This list includes 59 Russian words that start with Z, from “za” to “zvuk”. They include common nouns, verbs, and adjectives useful for learners, teachers, translators, and travelers.
Russian words that start with Z are headwords whose standard Latin transliteration begins with the letter Z. Many reflect familiar Slavic roots like “за-” and “зв-” or appear as everyday loanwords, for example “звук” meaning “sound”.
Below you’ll find the table with English gloss, Cyrillic headword, and example sentence (Russian plus English translation).
English gloss: Shows the concise meaning in English so you quickly judge each word’s relevance for study, travel, or translation tasks.
Cyrillic headword: Gives the accurate Russian spelling in Cyrillic so you can recognize, read aloud, and look up the word in dictionaries.
Example sentence (Russian and English translation): Provides a short contextual sentence in Russian with a matching English translation to show real usage and grammar.
Russian words that start with Z
| Headword (transliteration) | Cyrillic headword | Part of speech | English gloss |
|---|---|---|---|
| za | за | preposition | for; behind; (prefix) |
| zdes’ | здесь | adverb | here |
| zavtra | завтра | adverb | tomorrow |
| znat’ | знать | verb | to know |
| zachem | зачем | adverb | why; what for |
| zdravstvuyte | здравствуйте | interjection | hello (formal) |
| zemlya | земля | noun | earth; land; soil |
| zima | зима | noun | winter |
| zavod | завод | noun | factory |
| zona | зона | noun | zone; area |
| zerkalo | зеркало | noun | mirror |
| zayavlenie | заявление | noun | application; statement |
| zapolnit’ | заполнить | verb | to fill (out) |
| zapis’ | запись | noun | note; recording; entry |
| zapisat’ | записать | verb | to write down; to record |
| zadacha | задача | noun | task; problem |
| zadavat’ | задавать | verb | to ask; to assign |
| zashchita | защита | noun | protection; defense |
| zvezda | звезда | noun | star; celebrity |
| zvuk | звук | noun | sound |
| zoloto | золото | noun | gold |
| zolotoy | золотой | adjective | golden; of gold |
| zal | зал | noun | hall |
| zabota | забота | noun | care; concern |
| zabyt’ | забыть | verb | to forget |
| zapas | запас | noun | reserve; stock |
| zapomnit’ | запомнить | verb | to remember; to memorize |
| zastavka | заставка | noun | screensaver; intro image |
| zamerzat’ | замерзать | verb | to freeze (become frozen) |
| zamok | замок | noun | lock; castle |
| zarplata | зарплата | noun | salary; wages |
| zaryad | заряд | noun | charge; charge (battery) |
| zayavka | заявка | noun | application; request |
| zakaz | заказ | noun | order; booking |
| zakryt’ | закрыть | verb | to close; to shut |
| znak | знак | noun | sign; mark |
| znakomstvo | знакомство | noun | acquaintance |
| zamer | замер | noun | measurement; gauge |
| zefir | зефир | noun | marshmallow-like sweet |
| zemlyak | земляк | noun | fellow countryman; compatriot |
| zont | зонт | noun | umbrella |
| zatopit’ | затопить | verb | to flood; to inundate |
| zabolet’ | заболеть | verb | to fall ill; to get sick |
| zabolevanie | заболевание | noun | disease; illness |
| zabastovka | забастовка | noun | strike (labor) |
| zelyony | зелёный | adjective | green |
| zdanie | здание | noun | building |
| zvonok | звонок | noun | bell; phone call; alarm |
| zvonit’ | звонить | verb | to ring; to call |
| zvezdny | звёздный | adjective | starry; stellar |
| zapret | запрет | noun | ban; prohibition |
| zapisivat’ | записывать | verb | to record; to write down |
| zashchishchat’ | защищать | verb | to protect; to defend |
| zamorozit’ | заморозить | verb | to freeze (something) |
| zalit’ | залить | verb | to pour; to flood (perf.) |
| zritel’ | зритель | noun | spectator; viewer |
| zato | зато | conjunction | but; on the other hand |
| zrely | зрелый | adjective | mature; ripe |
| zhal’nik? (Note: excluded words starting with Ж are not included.) | — | — | — |
Descriptions
za
Very common preposition or prefix with many uses. Я живу за городом. – I live outside the city.
zdes’
Basic adverb of place used in speech and writing. Я здесь. – I’m here.
zavtra
Everyday word for the next day. Увидимся завтра. – See you tomorrow.
znat’
Fundamental verb for knowledge or ability. Я хочу знать правду. – I want to know the truth.
zachem
Asks about purpose or reason. Зачем ты пришёл? – Why did you come?
zdravstvuyte
Polite greeting used with strangers or groups. Здравствуйте, как дела? – Hello, how are you?
zemlya
Means ground, land, or the planet. Земля покрыта снегом. – The ground is covered with snow.
zima
Common seasonal noun. Зима холодная в России. – Winter is cold in Russia.
zavod
Industrial workplace or plant. Он работает на заводе. – He works at a factory.
zona
Used for areas, zones, or sectors. Это закрытая зона. – This is a restricted area.
zerkalo
Everyday household object. Я посмотрелся в зеркало. – I looked in the mirror.
zayavlenie
Formal written request or declaration. Он подал заявление вчера. – He submitted the application yesterday.
zapolnit’
Common for forms and documents. Заполните форму, пожалуйста. – Fill out the form, please.
zapis’
A note, recording, or entry in a log. Сделай запись в дневнике. – Make an entry in the diary.
zapisat’
To put information on paper or record audio. Запиши номер телефона. – Write down the phone number.
zadacha
Used at school, work, and everyday problems. Это сложная задача. – This is a difficult problem.
zadavat’
To pose questions or set tasks. Учитель задаёт вопрос. – The teacher asks a question.
zashchita
Protection, legal or physical defense. Нужна защита данных. – Data protection is needed.
zvezda
Astronomical star or famous person. На небе много звёзд. – There are many stars in the sky.
zvuk
General word for audible phenomenon. Этот звук громкий. – This sound is loud.
zoloto
Metal or the precious metal in general. Кольцо из золота. – A ring made of gold.
zolotoy
Describes color or composition. У него золотая цепочка. – He has a gold chain.
zal
Large room for events, concerts, or meetings. Концерт в большом зале. – The concert is in a big hall.
zabota
Emotional or practical care and worries. У неё много забот. – She has many concerns.
zabyt’
Common everyday verb. Я забыл ключи дома. – I forgot the keys at home.
zapas
Supply kept for future use. У нас есть запас воды. – We have a supply of water.
zapomnit’
To commit to memory. Запомни это слово. – Remember this word.
zastavka
Computer or TV intro/splash screen. У меня красивая заставка. – I have a beautiful screensaver.
zamerzat’
Describes freezing processes or feeling cold. Вода замерзает ночью. – Water freezes at night.
zamok
Two common meanings: lock or fortress. У нас новый замок. – We have a new lock.
zarplata
Money paid for work. Он получил зарплату. – He received his salary.
zaryad
Electric charge or energetic boost. Телефон нуждается в заряде. – The phone needs a charge.
zayavka
Formal request, often online. Я отправил заявку онлайн. – I sent the application online.
zakaz
Ordering goods or services. Я сделал заказ. – I placed an order.
zakryt’
Close doors, shops, or files. Закрой дверь, пожалуйста. – Close the door, please.
znak
Traffic sign or mark. Это дорожный знак. – This is a road sign.
znakomstvo
Meeting someone or the resulting acquaintance. Наше знакомство было в школе. – We met at school.
zamer
A measurement or recorded size. Сделали точный замер комнаты. – They took an exact measurement of the room.
zefir
Light confection common in Russia. Она купила зефир в магазине. – She bought marshmallow at the shop.
zemlyak
Someone from the same region or hometown. Мой земляк живёт рядом. – My fellow townsman lives nearby.
zont
Everyday item for rain protection. Возьми зонт, идёт дождь. – Take an umbrella, it’s raining.
zatopit’
To cause to be flooded or filled with water. Дождь может затопить подвалы. – Rain may flood the basements.
zabolet’
To become ill or get a disease. Я немного заболел вчера. – I got a little ill yesterday.
zabolevanie
Medical condition or sickness. Это опасное заболевание. – This is a dangerous disease.
zabastovka
Work stoppage by employees. Рабочие объявили забастовку. – Workers declared a strike.
zelyony
Color or ecological meaning. Дерево зелёное весной. – The tree is green in spring.
zdanie
Physical structure or building. Новое здание офиса. – The new office building.
zvonok
A ring, bell, or phone signal. Звонок прозвучал. – A bell rang.
zvonit’
To make a phone call or ring. Он мне звонит часто. – He calls me often.
zvezdny
Related to stars or celebrity. Ночное небо звёздное. – The night sky is starry.
zapret
Legal or formal restriction. Введён новый запрет. – A new ban was introduced.
zapisivat’
Imperfective of “to record” or “note.” Он записывает лекцию. – He records the lecture.
zashchishchat’
To guard, defend, or protect someone/something. Он защищает права людей. – He defends people’s rights.
zamorozit’
To freeze food or halt activity. Надо заморозить суп. – We need to freeze the soup.
zalit’
To pour liquid or flood a space. Он залил воду в чашу. – He poured water into the bowl.
zritel’
Person who watches a show or event. Зрители аплодировали громко. – The spectators applauded loudly.
zato
Contrasting conjunction used in speech. Я устал, зато доволен. – I’m tired but satisfied.
zrely
Used for fruit, people, or ideas. Фрукты стали зрелыми. – The fruits became ripe.
zhal’nik? (Note: excluded words starting with Ж are not included.)
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