Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Russian

Pronunciation

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Noun

русский (rússkij) m. (plural русские, feminine equivalent русская)

1. Russian, an ethnic Russian person (for other ethnicities living in Russia, see россиянин)

   Вы ведь ру́сский? (Or: Вы ру́сский, не та́к-ли?) — You’re Russian, aren’t you?

2. (colloquial) the Russian language

   ты зна́ешь ру́сский? — Do you know Russian?

Usage notes

Do not confuse the noun or adjective русский with российский/россиянин, all of which translate to Russian.

The word русский, concerning a person or people, means pertaining to ethnic East Slavic Russians only, but not to other ethnic groups in Russia.

The word российский means pertaining to the state or nation of Russia.

See also

• Ру́сский, о́стров Ру́сский — Russian Island (near Vladivostok)

Adjective

ру́сский (rússkij) m.

1. Of or pertaining to Russia or the Russians.

   ру́сская во́дка — Russian vodka

   ру́сская вы́хухоль — (Desmana moschata) Russian desman, Russian muskrat

   ру́сский замо́к — Russian lock, Sklifosovsky’s lock

   ру́сский осётр — (Acipenser gueldenstaedti) Russian sturgeon

   ру́сский мороз — russian frost (very cold weather)

   ру́сский «аво́сь» — said about the alleged unconcern of Russians and their tendency to rely on luck

   ру́сский бале́т — Russian ballet

   ру́сский хокке́й — Russian hockey

2. (figuratively) Of a person, being from Russia.

   Русская Америка — Russian America, meaning Russian-speaking people (not necessary belonging to the Russian ethnic group) living in USA

Declension

See also

• по-русски
• российский
• Россия
• русеть, обрусеть