This list includes 65 Russian words that start with L, from “lad” to “lyustra”. They range from common everyday nouns and verbs to household items and expressive adjectives useful for learners and travelers.

Russian words that start with L are a varied mix of everyday and slightly formal terms. For example, “люстра” names a common chandelier and appears often in home descriptions.

Below you’ll find the table with English gloss, Cyrillic headword, and an example sentence with translation.

English gloss: Shows a concise English meaning, so you quickly grasp each word’s basic use and decide what to study first.

Cyrillic headword: Gives the accurate Russian spelling in Cyrillic so you recognize the word in text and practice correct reading.

Example sentence: Provides a short Russian example plus an English translation so you see real usage and learn typical contexts.

Russian words that start with L

Word (transliteration)CyrillicPart of speechExample sentence (Russian — English)
lyudiлюдиnounЛюди собрались на площади. — People gathered on the square.
litsoлицоnounЕё лицо выразило удивление. — Her face showed surprise.
lyubit’любитьverbЯ люблю пить кофе утром. — I love drinking coffee in the morning.
lyubov’любовьnounЛюбовь делает мир теплее. — Love makes the world warmer.
lyubimyлюбимыйadjЭто мой любимый фильм. — This is my favorite film.
lampaлампаnounВ комнате горит лампа. — A lamp is lit in the room.
lesлесnounМы пошли гулять в лес. — We went for a walk in the forest.
letoлетоnounЛето здесь тёплое и солнечное. — The summer here is warm and sunny.
listлистnounНа столе лежал чистый лист бумаги. — A blank sheet of paper lay on the table.
lodkaлодкаnounОни катались на лодке по реке. — They rode a boat on the river.
luchлучnounСквозь тучи пробился солнечный луч. — A sunbeam broke through the clouds.
luchshiyлучшийadjЭто лучший подарок за всю жизнь. — This is the best gift of my life.
luchsheлучшеadvС каждым днём ему становится лучше. — He gets better every day.
lektsiyaлекцияnounЛекция начнётся через час. — The lecture will start in an hour.
leksikaлексикаnounРасширяй лексику регулярно. — Expand your vocabulary regularly.
lekarstvoлекарствоnounВозьми лекарство по инструкции. — Take the medicine as instructed.
lechenieлечениеnounПациенту назначили новое лечение. — The patient was prescribed a new treatment.
lechit’лечитьverbДоктор лечит инфекцию. — The doctor treats the infection.
lyogkiyлёгкийadjЭта сумка очень лёгкая. — This bag is very light.
legkoлегкоadvМне легко запоминать песни. — It’s easy for me to remember songs.
lezhat’лежатьverbКниги лежат на полке. — The books are lying on the shelf.
lenленnounУ платья ткань из льна. — The dress is made of linen.
lenivyyленивыйadjОн немного ленивый по утрам. — He is a bit lazy in the mornings.
lentaлентаnounОна перевязала подарок яркой лентой. — She tied the gift with a bright ribbon.
litsenziyaлицензияnounДля этой деятельности нужна лицензия. — A license is required for this activity.
literaturaлитератураnounЯ изучаю русскую литературу. — I study Russian literature.
litrлитрnounБутылка содержит один литр воды. — The bottle contains one liter of water.
listat’листатьverbОна любит листать старые журналы. — She likes to leaf through old magazines.
lyubopytniyлюбопытныйadjКот был очень любопытный. — The cat was very curious.
liniyaлинияnounПроведи ровную линию на листе. — Draw a straight line on the sheet.
liven’ливеньnounПосле ливня воздух стал свежим. — After the downpour the air became fresh.
lichnyyличныйadjЭто моё личное мнение. — This is my personal opinion.
lichnost’личностьnounОна известная личность в науке. — She is a well-known figure in science.
listokлистокnounНа ветке появился новый листок. — A new leaf appeared on the branch.
lozhkaложкаnounПожалуйста, принеси чистую ложку. — Please bring a clean spoon.
lozh’ложьnounОн больше не верит этим лживым словам. — He no longer believes those lying words.
logikaлогикаnounЛогика помогает строить аргументы. — Logic helps build arguments.
lokot’локотьnounОн ударился локтем о стол. — He hit his elbow on the table.
lomat’ломатьverbНе ломай чужие вещи. — Don’t break other people’s things.
lakлакnounПол покрыт защитным лаком. — The floor is covered with protective varnish.
latteлаттеnounЯ выпил чашку латте в кафе. — I drank a latte at the café.
lazerлазерnounОперация прошла с помощью лазера. — The operation was done with a laser.
ladnoладноinterjЛадно, давай начнём. — Okay, let’s start.
ladладnounВ доме воцарился лад и спокойствие. — Harmony and calm settled in the house.
ladon’ладоньnounДай мне деньги на ладонь. — Give me the money into my palm.
laskovyyласковыйadjМама ласковая и добрая. — Mom is affectionate and kind.
lastochkaласточкаnounНад домом пролетела ласточка. — A swallow flew over the house.
lavkaлавкаnounКупили хлеб на старой лавке. — They bought bread at the old stall.
levлевnounВ зоопарке живёт большой лев. — A big lion lives in the zoo.
levyyлевыйadjПоверни налево на следующем светофоре. — Turn left at the next traffic light.
lektorлекторnounЛектор рассказал интересную историю. — The lecturer told an interesting story.
legendaлегендаnounЭта история стала городской легендой. — This story became an urban legend.
limonлимонnounДобавь ломтик лимона в чай. — Add a lemon slice to the tea.
limonadлимонадnounДети пьют холодный лимонад. — The kids are drinking cold lemonade.
liderлидерnounОна лидер команды программистов. — She is the leader of the programming team.
lipkiyлипкийadjПосле варенья руки стали липкими. — After the jam, hands became sticky.
lipaлипаnounВ саду растёт старая липа. — An old linden tree grows in the garden.
lyubitelskiyлюбительскийadjЭто любительский спектакль, но очень душевный. — It’s an amateur performance, but very heartfelt.
lezhakлежакnounНа пляже много лежаков и зонтов. — There are many sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach.
lyotchikлётчикnounОпытный лётчик успешно сел на посадку. — The experienced pilot landed successfully.
lyustraлюстраnounВ зале висит большая хрустальная люстра. — A large crystal chandelier hangs in the hall.
lyulkaлюлькаnounМладенец спит в люльке тихо. — The baby sleeps quietly in the cradle.
lyukлюкnounНа дороге открыт люк — остерегайтесь! — There’s an open manhole on the road — watch out!
lyagushkaлягушкаnounВ пруду квакает лягушка. — A frog is croaking in the pond.
lyamлямnum/otherОн заработал лям за год (разговорн.). — He earned a million in a year (colloquial).

Descriptions

lyudi
people — very common plural noun; general, neutral register.
litso
face — common noun; also used figuratively (“person”, formal contexts).
lyubit’
to love; to like — frequent verb for emotions and preferences.
lyubov’
love — common noun for affection and passion.
lyubimy
favorite, beloved — everyday adjective; used both for people and things.
lampa
lamp; light fixture — common household noun.
les
forest; woods — very common in travel/outdoor contexts.
leto
summer — basic season word.
list
leaf; sheet (of paper) — common; meaning depends on context.
lodka
boat; small boat — practical travel/sea word.
luch
ray; beam — used literal and poetic.
luchshiy
best — superlative adjective, very common.
luchshe
better — comparative adverb/adjective.
lektsiya
lecture — education/academic term.
leksika
vocabulary — language-learning term.
lekarstvo
medicine; drug — everyday medical word.
lechenie
treatment — medical usage.
lechit’
to treat; to cure — medical verb.
lyogkiy
light; easy — physical or metaphorical; common.
legko
easily; it’s easy — common adverb.
lezhat’
to lie (be situated horizontally) — frequent verb.
len
flax; linen — textile term, common.
lenivyy
lazy — everyday adjective.
lenta
ribbon; tape; film — various everyday meanings.
litsenziya
license — legal/official document.
literatura
literature — academic and general usage.
litr
liter — unit of volume.
listat’
to leaf through; to flip pages — common media verb.
lyubopytniy
curious — everyday adjective.
liniya
line — geometric or figurative.
liven’
downpour — weather vocabulary.
lichnyy
personal — common adjective.
lichnost’
personality; figure — used for notable people.
listok
small leaf; leaflet — diminutive form, common.
lozhka
spoon — everyday utensil.
lozh’
lie; falsehood — common noun.
logika
logic — academic and everyday use.
lokot’
elbow — body part vocabulary.
lomat’
to break — common action verb.
lak
varnish; lacquer; nail polish — material term.
latte
latte — loanword for a coffee drink, common in cafés.
lazer
laser — technical/medical term.
ladno
okay; fine — colloquial discourse marker.
lad
harmony; order — literary or formal register.
ladon’
palm (of the hand) — everyday body-part word.
laskovyy
tender; affectionate — warm, common adjective.
lastochka
swallow (bird) — common bird name.
lavka
stall; bench; small shop — colloquial/market term.
lev
lion — animal word; also heraldic.
levyy
left (direction) — essential directional adjective.
lektor
lecturer; speaker — academic/professional term.
legenda
legend; lore — common cultural term.
limon
lemon — fruit; culinary term.
limonad
lemonade — beverage word.
lider
leader — politics/business vocabulary.
lipkiy
sticky — descriptive adjective.
lipa
linden tree (lime tree) — common tree in Russia.
lyubitelskiy
amateur — common adjective for non-professional.
lezhak
sunbed; deckchair — leisure vocabulary.
lyotchik
pilot (airman) — occupational noun.
lyustra
chandelier — home furnishing.
lyulka
cradle; bassinet — nursery term.
lyuk
hatch; manhole — urban, safety-related word.
lyagushka
frog — animal word.
lyam
a million (slang) — colloquial number slang; informal register.
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