant, фигня is the word to use. It’s a casual way to express that something is not worth serious consideration.

Не обращай внимания, это всего лишь фигня.
(Don’t pay attention, it’s just nonsense.)

25. Задрот — Nerd

Literal definition: None

Meaning: Nerd, someone overly dedicated to a hobby (offensive)

In Russia, people use задрот to refer to someone who may be considered a bit of a geek. Although it can be used to describe someone who is passionate about a particular hobby or activity, задрот is an offensive word so keep it in mind.

Он настоящий задрот по компьютерным играм.
(He’s a real nerd when it comes to computer games.)

This term can be used playfully but often carries a negative meaning, depending on the context.

26. Отжигать — To party hard

Literal definition: None

Meaning: To party hard, to have a blast

When you want to describe having a great and fun time at a party or event, отжигать is the word to use! Отжигать is all about dancing, celebrating, and generally enjoying yourself!

На вчерашней вечеринке мы отжигали до утра!
(We partied hard until morning at yesterday’s party!)

This term is perfect for sharing exciting experiences or expressing enthusiasm about a lively event.

27. Тормоз — Slowpoke

Literal definition: Brake

Meaning: Slowpoke, someone slow or annoying

When you want to playfully tease someone for being slow or annoying in Russian, тормоз is the slang term to use. It’s a light-hearted way to poke fun at someone’s pace or behavior.

Почему ты такой тормоз сегодня?
(Why are you such a slowpoke today?)

Make sure that you use this term among friends in a teasing and friendly manner.

28. Стёб — Banter, teasing

Literal definition: None

Meaning: Banter, teasing

When friends engage in playful teasing or banter, you can use the term стёб to describe something funny and humorous!

Твой стёб мне уже надоел.
(I’m sick of your banter already.)

29. Чё как?/Чё почём? — What’s up?

Literal definition: What how?/What how much?

Meaning: What’s up or what are you up to?

When you want to check in with someone casually or ask about their plans, you can use the phrase “Чё как?” or “Чё почём?” It’s a friendly way to ask what someone is doing or how they’re doing.

Привет! Чё как?
(Hey! What’s up?)

This phrase adds a touch of informality to your conversation, making it suitable for chatting with friends or acquaintances.

30. Круто — Cool, awesome

Literal definition: Cool

Meaning: Cool, awesome

When you want to express admiration or approval for something, use the word “Круто.” In Russian, it’s a versatile slang term that you can use to describe anything from a great idea to an impressive achievement.

Твой новый проект просто круто выглядит!
(Your new project looks really cool!)

31. Угарный — Hilarious

Literal definition: To suffer from carbon monoxide intoxication

Meaning: Hilarious

When something is incredibly funny, you can describe it as угарный. Originally, it derived from the word угорать, which means to suffer from carbon monoxide intoxication.

Since people can act erratically after smelling carbon monoxide, Russians probably started to use this term as slang to express amusement and laughter.

You can also say “как угорелый” (like the one who inhaled carbon monoxide) to talk about someone acting crazy. 

Тот анекдот был угарный!
(That joke was hilarious!)

32. Отпад — A blast

Literal definition: Falling off

Meaning: A blast, fantastic

Отпад is a common way to express that something is fantastic or amazing. Russians use it to express excitement and enjoyment.

Этот концерт был просто отпад!
(This concert was a blast!)

33. Отвечаю — I’m responsible

Literal definition: Answering

Meaning: I’m responsible

When you want to emphasize the truthfulness of what you’re saying, отвечаю is the phrase to use. 

Это правда, отвечаю!
(This is true, I’m responsible!)

34. Перетирать — To talk over

Literal definition: Rubbing over

Meaning: To talk over

When you want to talk things over with someone, перетирать is a slang word Russians use to describe the action of discussing something.

Не переживай, сейчас мы всё перетрём.
(Don’t talk over, let others speak.)

35. Поехать кукухой — To go nuts

Literal definition: To go cuckoo

Meaning: To go nuts

When someone is acting irrationally or losing their mind, поехать кукухой is the slang expression to convey that they are going crazy.

Не обращай внимания, он поехал кукухой.
(Don’t pay attention, he’s going nuts.)

Why Learn Russian Slang?

Aside from upping your cool factor, there are a number of benefits Russian learners can enjoy by adding slang to their vocabulary.

• Going beyond the textbook: Learning slang helps you understand and use informal, everyday Russian as it’s spoken by today’s native speakers. Plus, knowing the situations where this slang is used gives you deeper insights into Russian culture.

• Enjoy Russian entertainment to the fullest: Without slang, you’ll be missing key components of contemporary Russian movies, hit music and the latest books. Learning the basics of slang will boost your understanding of all the best Russian entertainment.
• Have some fun! As in any language, slang words and phrases in Russian often have strange or nonsensical meanings when translated literally. Comparing the literal and figurative meanings adds some fun to your language studies.

 

You can impress Russian speakers by showing off your Russian skills with these slang words.

Now go out there and practice!