russian

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "Russian" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something or someone from Russia, or to the Russian language. For example, "I'm learning the Russian language this semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That could involve irregular troops, cyber attacks and inflaming tensions with ethnic Russian minorities in nations seen as part of the country's "near abroad" by Moscow.

The Guardian

Kazakhstan, a country with a large Russian minority, has strong relations with Russia, China and the United States.

The Guardian

The company recently announced it is to produce a version of The Voice for Middle Eastern broadcaster MBC and 60 further episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond for the Russian market.

The Guardian

Russian tanks have retreated, but pirates are back.

The Guardian - Opinion

The US satellite photos showed Russian troops at bases 50 miles from the border.

The Guardian

Orbán is not Putin, and Hungarian elections are not rigged in the way Russian ones are.

The Guardian - Opinion

On Thursday, the Russian president, Vladmir Putin, accused the US of meddling in a bid to undermine the 2018 World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

He denied that Snowden was living in housing provided by the Russian government or under the protection of government agents, saying that the whistleblower lived off his salary and donations to a fund in his name.

The Guardian

Although a growing body of evidence, including interviews with Russian soldiers, indicates that Moscow has sent active-duty troops and equipment to support the pro-Russia rebels over the past year, the president, Vladimir Putin, continues to deny his forces' participation in the conflict.

The Guardian

Yashin recently said that Nemtsov had hoped that "opening society's eyes to the crime" of Russian soldiers fighting on the side of separatists in eastern Ukraine would help stop the war.

The Guardian

Poroshenko joined in the chorus of one song, pumping his fist and shouting, "Glory to Ukraine!" The singers drowned out protesters who had gathered across the street, including one in a Russian scarf, accusing the Ukrainian president of ignoring atrocities against civilians in rebel-held cities.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Using "Russian" appropriately helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using the noun "Russia" as an adjective. Instead, use the adjective form "Russian" (e.g., not "Russia policy" but "Russian policy").

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Russian" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate origin, affiliation, or association with Russia. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used in this way, for example, "Russian literature" or "Russian politics". It can also function as a noun, referring to a person of Russian nationality or the Russian language.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Russian" functions primarily as an adjective to denote origin or association with Russia, but it can also serve as a noun referring to people or the language. Ludwig AI verifies its correct and widespread usage. While grammatically straightforward, context dictates the most appropriate related term, ensuring clarity and precision in writing. Being used mainly in "News & Media", the register tends to be neutral.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from Russia

Focuses on geographic origin rather than nationality.

of Russia

Indicates association or belonging to Russia.

belonging to Russia

Emphasizes the concept of belonging and ownership.

from the Russian Federation

Specifies the political entity of origin.

of Russian origin

Highlights the origin or heritage.

with Russian roots

Implies ancestry or historical connections.

related to Russia

Broadly connects something to Russia.

concerning Russia

Suggests the topic is about Russia.

in Russia

Indicates location within Russia.

native to Russia

Describes something indigenous to Russia.

FAQs

How is "Russian" used in a sentence?

"Russian" can be used as an adjective to describe something from or related to Russia, such as "Russian history" or "Russian literature". It can also be a noun referring to a person from Russia.

What's the difference between "Russia" and "Russian"?

"Russia" is a noun referring to the country. "Russian" is an adjective used to describe something from Russia, or a noun referring to a person from Russia. For example, "He is "Russian"" versus "He lives in Russia".

What are some alternative words for "Russian"?

Depending on the context, alternatives could include "from Russia", "of Russia", or "belonging to Russia". For example, instead of saying "a "Russian" author", you could say "an author from Russia".

Is it correct to say "Russia's" instead of "Russian"?

Sometimes, but not always. "Russia's" indicates possession (e.g., "Russia's economy"), while "Russian" is a general adjective (e.g., "Russian art").