10 Russian curse words and expressions that'd make your friends stunned

When it comes to Russian curse words, there’s a subtle art to swearing. Whether it be venting in a moment of frustration, expressing enthusiasm or making an exclamation of pain or disgust, Russian-speakers sure know the power of an emphatic expletive.

Ready to learn how to swear like a Russian coal miner? Keep reading to learn some of my favorite Russian curse words from all over the Eurasia.

Russian Curse Words for General Exclamations

1. блядь (noun, feminine) – shit

Universally used by Russian-speakers, “блядь”, like “shit” in English is a standard entry-level curse word. Not too offensive, “блядь” is a reliable go-to in moments of frustration. Don’t want to set a bad example for little ones or upset others? You can sub “бляха” (bliaha) (literally, a badge) for “блядь” like we’d use “shoot” or “sugar” in English instead of “shit”. You can use “блядь” as a general exclamation. Be careful not to use while referring to people, because "блядь" means "a whore" in that case.

2. ебать (verb) - fuck, to fuck

Favored by Russians, “ебать” is pretty much interchangeable with “fuck” in English. Stubbed your toe? "Ебать!" A friend just told you some bad news? "Ебать! Это пиздец..."  Living or traveling in Eastern Europe? People in most countries will understand what you’re saying. In other words, you can hear “Ебать” in all kinds of Slavic languages.

3. Я ебал ... в рот - I fucked ... in the mouth

Yes, you read that right… You’ll hear variations of this gem all over Russian-speaking regions. Try not to take it too literally!  Although it may seem a bit odd at first, you can use most of these expressions instead of “shit” or “fuck” in moments of frustration or when something goes wrong.

Obviously, some variations are more offensive than others. If you really don’t give a shit and want to start something “Ебать его в рот!” which literally means “I fuck it in the mouth” is the one for you, it is percieved as "Oh, fuck it!".  Use at your own risk.

4. пизда (noun) – cunt

As with the word, “cunt” in English, “пизда” is a word that divides. Some consider it obscene, others use it daily and with great enthusiasm. Many of my Ukrainian friends put it to regular use in conversation, more like you would “shit” or “damn” and don’t seem to think much of it. And, as in English, it doesn’t always have a negative connotation. It is often used to emphasize something positive. For example, “Пизда! Эта вечеринка рулит!” would mean something like, “Damn! This party rules!”

5. Иди нахуй! – Get lost!; Get fucked!; Fuck off!

“Хуй” is Russian for dick. So, “Иди нахуй!” literally means, “Go to the dick!”. Are you beginning to understand why teachers hate Google Translate? When you hear a Russian speaker exclaim, “Да иди нахуй!” in a moment of surprise or excitement they really mean something like “no fucking way!”. And if someone tells you, “Иди нахуй!” it basically means “Go to hell!”.

6. Да ну нахуй! - You’re kidding!; Don’t fuck with me!

This one doesn’t need much explanation. Amongst friends, “Да ну нахуй!” is often used in a light-hearted way. But as always it depends on the tone of voice and the context. It can mean anything from, “You’re full of shit!” to “Stop fucking with me.”

7.  пиздато - fucking awesome

Since "пизда" means "cunt", it may not come as surprise that if something is "пиздато" it's actually really fucking cool. Don't confuse this one with "пиздец", which means "this is fucked up".

Russian Curse Words for Describing People

8. придурок (noun) – idiot; moron

One of my fave Russian curse words, for sure. Придурок is fun to pronounce and not sooo rude. Put it to good use when one of your buddies is out of line or acting like an idiot by saying “Ну ты придурок!”. In other words, “You're such an idiot!”.

9. блядский (adjective) – crappy; damn; fucking

This expletive is too good to leave off the list. You can add it to just about anything to express your dissatisfaction. For example, “Ненавижу этих блядских соседей!” would mean, “I hate those fucking neighbours”.

10. козёл – asshole; bastard; son of a bitch

Although it’s often used in a loving way amongst mates in Russian, “козёл” can also be quite offensive. As with all curse words, it depends on the context. Calling someone a “козёл” during a heated argument is not going to go over well.