The language is living, it is constantly changing, adjusting to modern realities. One of the most striking examples of its change is slang. You may not like it, it may cause bewilderment but you cannot deny it. If you want to better understand the person you are talking to and hold a conversation in different situations, you should learn Russian slang.
Distinctive language incomprehensible to others is one of the hallmarks of a youth subculture. It is often difficult to draw a clear line between age groups, and language is a clearer point. Most often, these are loanwords from English: “мёрч” (merch), “хайп” (hype), “стримить” (stream). But there are words that are unusual and unfamiliar to foreigners: “агриться”,” лойс”, “ЧСВ”.
Note: do not try to use these slang words far and wide as there is a risk of looking like a funny boomer or millennial. However, it will be useful to know these words and use them occasionally.
Word | Meaning | Usage example |
Агриться [̀agrit’sya] | Get angry, be aggressive | Хватит агриться, я не хотел тебя обидеть! Stop being angry, I didn’t mean to offend you! |
Вписка [vp̀iska] | Party or apartment where the party is going | В выходные у Ани будет вписка. Придешь? Ann will have a party this weekend. Will you come? |
Всратый [vsr̀atyj] | Ugly, weird. If about a person — often ridiculous, funny, but not repulsive | Какой-то всратый рисунок получился, надо переделать. It’s a weird drawing. I should draw it again. |
Движ [dvizh] | Party, any activity | После концерта идем на движ. After the concert, there is commotion |
Зашквар [zashkv̀ar] | Shame, misbehavior | Кричать посреди улицы — это зашквар. Shouting in the street is lame. |
Краш [krash] | A person whom you like, an object of adoration, unrequited love | Мой новый краш — Билли Айлиш. My new crush is Billie Eilish. |
Лойс [loys] | Like, “like” button in social networks | Если вам понравился мой новый пост, жду лойсы. If you liked my new post, I’m waiting for your likes. |
ЧС, кинуть в ЧС [che es, k̀inut’ a che es] | Blacklist, add to blacklist | За такое поведение он отправился в ЧС. For this behavior, he went to the blacklist. |
ЧСВ [che es ve] | High self-esteem, ego | Ничего из себя не представляет, а ЧСВ раздуто. He is a real nothing but his ego is inflated |
Шмот [shmot] | Clothing | Зацените шмот, что я получил. Look at all this swag I got |
Each professional environment has its own slang. One of the most widespread communities in the modern world is bloggers since among them there are people from different professions, age groups. Moreover, bloggers can have millions of subscribers. The number of social networks is also great, so this language spreads quickly and is used by a wide range of people.
Most of the words came to the Russian language from English, their meaning is universal, so we offer you just a dictionary. Remember, that in Russian, these words may sound slightly different.
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The following slang expressions do not belong to any particular group – you can hear them almost from anyone.
Word | Meaning | Usage example |
Хрен знает / ХЗ [hren znayet / heze] | Absolutely nothing is known about anyone, about anything | Когда ты закончишь ремонт? — А хрен его знает. When will you finish the renovation? – And the hell knows. |
Офигеть [afig̀et’] | Expresses strong surprise | Вот это машина! Офигеть! That’s a great car! Cool! |
Достал / Достала [dast̀al / dast̀ala] | Tired, was extremely annoying | Ты достал! Я хочу побыть один! You make me sick! I want to be alone! |
Жесть [zhest’] | Expresses strong evaluative emotion, both positive and negative | Это была жесть! Как вам удалось выбраться оттуда? It was tough! How did you get out of there? |
Отвали [atval̀i] | Leave me alone (rudely) | Отвали! Я не хочу иметь с тобой никаких дел! Fuck off! I don’t want to have anything to do with you! |
Я ору [ya aru] | Expresses an extremely emotional reaction to something, most often to something that makes you laugh | Она опять надела желтую юбку с красной кофтой! Я ору! She put on a yellow skirt with a red jacket again! I’m crying! |
Инфа — сотка [infas̀otka] | 100% verified information | Билеты на концерт начнут продавать завтра, инфа — сотка. Tickets for the concert will start selling tomorrow, it’s 100%. |
Жиза [zh̀iza] | Life situation, the truth of life | Я думал, работать будет легче, чем учиться. А оказалось, наоборот. — Это жиза! I thought it would be easier to work than to learn. But it turned out to be the opposite. — This is life! |
Before you start using Russian slang, listen to, and more than once, how others use it. Then you will not be so at the risk of getting into an embarrassing situation.
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