Russian declension explained

In Russian grammar, the system of declension is elaborate and complex. Nouns, pronouns, adjectives, demonstratives, most numerals and other particles are declined for three grammatical numbers (singular, dual and plural) and six grammatical cases

; some of these parts of speech in the singular are also declined by three grammatical genders (masculine, feminine and neuter). This gives many spelling combinations for most of the words, which is needed for grammatical agreement within and (often) outside the proposition. Also, there are several paradigms for each declension with numerous irregular forms.

Russian has retained more declensions than many other modern Indo-European languages (English, for example, has almost no declensions remaining in the language).

Nouns

Nominal declension is subject to six cases – nominative, accusative, genitive, prepositional, dative, instrumental – in two numbers (singular and plural), and absolutely obeying grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, and neuter). Up to ten additional cases are identified in linguistics textbooks,^{[1] [2] [3]} although all of them are either incomplete (do not apply to all nouns) or degenerate (appear identical to one of the six simple cases). The most recognized additional cases are locative (Russian: в лесу́, на мосту́, в крови́ — in the forest, on the bridge, in (the) blood), partitive (Russian: ча́ю, са́хару, коньяку́ — (some) tea, sugar, cognac), and several forms of vocative (Russian: Го́споди, Бо́же, о́тче — (O) Lord, God, father). The adjectives, pronouns, and the first two cardinal numbers further vary by gender. Old Russian also had a third number, the dual, but it has been lost except for its use in the nominative and accusative cases with the numbers two, three and four (e.g. Russian: два стула pronounced as /[dvɐ ˈstulə]/, "two chairs", now reanalyzed as genitive singular).

Russian noun cases often replace the usage of prepositions in other Indo-European languages.^[4] Their usage can be summarised as:

• Nominative – the “subject” case
• Accusative – the “direct object” case
• Genitive – corresponding to the possessive case or “of + (noun)”
• Prepositional – used with certain prepositions, such as “in”, “on” etc.
• Dative – corresponding to “to + (noun)" or the indirect object
• Instrumental – denoting an instrument used in an action

There are no articles, neither definite nor indefinite (such as the, a, an in English), in the Russian language. The sense of a noun is determined from the context in which it appears. That said, there are some means of expressing whether a noun is definite or indefinite. They are:

• The use of a direct object in the genitive instead of the accusative in negation signifies that the noun is indefinite, compare: "Russian: Я не ви́жу кни́ги" ("I don't see a book" or "I don't see any books") and "Russian: Я не ви́жу кни́гу" ("I don't see the book").
• The use of the numeral one sometimes signifies that the noun is indefinite, e.g.: "Russian: Почему́ ты так до́лго?" – "Russian: Да так, встре́тил одного́ дру́га, пришло́сь поговори́ть" ("Why did it take you so long?" – "Well, I met one [=a] friend and had to talk").
• Word order may also be used for this purpose, compare "Russian: В ко́мнату вбежа́л ма́льчик" ("Into the room rushed a boy") and "Russian: Ма́льчик вбежа́л в ко́мнату" ("The boy rushed into the room").
• The plural form may signify indefiniteness: "Russian: Вы мо́жете купи́ть э́то в магази́нах" ("You can buy this in shops") vs. "Russian: Вы мо́жете купи́ть э́то в магази́не" ("You can buy this in the shop").

The category of animacy is relevant in Russian nominal and adjectival declension.^{[5] [6]} Specifically, the accusative has two possible forms in many paradigms, depending on the animacy of the referent. For animate referents (sentient species, some animals, professions and occupations), the accusative form is generally identical to the genitive form (genitive-accusative syncretism). For inanimate referents (simple lifeforms, objects, states, notions), the accusative form is identical to the nominative form (nominative-accusative syncretism). This principle is relevant for masculine singular nouns of the second declension (see below) and adjectives, and for all plural paradigms (with no gender distinction). In the tables below, this behavior is indicated by the abbreviation N or G in the row corresponding to the accusative case.

In Russian there are three declensions:

• The first declension is used for feminine nouns ending with Russian: -а/-я and some masculine nouns having the same form as those of feminine gender, such as "papa" or "uncle"; also there are common-gender nouns like "teaser" which are masculine or feminine depending on the person they refer to.
• The second declension is used for most masculine and neuter nouns.
• The third declension is used for feminine nouns ending in ь.

There is also a group of several irregular "different-declension nouns" (Russian: разносклоня́емые существи́тельные), consisting of a few neuter nouns ending in Russian: -мя (e.g. "time") and one masculine noun "way". However, these nouns and their forms have sufficient similarity with feminine third declension nouns that some scholars such as Litnevskaya^[7] consider them to be non-feminine forms of this declension, as written in the tables below.

Nouns ending with Russian: -ий, -ия, -ие (not to be confused with substantivated adjectives) are written with Russian: -ии instead of Russian: -ие in Prepositional: Russian: тече́ние – Russian: в ни́жнем тече́нии реки́ "streaming – in lower streaming of a river". (As none of these endings are ever stressed, due to vowel reduction the pronunciation difference between Russian: -ие and Russian: -ии may be hardly noticeable in fluent speech.) But if the words and are representing compound prepositions meaning "while, during the time of", they are written with -е: Russian: в тече́ние ча́са "in the course of an hour". For nouns ending in Russian: -ья, Russian: -ье, or Russian: -ьё, using Russian: -ьи in the Prepositional (where endings of some of them are stressed) is usually erroneous, but in poetic speech it may be acceptable (as we replace Russian: -ии with Russian: -ьи for metric or rhyming purposes): Russian: Весь день она́ лежа́ла в забытьи́ (F. Tyutchev).

First declension

The first declension group belongs to nouns with the ending -а and -я. These nouns are typically feminine, but include masculine nouns that have a feminine ending as well.^[8]

Singular				Plural
Nominative	Russian: -а	Russian: -я		Russian: -ия	Russian: -ы^1	Russian: -и	Russian: -ии
Accusative	Russian: -у	Russian: -ю		Russian: -ию	N or G
Genitive	Russian: -ы^1	Russian: -и		Russian: -ии	–	Russian: -ь	Russian: -ий
Prepositional	Russian: -е				Russian: -ах	Russian: -ях	Russian: -иях
Dative					Russian: -ам	Russian: -ям	Russian: -иям
Instrumental	Russian: -ой^2	Russian: -ей^3		Russian: -ией	Russian: -ами	Russian: -ями	Russian: -иями

1. After a sibilant (ж, ч, ш, щ) or a velar (Russian: г, к, or Russian: х) consonant, Russian: и is written.
2. After a sibilant, Russian: о is written when stressed; Russian: е when unstressed.
3. After a soft consonant, Russian: ё is written when stressed; Russian: е when unstressed.

Examples:Russian: рабо́та – a work/job, Russian: ба́ня – a bathhouse, Russian: кни́га – a book, Russian: ли́ния – a line

Note: In the instrumental case, Russian: -ою and Russian: -ею instead of Russian: -ой and Russian: -ей endings may be encountered in the singular.

Singular					Plural
Nominative	Russian: рабо́т{{color|#00B|а	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|я	Russian: кни́г{{color|#00B|а		Russian: ли́н{{color|#00B|ия	Russian: рабо́т{{color|#00B|ы	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|и	Russian: кни́г{{color|#00B|и	Russian: ли́н{{color|#00B|ии
Accusative	Russian: рабо́т{{color|#00B|у	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|ю	Russian: кни́г{{color|#00B|у		Russian: ли́н{{color|#00B|ию
Genitive	Russian: рабо́т{{color|#00B|ы	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|и	Russian: кни́г{{color|#00B|и		Russian: ли́н{{color|#00B|ии	Russian: рабо́т	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|ь	Russian: книг	Russian: ли́н{{color|#00B|ий
Prepositional	Russian: рабо́т{{color|#00B|е	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|е	Russian: кни́г{{color|#00B|е			Russian: рабо́т{{color|#00B|ах	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|ях	Russian: кни́г{{color|#00B|ах	Russian: ли́н{{color|#00B|иях
Dative						Russian: рабо́т{{color|#00B|ам	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|ям	Russian: кни́г{{color|#00B|ам	Russian: ли́н{{color|#00B|иям
Instrumental	Russian: рабо́т{{color|#00B|ой	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|ей	Russian: кни́г{{color|#00B|ой		Russian: ли́н{{color|#00B|ией	Russian: рабо́т{{color|#00B|ами	Russian: ба́н{{color|#00B|ями	Russian: кни́г{{color|#00B|ами	Russian: ли́н{{color|#00B|иями

Second declension – masculine nouns

Nouns ending in a consonant are marked in the following table with – (thus no ending).

Singular					Plural
Nominative	–	Russian: -ь	Russian: -й		Russian: -ий	Russian: -ы^1	Russian: -и		Russian: -ии
Accusative	N or G				N or G
Genitive	Russian: -а	Russian: -я		Russian: -ия	Russian: -ов^2	Russian: -ей	Russian: -ев^3	Russian: -иев
Prepositional	Russian: -е			Russian: -ии	Russian: -ах	Russian: -ях		Russian: -иях
Dative	Russian: -у	Russian: -ю		Russian: -ию	Russian: -ам	Russian: -ям		Russian: -иям
Instrumental	Russian: -ом^4	Russian: -ем^3		Russian: -ием	Russian: -ами	Russian: -ями		Russian: -иями

Notes:

1. After a sibilant (Russian: ж, ч, ш, щ)^[9] or a velar (Russian: г, к, or Russian: х) consonant, Russian: и is written, or, for some words, Russian: а (Russian: глаз — Russian: глаза, доктор — Russian: доктора, etc.).
2. After a sibilant, Russian: ей is written.
3. After a soft consonant, Russian: ё is written when stressed; Russian: е when unstressed.
4. After a sibilant, Russian: о is written when stressed; Russian: е when unstressed.

Examples:Russian: фильм – a film/movie, Russian: писа́тель – a writer, Russian: геро́й – a hero, Russian: коммента́рий – a comment

Singular					Plural
Nominative	Russian: фи́льм	Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|ь	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|й		Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|ий	Russian: фи́льм{{color|#00B|ы	Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|и	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|и	Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|ии
Accusative		Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|я	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|я				Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|ей	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|ев
Genitive	Russian: фи́льм{{color|#00B|а				Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|ия	Russian: фи́льм{{color|#00B|ов			Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|иев
Prepositional	Russian: фи́льм{{color|#00B|е	Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|е	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|е		Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|ии	Russian: фи́льм{{color|#00B|ах	Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|ях	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|ях	Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|иях
Dative	Russian: фи́льм{{color|#00B|у	Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|ю	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|ю		Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|ию	Russian: фи́льм{{color|#00B|ам	Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|ям	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|ям	Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|иям
Instrumental	Russian: фи́льм{{color|#00B|ом	Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|ем	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|ем		Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|ием	Russian: фи́льм{{color|#00B|ами	Russian: писа́тел{{color|#00B|ями	Russian: геро́{{color|#00B|ями	Russian: коммента́р{{color|#00B|иями

Second declension – neuter nouns

Nouns ending in -о and -е are neuter.^[10]

Singular			Plural
Nominative	Russian: -о^1		Russian: -е^2	Russian: -а	Russian: -я
Accusative				N or G
Genitive	Russian: -а		Russian: -я	–	Russian: -й / Russian: -ей^4
Prepositional	Russian: -е		Russian: -е^3	Russian: -ах	Russian: -ях
Dative	Russian: -у		Russian: -ю	Russian: -ам	Russian: -ям
Instrumental	Russian: -ом^1		Russian: -ем^2	Russian: -ами	Russian: -ями

1. After a sibilant, Russian: о is written when stressed; Russian: е when unstressed.
2. After a soft consonant, Russian: ё is written when stressed; Russian: е when unstressed.
3. For nouns ending in Russian: ие in the nominative singular, Russian: и is written (but Russian: е when stressed — for the word Russian: остриё).
4. After a consonant use Russian: ей otherwise use Russian: й.
5. Also: some masculine nouns ending in Russian: -о in the nominative singular (Russian: доми́шко, diminutive from Russian: дом 'house'); there is only one masculine noun ending in Russian: -е in this declension: Russian: [[Journeyman|подмасте́рье]].

ExamplesRussian: ме́сто – a place, Russian: мо́ре – a sea, Russian: зда́ние – a building

Singular				Plural
Nominative	Russian: ме́ст{{color|#00B|о	Russian: мо́р{{color|#00B|е		Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|е	Russian: мест{{color|#00B|а́	Russian: мор{{color|#00B|я́	Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|я
Accusative
Genitive	Russian: ме́ст{{color|#00B|а	Russian: мо́р{{color|#00B|я		Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|я	Russian: мест	Russian: мор{{color|#00B|е́й	Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|й
Prepositional	Russian: ме́ст{{color|#00B|е	Russian: мо́р{{color|#00B|е		Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|и	Russian: мест{{color|#00B|а́х	Russian: мор{{color|#00B|я́х	Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|ях
Dative	Russian: ме́ст{{color|#00B|у	Russian: мо́р{{color|#00B|ю		Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|ю	Russian: мест{{color|#00B|а́м	Russian: мор{{color|#00B|я́м	Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|ям
Instrumental	Russian: ме́ст{{color|#00B|ом	Russian: мо́р{{color|#00B|ем		Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|ем	Russian: мест{{color|#00B|а́ми	Russian: мор{{color|#00B|я́ми	Russian: зда́ни{{color|#00B|ями

Third declension

The third declension is for predominantly feminine nouns, or with a non-standard termination as shown with exceptional words: дитя ('child', archaic) and путь ('path').

	Singular					Plural
	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine		Feminine	Neuter		Masculine
Nominative	Russian: -ь	Russian: -мя	Russian: дитя́	Russian: путь		Russian: -и	Russian: -мена	Russian: де́ти	Russian: пути́
Accusative						N or G		Russian: дете́й
Genitive	Russian: -и	Russian: -мени	Russian: дитя́ти	Russian: пути́		Russian: -ей	Russian: -мён(-мян)		Russian: путе́й
Prepositional						Russian: -ях^1	Russian: -менах	Russian: де́тях	Russian: путя́х
Dative						Russian: -ям^1	Russian: -менам	Russian: де́тям	Russian: путя́м
Instrumental	Russian: -ью	Russian: -менем	Russian: дитя́тей	Russian: путём		Russian: -я́ми^1 (Russian: ьми́)	Russian: -менами	Russian: детьми́	Russian: путя́ми

1. After a sibilant, Russian: а is written.

Examples:Russian: кость (f) – a bone, Russian: мышь (f) – a mouse, Russian: и́мя (n) – a name

Singular				Plural
Nominative	Russian: ко́ст{{color|#00B|ь	Russian: мы́ш{{color|#00B|ь		Russian: и́м{{color|#00B|я	Russian: ко́ст{{color|#00B|и	Russian: мы́ш{{color|#00B|и	Russian: им{{color|#BB0000|ен
Accusative						Russian: мыш{{color|#00B|е́й
Genitive	Russian: ко́ст{{color|#00B|и	Russian: мы́ш{{color|#00B|и		Russian: и́м{{color|#BB0000|ен	Russian: кост{{color|#00B|е́й		Russian: им{{color|#BB0000|ён
Prepositional					Russian: кост{{color|#00B|я́х	Russian: мыш{{color|#00B|а́х	Russian: им{{color|#BB0000|ен
Dative					Russian: кост{{color|#00B|я́м	Russian: мыш{{color|#00B|а́м	Russian: им{{color|#BB0000|ен
Instrumental	Russian: ко́ст{{color|#00B|ью	Russian: мы́ш{{color|#00B|ью		Russian: и́м{{color|#BB0000|ен	Russian: кост{{color|#00B|я́ми	Russian: мыш{{color|#00B|а́ми	Russian: им{{color|#BB0000|ен

Irregular plural forms

There are various kinds of irregularities in forming plurals. Some words have an irregular plural form, but a few use suppletion, being substituted by a different root altogether. Historically, some of these irregularities come from older declensional patterns that have become mostly obsolete in modern Russian.

Singular	Plural
Change of root/ suppletion
Russian: ребёнок (m) – child	Russian: де́ти
Russian: челове́к (m) – human	Russian: лю́ди
Russian: ёнок → Russian: я́та for animals' children
Russian: ребёнок (m) – child	Russian: ребя́та
Russian: телёнок (m) – calf	Russian: теля́та
Russian: волчо́нок (m) – wolf cub	Russian: волча́та
Old nouns (suffix is added)
Russian: чу́до (n) – miracle	Russian: чудеса́
Russian: не́бо (n) – sky	Russian: небеса́
Russian: мать (f) – mother	Russian: ма́тери
Russian: дочь (f) – daughter	Russian: до́чери
Russian: сын (m) – son	Russian: сыновья́ (also Russian: сыны́ in certain cases)
Russian: кум (m) – godfather	Russian: кумовья́
Remnants of the dual number
Russian: коле́но (n) – knee	Russian: коле́ни
Russian: плечо́ (n) – shoulder	Russian: пле́чи
Russian: у́хо (n) – ear	Russian: у́ши
Russian: ве́ко (n) – eyelid	Russian: ве́ки
Russian: я́блоко (n) – apple	Russian: я́блоки
Plural in Russian: -ья/ья́
Russian: брат (m) – brother	Russian: бра́тья
Russian: брус (m) – baulk, timber	Russian: бру́сья
Russian: граф (m) – count	Russian: гра́фы/графья́
Russian: гроздь (f) – bunch	Russian: гро́здья
Russian: де́верь (m) – brother-in-law	Russian: деверья́
Russian: де́рево (n) – tree	Russian: дере́вья
Russian: дно (n) – bottom	Russian: до́нья
Russian: друг (m) – friend	Russian: друзья́
Russian: звено́ (n) – link	Russian: зве́нья
Russian: зять (m) – son-in-law	Russian: зятья́
Russian: клин (m) – wedge	Russian: кли́нья
Russian: клок (m) – shred, scrap	Russian: кло́чья
Russian: князь (m) – prince	Russian: князья́
Russian: кол (m) – stake	Russian: ко́лья
Russian: ко́лос (m) – ear of a plant	Russian: коло́сья
Russian: крыло́ (n) – wing	Russian: кры́лья
Russian: лист (m) – leaf	Russian: ли́стья^1
Russian: муж (m) – husband	Russian: мужья́
Russian: перо́ (n) – feather	Russian: пе́рья
Russian: поле́но (n) – log	Russian: поле́нья
Russian: по́лоз (m) – runner, coluber	Russian: поло́зья/по́лозы
Russian: помело́ (n) – broom	Russian: поме́лья
Russian: прут (m) – twig	Russian: пру́тья
Russian: собра́т (m) – confrere, fellow	Russian: собра́тья
Russian: струп (m) – scab	Russian: стру́пья
Russian: стул (m) – chair	Russian: сту́лья
Russian: сук (m) – branch	Russian: су́чья (branches, as a collective noun) Russian: суки́ (several individual branches)
Russian: ши́ло (m) – awl	Russian: ши́лья
Russian: шу́рин (m) – brother-in-law	Russian: шурья́/шу́рины
Russian: -но / -а́
Russian: су́дно (n) – ship	Russian: суда́
Loses a suffix
Russian: цвето́к (m) – flower	Russian: цветы́ (flowers, as a collective noun) Russian: цветки́ (several individual flowers)
Others
Russian: хозя́ин (m) – owner, host	Russian: хозя́ева
Russian: сосе́д (m) – neighbor	Russian: сосе́ди

1. If the word Russian: лист has the lexical meaning "paper", then its declension is normal (Russian: лист → Russian: лист{{color|red|ы). If it has lexical meaning "leaf (of a tree)", its declension is Russian: лист → Russian: лист{{color|red|ья.

Undeclined nouns

Some nouns (such as borrowings from other languages, abbreviations, etc.) are not modified when they change number and case. This appears mostly when their gender appears to have no ending in any declension which suits the final part of the word: these are masculine names on vowels different from Russian: -а/-я, female names on hard consonants (names like Russian: Триш "Trish" won't take the soft sign to go into third declension like native Russian: мышь "mouse"). Most borrowed words ending in Russian in Russian: э/е, и, о, у and stressed а are not declined:^[11] Russian: [[Café|кафе]], Russian: [[overcoat|пальто]] (French: paletot), Russian: [[Dumas (surname)|Дюма]] etc. Most abbreviations are undeclined (one exception is). Many people also think that Georgian surnames on Russian: -ия like Russian: Данелия (Georgian: დანელია) shouldn't be declined since they are originally something like Russian possessive genitives.

Personal names

Traditionally, a full Russian name consists of a person name (Russian: и́мя – given name or first name), patronym (Russian: о́тчество – father's name as middle name) and a family name (Russian: фами́лия – surname or last name). All of these words have the same grammatical gender as biological one. Slavic, as well as Greek, Roman, Jewish and other person names of European or Semitic origin loaned centuries ago, have gender-specific versions of respective patronyms. To produce a patronym, suffixes Russian: -вич- and Russian: -вн- are used with final vowel addition or modification: Russian: -о for hard consonant (Russian: Петр'''о́'''вич/Петр'''о́'''вна ⇐ son/daughter of Russian: Пёт'''р'''), Russian: -ье for Russian: -ий (Russian: Григо́р'''ье'''вич/Григо́р'''ье'''вна ⇐ Russian: Григо́р'''ий'''), and Russian: -е for other cases (Russian: Матве́'''е'''вич/Матве́'''е'''вна ⇐ Russian: Матв'''е́й''', Russian: И́гор'''е'''вич/И́гор'''е'''вна ⇐ Russian: И́гор'''ь'''). Some person names also have versions for both males and females (Russian: Алекса́ндр – Russian: Алекса́ндра, Евге́ний – Russian: Евге́ния).

Additionally, Slavic names have short forms, usually meant for affectionate calls (Russian: Ива́н – Russian: Ва́ня, А́нна – Russian: А́ня; equivalent of Johnny, Annie, etc.). Short forms by themselves can form "reemerging" vocative case (sometimes called neo-vocative); it is used for calling a familiar person, substituting nominative singular by removing last vowel (Russian: Артём – Russian: Тёма – Russian: Тём, О́льга – Russian: О́ля – Russian: Оль). For this reason, neo-vocative is not possible for male names that can't produce short forms with a final vowel (including some popular ones: Russian: Влади́мир, Вита́лий, И́горь). Likewise, there is a neo-vocative form for close relatives: Russian: мать – Russian: ма́ма – Russian: мам (mother – mommy – mom), Russian: оте́ц – Russian: па́па – Russian: пап (father – daddy – dad). When replacing nominative plural (used for always plural nouns), it can be used for collective calls: Russian: ребя́та ("guys, lads") – Russian: ребя́т, девча́та ("gals") – Russian: девча́т.

Most family names in Russia are also gender-specific (shown below in male/female pairs) and declinable like most words (including plural form to denote a married couple or a whole family, as "The Smiths"). They can be divided in these categories (sorted by occurrence):

• Russian origin, gender-specific, declinable as nouns: Russian: -о́в/-о́ва (unstressed for names four of more syllables long), Russian: -ев/-ева, Russian: -ёв/ёва, Russian: -и́н/-ина́ (sometimes stressed for names two syllables long);
• Russian origin, gender-agnostic, indeclinable:^[12] Russian: -ы́х, Russian: -и́х;
• Ukrainian origin, gender-specific, declinable as adjectives: Russian: -ый/-ая, Russian: -о́й/-а́я;
• Ukrainian or Belarusian origin, gender-agnostic, indeclinable: Russian: -е́нко (mostly stressed), Russian: -ко́;
• Ukrainian or Belarusian origin, gender-agnostic, declinable as masculine nouns for males and indeclinable for females: Russian: -у́к, Russian: -ю́к, Russian: -и́к, Russian: -е́ц, etc.;
• Other Slavic origin, gender-specific, declinable as adjectives: Russian: -ский/-ская, Russian: -цкий/-цкая;
• Other Slavic or non-Slavic origin, gender-agnostic, declinable as masculine nouns for males and indeclinable for females: Russian: -о́вич, Russian: -е́вич, Russian: -ер, Russian: -ман, Russian: -берг, etc.

Examples:

	male	female	family or couple
Nominative	Russian: Ю́ри{{color|#00B|й	Russian: Валенти́н{{color|#00B|а	Russian: Гага́рин{{color|#00B|ы
Accusative	Russian: Юри{{color|#00B|я	Russian: Валентин{{color|#00B|у	Russian: Гагарин{{color|#00B|ых
Genitive		Russian: Валентин{{color|#00B|ы
Prepositional	Russian: Юри{{color|#00B|и	Russian: Валентин{{color|#00B|е
Dative	Russian: Юри{{color|#00B|ю		Russian: Гагарин{{color|#00B|ым
Instrumental	Russian: Юри{{color|#00B|ем	Russian: Валентин{{color|#00B|ой	Russian: Гагарин{{color|#00B|ыми

Here male name is composed of 2nd declension nouns, but there are exceptional endings for Instrumental (patronym: Russian: -ем, not -ом; family name: Russian: -ым, not Russian: -ом). Female name is in 1st declension, but ending Russian: -ой is used for a family name in all oblique cases. Plural follows adjectival declension, except that Nominative is short Russian: -ы.

Adjectives

A Russian adjective (Russian: и́мя прилага́тельное) is usually placed before the noun it qualifies, and it agrees with the noun in case, gender, and number. With the exception of a few invariant forms borrowed from other languages, such as Russian: беж 'beige' or Russian: ха́ки 'khaki',^[13] most adjectives follow one of a small number of regular declension patterns, except for some which provide difficulty in forming the short form. In modern Russian, the short form appears only in the nominative and is used when the adjective is in a predicative role; formerly (as in the bylinas) short adjectives appeared in all other forms and roles, which are not used in modern language, but are nonetheless understandable to Russian speakers as they are declined exactly like nouns of the corresponding gender.^[14]

Adjectives may be divided into three general groups:

• Qualitative (Russian: ка́чественные) — denote quality of the object; only adjectives in this group generally have degrees of comparison.
• Relational (Russian: относи́тельные) — denote some sort of relationship; unlikely to act as a predicate or have a short form.
• Possessive (Russian: притяжа́тельные) — denote belonging to a specific subject; have some declensional peculiarities.

Adjectival declension

The pattern described below matches the full forms of most adjectives, except possessive ones; it is also used for substantivated adjectives as and for adjectival participles.

	Singular			Plural
	Masc.	Neut.	Fem.
Nominative	Russian: -ый	Russian: -ое	Russian: -ая	Russian: -ые
Accusative	N or G		Russian: -ую	N or G
Genitive	Russian: -ого		Russian: -ой	Russian: -ых
Prepositional	Russian: -ом
Dative	Russian: -ому			Russian: -ым
Instrumental	Russian: -ым			Russian: -ыми

1. After a sibilant or velar consonant, Russian: и, instead of Russian: ы, is written.
2. When a masculine adjective ends in Russian: -ой, the Russian: -ой is stressed.
3. After a sibilant consonant, neuter adjectives end in Russian: ее. This is sometimes called the Russian: хорошее rule.
4. Accusative in the masculine singular, and in the plural for all genders, depends on animacy, as for nouns.
5. Instrumental feminine ending Russian: -ой/ей for all adjectives has alternative form Russian: -ою/ею, which differs only stylistically from the standard form.

Russian differentiates between hard-stem (as above) and soft-stem adjectives. Note the following:

• Masculine adjectives ending in the nominative in Russian: ий and neuters in Russian: ее are declined as follows: Russian: его (read: Russian: ево), Russian: ему, им, and Russian: ем.
• Feminine adjectives in Russian: яя are declined Russian: ей and Russian: юю.
• Plural adjectives in Russian: ие are declined Russian: их, им, ими and Russian: их.
• Case endings Russian: -о'''г'''о/-е'''г'''о are to be read as Russian: -о'''в'''о/е'''в'''о.

Examples:

rowspan=2

	Singular			Plural
Masc.	Neut.	Fem.
Nominative	Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ый	Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ое	Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ая	Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ые
Accusative	N or G		Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ую	N or G
Genitive	Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ого		Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ой	Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ых
Prepositional	Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ом
Dative	Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ому			Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ым
Instrumental	Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ым			Russian: но́в{{color|#00B|ыми

rowspan=2

	Singular			Plural
Masc.	Neut.	Fem.
Nominative	Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|ий	Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|ее	Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|яя	Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|ие
Accusative	N or G		Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|юю	N or G
Genitive	Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|его		Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|ей	Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|их
Prepositional	Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|ем
Dative	Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|ему			Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|им
Instrumental	Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|им			Russian: си́н{{color|#00B|ими

rowspan=2

	Singular			Plural
Masc.	Neut.	Fem.
Nominative	Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ий	Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ое	Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ая	Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ие
Accusative	N or G		Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ую	N or G
Genitive	Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ого		Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ой	Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|их
Prepositional	Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ом
Dative	Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ому			Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|им
Instrumental	Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|им			Russian: высо́к{{color|#00B|ими

rowspan=2

	Singular			Plural
Masc.	Neut.	Fem.
Nominative	Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|ий	Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|ее	Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|ая	Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|ие
Accusative	N or G		Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|ую	N or G
Genitive	Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|его		Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|ей	Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|их
Prepositional	Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|ем
Dative	Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|ему			Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|им
Instrumental	Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|им			Russian: хоро́ш{{color|#00B|ими

rowspan=2

	Singular			Plural
Masc.	Neut.	Fem.
Nominative	Russian: больш{{color|#00B|о́й	Russian: больш{{color|#00B|о́е	Russian: больш{{color|#00B|а́я	Russian: больш{{color|#00B|и́е
Accusative	N or G		Russian: больш{{color|#00B|у́ю	N or G
Genitive	Russian: больш{{color|#00B|о́го		Russian: больш{{color|#00B|о́й	Russian: больш{{color|#00B|и́х
Prepositional	Russian: больш{{color|#00B|о́м
Dative	Russian: больш{{color|#00B|о́му			Russian: больш{{color|#00B|и́м
Instrumental	Russian: больш{{color|#00B|и́м			Russian: больш{{color|#00B|и́ми

Before 1917, adjectival declension looked quite different, at least in writing; for example, there were special feminine plural forms, as in French. In modern editions of classical poetry some elements of this system are still used if they are important for rhyme or metrics. A notable example is ending Russian: -ыя (bisyllabic) instead of Russian: -ой (monosyllabic) for genitive single female adjectives, which were considered bookish and deprecated even in the times of Alexander Pushkin but were still used by him in lines such as Russian: «тайна брачн'''ыя''' постели» (Russian: «[[Eugene Onegin|Евгений Онегин]]», IV, L).^[15]

Comparison of adjectives

Comparison forms are usual only for qualitative adjectives and adverbs. Comparative and superlative synthetic forms are not part of the paradigm of original adjectives but are different lexical items, since not all qualitative adjectives have them. A few adjectives have irregular forms that are declined like ordinary adjectives: Russian: большо́й 'big' — Russian: бо́льший 'bigger', Russian: хоро́ший 'good' — Russian: лу́чший 'better'. Most synthetically derived comparative forms are derived by adding Russian: -ее or Russian: -ей to the adjective stem: Russian: кра́сный 'red' — Russian: красне́е 'more red'; distinguishing such adjectives from the comparative adverbs whose forms they share is at best difficult, if not impossible.^[14] Superlative synthetic forms are derived by adding suffix Russian: -ейш- or Russian: -айш- and additionally sometimes prefix Russian: наи-, or using a special comparative form with наи-: Russian: до́брый 'kind' — Russian: добре́йший 'the kindest', Russian: большо́й 'big' — Russian: наибо́льший 'the biggest'.

Another method of indicating comparison uses analytical forms with adverbs Russian: бо́лее 'more' / Russian: ме́нее 'less' and Russian: са́мый 'most' / Russian: наибо́лее 'most' / Russian: наиме́нее 'least': Russian: до́брый 'kind' — Russian: бо́лее до́брый 'kinder' — Russian: са́мый до́брый 'the kindest'. This pattern is rarely used if special comparative forms exist.

Possessive adjectives

Possessive adjectives are used in Russian to a lesser extent than in most other Slavic languages,^[16] but are still in use. They answer the questions Russian: чей? чья? чьё? чьи? (whose?) and denote only animated possessors. Alternative for possessive adjectives are possessive genitives which are used much more commonly.^[17] There are three suffixes to form them: Russian: -ов/ев, Russian: -ын/ин and Russian: -ий.

Suffix Russian: -ов/ев is used to form adjective from a word denoting single human which is masculine and ends on consonant; selection depends on if the stem is hard or soft. Suffix Russian: -ын/ин is similar but is attached to feminine words or masculine ending in Russian: -а/я. Both types are more common in spoken language than in literary (though being acceptable in both styles) and generally are forms of kinship terms, given names and their diminutives:^[16] Russian: ма́ма — Russian: ма́мин 'mom's', Russian: оте́ц — Russian: отцо́в 'father's', Russian: Са́ша — Russian: Са́шин 'Sasha's' /for diminutives from both Alexandr and Alexandra/. Words of this type also are common as Russian surnames, like Russian: [[Pushkin (disambiguation)|Пушкин]] (derived from 'gun' which used to be a nickname).

Adjectives on Russian: -ов and Russian: -ин are declined via mixed declension: some of their forms are nominal, some are adjectival, and some are ambivalent.

rowspan=2

	Singular			Plural
Masc.	Neut.	Fem.
Nominative	Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин	Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин	Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин	Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин
Accusative	N or G		Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин	N or G
Genitive	Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин		Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин	Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин
Prepositional	Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин
Dative	Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин			Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин
Instrumental	Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин			Russian: ма́м{{color|#005500|ин

Adjectives on Russian: -ий (speaking about suffix, not case ending; before vowels, this suffix deceases to single sound pronounced as //j// and is written as Russian: ь) are used for deriving adjectives mostly from animal species (in Old East Slavic, this suffix derived possessive adjectives from plural possessors^[17]): Russian: лиса 'fox' — Russian: лисий 'of a fox', 'likely for a fox'. Declension of such adjectives is nominal in nominative and accusative (except masculine and plural animated accusative) and adjectival for other forms.

rowspan=2

	Singular			Plural
Masc.	Neut.	Fem.
Nominative	Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ий	Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ье	Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ья	Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ьи
Accusative	N or G		Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ью	N or G
Genitive	Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ьего		Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ьей	Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ьих
Prepositional	Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ьем
Dative	Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ьему			Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ьим
Instrumental	Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ьим			Russian: ли́с{{color|#00B|ьими

There exist many stable expressions which include possessive adjectives following either of the two declensions shown above: Russian: но́ев ковче́г (Noah's ark, from Russian: Ной "Noah"), Russian: эвкли́дова геоме́трия (Euclidean geometry, from Russian: Эвкли́д "Euclides"), Russian: ма́рсово по́ле (the Field of Mars), Russian: а́вгиевы коню́шни (the Augean stables, from Russian: А́вгий "Augeas"), Russian: во́лчий аппети́т (a wolfish appetite, from Russian: волк "wolf"), Russian: крокоди́ловы слёзы (crocodile tears, from Russian: крокоди́л "crocodile"), Russian: ка́ждый бо́жий день (every God-given day, from Russian: Бог "God"), etc. Notice how the latter two differ from the general rule: Russian: крокоди́лов has ending as if a crocodile were a male human, and Russian: бо́жий has ending as if God is treated as an animal or (in Old Russian) a crowd (perhaps, symbolizing Holy Trinity).

Pronouns

Personal pronouns

	Singular					Plural			Reflexive
	1st	2nd	3rd			1st	2nd	3rd
			Neut.	Masc.	Fem.
English	I / me	you	it	he / him	she / her	we / us	you	they / them	-self
Nominative	Russian: я	Russian: ты	Russian: оно́	Russian: он	Russian: она́	Russian: мы	Russian: вы	Russian: они́	Russian: сам
Accusative	Russian: меня́	Russian: тебя́	Russian: (н)его́		Russian: (н)её	Russian: нас	Russian: вас	Russian: (н)их	Russian: себя́
Genitive
Prepositional	Russian: мне	Russian: тебе́	Russian: нём		Russian: ней			Russian: них	Russian: себе́
Dative			Russian: (н)ему́		Russian: (н)ей	Russian: нам	Russian: вам	Russian: (н)им
Instrumental	Russian: мной (Russian: мно́ю)	Russian: тобо́й (Russian: тобо́ю)	Russian: (н)им		Russian: (н)ей (Russian: (н)ею)	Russian: на́ми	Russian: ва́ми	Russian: (н)и́ми	Russian: собо́й (Russian: собо́ю)

• Russian is subject to T-V distinction. The respectful form of the singular you is the same as the plural form. It begins with a capital letter: Russian: Вы, Russian: Вас, Russian: Вам etc. in following situations: personal letters and official papers (addressee is definite), and questionnaires (addressee is indefinite), otherwise it begins with minuscule. Compare the distinction between du and Sie in German or tu and vous in French.
• When a preposition is used directly before a 3rd-person pronoun in oblique cases, Russian: н- is prefixed: Russian: у него (read: Russian: у нево), Russian: с неё, etc. Because the prepositional case always occurs after a preposition, the third person prepositional always starts with an Russian: н-.
• Like adjectives and numerals, letter Russian: г (g) in genitive and accusative form is pronounced as Russian: в (v) Russian: его/него ево/нево.

Demonstrative pronouns

Russian: этот (this)

	Masc.	Neut.	Fem.	Plur.
Nominative	Russian: э́тот	Russian: э́то	Russian: э́та	Russian: э́ти
Accusative	N or G		Russian: э́ту	N or G
Genitive	Russian: э́того		Russian: э́той	Russian: э́тих
Prepositional	Russian: э́том
Dative	Russian: э́тому			Russian: э́тим
Instrumental	Russian: э́тим			Russian: э́тими

Russian: тот (that)

	Masc.	Neut.	Fem.	Plur.
Nominative	Russian: тот	Russian: то	Russian: та	Russian: те
Accusative	N or G		Russian: ту	N or G
Genitive	Russian: того́		Russian: той	Russian: тех
Prepositional	Russian: том
Dative	Russian: тому́			Russian: тем
Instrumental	Russian: тем			Russian: те́ми

Possessive adjectives and pronouns

Unlike English, Russian uses the same form for a possessive adjective and the corresponding possessive pronoun. In Russian grammar they are called possessive pronouns Russian: притяжа́тельные местоиме́ния (compare with possessive adjectives like Peter's = Russian: пе́тин above). The following rules apply:

• Possessive pronouns agree with possessed noun in case, gender, and number: Russian: Где '''мои́''' очки́? (plural) "Where are my glasses?"; Russian: Ви́дел ли ты '''мою́''' дочь? (feminine accusative) Have you seen my daughter?, even if her father is talking. As in English, they also depend on the person and number of the possessor.
• The reflexive pronoun Russian: свой is used when the possessor is the subject of the clause, whatever the person, gender, and number of that subject.
• In literary Russian non-reflexive pronouns are not used for the 3rd person; the genitive of the personal pronoun is used instead: Russian: его́ (masc./neut. sing. possessor), Russian: её (fem. sing. possessor) and Russian: их (pl. possessor). Unlike other genitives used with a possessive meaning, in modern Russian these words are usually placed before the object of possession. In colloquial speech, however, sometimes "adjectived" forms are used: Russian: его́нный (masc./neut. sing. possessor, rare), Russian: и́хний (pl. possessor); they are declined as adjectives.
• Example of the difference between reflexive and non-reflexive pronouns:
  • “Он лю́бит свою́ жену́ = He loves his (own) wife”;
  • “Он лю́бит его́ жену́ = He loves his (someone else's) wife” (for literary Russian);
  • “Он лю́бит его́ = He loves him/it”.
• Unlike Latin where a similar rule applies for the 3rd person only, Russian accepts using reflexives for all persons:
  • “Я люблю́ свою́ жену́ = I love my wife”;
  • “Я люблю́ себя́ = I love myself”.
• The ending Russian: -его is pronounced as Russian: -ево.

Masc.! style="background:#C0C0C0"

Neut.	Fem.	Plur.
Nominative	Russian: мой	Russian: моё	Russian: моя́	Russian: мои́
Accusative	N or G		Russian: мою́	N or G
Genitive	Russian: моего́		Russian: мое́й	Russian: мои́х
Prepositional	Russian: моём
Dative	Russian: моему́			Russian: мои́м
Instrumental	Russian: мои́м			Russian: мои́ми

Masc.! style="background:#C0C0C0"

Neut.	Fem.	Plur.
Nominative	Russian: твой	Russian: твоё	Russian: твоя́	Russian: твои́
Accusative	N or G		Russian: твою́	N or G
Genitive	Russian: твоего́		Russian: твое́й	Russian: твои́х
Prepositional	Russian: твоём
Dative	Russian: твоему́			Russian: твои́м
Instrumental	Russian: твои́м			Russian: твои́ми

Masc.! style="background:#C0C0C0"

Neut.	Fem.	Plur.
Nominative	Russian: свой	Russian: своё	Russian: своя́	Russian: свои́
Accusative	N or G		Russian: свою́	N or G
Genitive	Russian: своего́		Russian: свое́й	Russian: свои́х
Prepositional	Russian: своём
Dative	Russian: своему́			Russian: свои́м
Instrumental	Russian: свои́м			Russian: свои́ми

Russian: наш

	Masc.	Neut.	Fem.	Plur.
Nominative	Russian: наш	Russian: на́ше	Russian: на́ша	Russian: на́ши
Accusative	N or G		Russian: на́шу	N or G
Genitive	Russian: на́шего		Russian: на́шей	Russian: на́ших
Prepositional	Russian: на́шем
Dative	Russian: на́шему			Russian: на́шим
Instrumental	Russian: на́шим			Russian: на́шими

Russian: ваш for a plural possessor

	Masc.	Neut.	Fem.	Plur.
Nominative	Russian: ваш	Russian: ва́ше	Russian: ва́ша	Russian: ва́ши
Accusative	N or G		Russian: ва́шу	N or G
Genitive	Russian: ва́шего		Russian: ва́шей	Russian: ва́ших
Prepositional	Russian: ва́шем
Dative	Russian: ва́шему			Russian: ва́шим
Instrumental	Russian: ва́шим			Russian: ва́шими

Interrogative pronouns

Russian: кто ('who') and Russian: что ('what')

	Russian: кто	Russian: что
Nominative	Russian: кто	Russian: что (read: Russian: што)
Accusative	Russian: кого́ (read: Russian: каво́)
Genitive		Russian: чего́ (read: Russian: чиво́)
Prepositional	Russian: ком	Russian: чём
Dative	Russian: кому́	Russian: чему́
Instrumental	Russian: кем	Russian: чем

Russian: чей ('whose')

	masculine	neuter	feminine	plural
Nominative	Russian: чей	Russian: чьё	Russian: чья	Russian: чьи
Accusative	N or G		Russian: чью	N or G
Genitive	Russian: чьего́		Russian: чьей	Russian: чьих
Prepositional	Russian: чьём
Dative	Russian: чьему́			Russian: чьим
Instrumental	Russian: чьим			Russian: чьи́ми

• The ending Russian: -его is pronounced as Russian: -ево.

Numerals

Russian has several main classes of numerals (Russian: числи́тельные): cardinal, ordinal, collective, and fractional constructions. It also has other types of words, relative to numbers:

• multiplicative adjectives and compound nouns: Russian: еди́нственный – single (sole, unique), Russian: двойно́й – double, Russian: учетверённый – quadrupled, Russian: трёхкра́тный – three-times (also as repetition adjective), Russian: пятицили́ндровый – five-cylinder; Russian: однообра́зие – monotony, Russian: тро́йственность – triplicity, Russian: семибо́рье – heptathlon;
• multiplicative verbs: Russian: утро́ить/утра́ивать – triple, Russian: уполови́ни(ва)ть – halve (imp./perf. with/without -Russian: ва- suffix);
• multiplicative adverbs: Russian: вдвойне́ – doubly, Russian: впя́теро – five times (for compound adverbs: Russian: впя́теро быстре́е – 5 times faster), Russian: вполови́ну – half as;
• collective and repetition adverbs: Russian: втроём – three together; Russian: четы́режды – four times (with a verb for repeated action or a noun for repeatedly acquired state or title);
• two interrogative and negative adverbs: Russian: ско́лько? – how much/many?; Russian: ниско́лько – none (at all);
• counting-system, ordinal and partitive adjectives: Russian: двои́чный – binary, Russian: шестнадцатири́чный – hexadecimal; Russian: перви́чный – primary; Russian: тро́йственный (Russian: трёхча́стный) – three-sided (tripartite);
• two dual numerals: Russian: о́ба – both (masculine/neuter), Russian: о́бе – both (feminine); but no single word for "neither";
• numeric-pronominal, indefinite quantity words: Russian: ско́лько-то, Russian: ско́лько-нибудь – some, as much; Russian: не́сколько – few; Russian: (не)мно́го – (not) much/many; Russian: (не)ма́ло – (not a) little; Russian: много and Russian: мало are also used for compound words: Russian: малозна́чимость – small significance, Russian: многоу́ровневый – multilevel, Russian: малопоня́тно – vaguely (lit.: little clear);
• nouns for a number itself or an object defined by it (symbol, playing cards, banknote, transport route, etc.): Russian: едини́ца – number "1", unit; Russian: пятисо́тка – number "500" (all feminine); noun for masculine Russian: ноль (zero) is Russian: но́лик.
• multiple loaned numerals (also used as prefixes and first roots for compound words) from Greek, Latin and (for musical terminology) Italian;

Here are the numerals from 0 to 10:

	Cardinal Numbers	Ordinal Numbers (Nominative case, masculine)	Collective Numbers
0	Russian: ноль or Russian: нуль (m.)	Russian: нулево́й	—
1	Russian: оди́н (m.), Russian: одна́ (f.), Russian: одно́ (n.), Russian: одни (pl.)(Russian: раз is used for counting; Russian: един- is used in some compound words)	Russian: пе́рвый	—
2	Russian: два (m., n.), Russian: две (f.)	Russian: второ́й	Russian: дво́е
3	Russian: три	Russian: тре́тий	Russian: тро́е
4	Russian: четы́ре	Russian: четвёртый	Russian: че́тверо
5	Russian: пять	Russian: пя́тый	Russian: пя́теро
6	Russian: шесть	Russian: шесто́й	Russian: ше́стеро
7	Russian: семь	Russian: седьмо́й	Russian: се́меро
8	Russian: во́семь	Russian: восьмо́й	Russian: ({{lang|ru|во́сьмеро)^[18]
9	Russian: де́вять	Russian: девя́тый	Russian: ({{lang|ru|де́вятеро)
10	Russian: де́сять	Russian: деся́тый	Russian: ({{lang|ru|де́сятеро)

Declension of cardinal numerals

Different Russian numerals have very different types of declension. The word Russian: оди́н (one) is declined by number, gender (in the singular), and case. The word Russian: два (two) is declined by gender and case, all other numbers have only case to decline by. The words for 50, 60, 70, 80, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 are unique for Russian, as they decline not only with ending in their end, but also with part of word in their middle (since they are originally composed from two words): Nom. Russian: пят'''ь'''деся́т (50) – Gen. Russian: пят'''и́'''десят'''и''' etc. (compare Russian: пять деся́тков – Russian: пяти́ деся́тков "five tens").

Compound number phrases are created without any unions: Russian: сто пятьдеся́т три ры́бы "153 fish". All numerals are declined concurrently, albeit not always in the spoken language. If numeral is in Nominative or Accusative, ending of the noun is defined by the last numeral word (the least order, see examples below), but this may not be true for an adjective attached to this noun.

Most numbers ending with "1" (in any gender: Russian: оди́н, Russian: одна́, Russian: одно́) require Nominative singular for a noun: Russian: два́дцать одна́ маши́на (21 cars), Russian: сто пятьдеся́т оди́н челове́к (151 people). Most numbers ending with "2", "3", "4" (Russian: два/две, Russian: три, Russian: четы́ре) require Genitive singular: Russian: три соба́ки (3 dogs), Russian: со́рок два окна́ (42 windows). All other numbers (including 0 and those ending with it) require Genitive plural: Russian: пять я́блок (5 apples), Russian: де́сять рубле́й (10 rubles). Genitive plural is also used for numbers ending with 11 to 14 and with inexact numerals: Russian: сто оди́ннадцать ме́тров (111 meters); Russian: мно́го домо́в (many houses). Nominative plural is used only without numerals: Russian: э́ти дома́ (these houses); cf. Russian: три до́ма (3 houses; G. sg.). These rules apply only for integer numbers.^[19] For rational numbers see below.

In oblique cases, noun and number take both this case, except that the numbers ending with "thousand", "million", "billion" etc. (nouns: Russian: ты́сяча (f.), Russian: миллио́н (m.), Russian: миллиа́рд (m.)) in singular or in plural are regarded as nouns and always require Genitive case in plural: Russian: пятью́ ты́сячами (Instr.) Russian: маши́н (Gen.); cf. Russian: пятью́ маши́нами and Russian: пятью́ ты́сячами тремяста́ми маши́нами (all Instr.). Initial (leftmost) numeral "1" can be omitted in combinations Russian: (одна́) ты́сяча (Russian: ты́сяча и одна́ ночь – 1001 nights), Russian: (оди́н) миллио́н, etc.

Nouns Russian: со́тня ("approximately 100", f.) and Russian: па́ра ("pair", f.) can be declined and can form compound numerals: Russian: три со́тни (≈300), Russian: пять пар носко́в (5 pair of socks). Approximate numbers are colloquially formed by reversing word order, exchanging numeral and noun: Russian: мину́ты три (≈3 minutes). Ranges (hyphenated) are also possible: Russian: пять-шесть дней (5–6 days), Russian: дней пять-шесть (probably 5–6 days). The word Russian: ми́нус (minus) declines if standalone, but does not for negative numbers: Russian: минус три гра́дуса – minus three degrees (wrong: *Russian: минуса три градуса); however: Russian: три минуса – three minuses.

Russian: один (one)

	Masc.	Neut.	Fem.	Plural
Nominative	Russian: оди́н	Russian: одно́	Russian: одна́	Russian: одни́
Accusative	N or G		Russian: одну́	N or G
Genitive	Russian: одного́		Russian: одно́й	Russian: одни́х
Dative	Russian: одному́			Russian: одни́м
Instrumental	Russian: одни́м			Russian: одни́ми
Prepositional	Russian: одно́м			Russian: одни́х

Russian: два (two), Russian: три (three), Russian: четы́ре (four)

	two	three	four
Nominative	Russian: {{lang|ru|два (m./n.), Russian: {{lang|ru|две (f.)	Russian: {{lang|ru|три	Russian: {{lang|ru|четы́ре
Accusative	N or G
Genitive	Russian: двух	Russian: {{lang|ru|трёх	Russian: {{lang|ru|четырёх
Dative	Russian: двум	Russian: {{lang|ru|трём	Russian: {{lang|ru|четырём
Instrumental	Russian: двумя́	Russian: {{lang|ru|тремя́	Russian: {{lang|ru|четырьмя́
Prepositional	Russian: двух	Russian: {{lang|ru|трёх	Russian: {{lang|ru|четырёх

Russian: пять (five), Russian: шесть (six), Russian: семь (seven), Russian: во́семь (eight), Russian: де́вять (nine), Russian: де́сять (ten);

	five	six	seven	eight	nine	ten
Nominative	Russian: пять	Russian: шесть	Russian: семь	Russian: во́семь	Russian: де́вять	Russian: де́сять
Accusative	N or G
Genitive	Russian: пяти́	Russian: шести́	Russian: семи́	Russian: восьми́	Russian: девяти́	Russian: десяти́
Dative
Instrumental	Russian: пятью́	Russian: шестью́	Russian: семью́	Russian: восемью́	Russian: девятью́	Russian: десятью́
Prepositional	Russian: пяти́	Russian: шести́	Russian: семи́	Russian: восьми́	Russian: девяти́	Russian: десяти́

! rowspan="2" style="background:#C0C0C0"

zero	both
m./n.	f.
Nominative	Russian: ноль	Russian: о́ба	Russian: о́бе
Accusative		N or G
Genitive	Russian: ноля́	Russian: обо́их	Russian: обе́их
Dative	Russian: нолю́	Russian: обо́им	Russian: обе́им
Instrumental	Russian: нолём	Russian: обо́ими	Russian: обе́ими
Prepositional	Russian: ноле́	Russian: обо́их	Russian: обе́их

Dative, Instrumental and Prepositional cases for "zero" more often use Russian: нул- root instead of Russian: нол-. The numbers from 11 to 19 are: оди́ннадцать, двена́дцать, трина́дцать, четы́рнадцать, пятна́дцать, шестна́дцать, семна́дцать, восемна́дцать, девятна́дцать. They decline in the same way as 20 (два́дцать).

20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100

	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100
Nominative	Russian: два́дцать	Russian: три́дцать	Russian: со́рок	Russian: пятьдеся́т	Russian: шестьдеся́т	Russian: се́мьдесят	Russian: во́семьдесят	Russian: девяно́сто	Russian: сто
Accusative
Genitive	Russian: двадцати́	Russian: тридцати́	Russian: сорока́	Russian: пяти́десяти	Russian: шести́десяти	Russian: семи́десяти	Russian: восьми́десяти	Russian: девяно́ста	Russian: ста
Dative
Instrumental	Russian: двадцатью́	Russian: тридцатью́		Russian: пятью́десятью	Russian: шестью́десятью	Russian: семью́десятью	Russian: восемью́десятью<br />or восьмью́десятью
Prepositional	Russian: двадцати́	Russian: тридцати́		Russian: пяти́десяти	Russian: шести́десяти	Russian: семи́десяти	Russian: восьми́десяти

200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900

	200	300	400	500	600	700	800	900
Nominative	Russian: две́сти	Russian: три́ста	Russian: четы́реста	Russian: пятьсо́т	Russian: шестьсо́т	Russian: семьсо́т	Russian: восемьсо́т	Russian: девятьсо́т
Accusative
Genitive	Russian: двухсо́т	Russian: трёхсо́т	Russian: четырёхсо́т	Russian: пятисо́т	Russian: шестисо́т	Russian: семисо́т	Russian: восьмисо́т	Russian: девятисо́т
Dative	Russian: двумста́м	Russian: трёмста́м	Russian: четырёмста́м	Russian: пятиста́м	Russian: шестиста́м	Russian: семиста́м	Russian: восьмиста́м	Russian: девятиста́м
Instrumental	Russian: двумяста́ми	Russian: трeмяста́ми	Russian: четырьмяста́ми	Russian: пятьюста́ми	Russian: шестьюста́ми	Russian: семьюста́ми	Russian: восьмьюста́ми	Russian: девятьюста́ми
Prepositional	Russian: двухста́х	Russian: трёхста́х	Russian: четырёхста́х	Russian: пятиста́х	Russian: шестиста́х	Russian: семиста́х	Russian: восьмиста́х	Russian: девятиста́х

Russian: ты́сяча (1,000), feminine

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Russian: ты́сяча	Russian: ты́сячи
Accusative	Russian: ты́сячу
Genitive	Russian: ты́сячи	Russian: ты́сяч
Dative	Russian: ты́сяче	Russian: ты́сячам
Instrumental	Russian: ты́сячью, ты́сячей	Russian: ты́сячами
Prepositional	Russian: ты́сяче	Russian: ты́сячах

Russian: миллио́н (1,000,000), masculine

	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Russian: миллио́н	Russian: миллио́ны
Accusative
Genitive	Russian: миллио́на	Russian: миллио́нов
Dative	Russian: миллио́ну	Russian: миллио́нам
Instrumental	Russian: миллио́ном	Russian: миллио́нами
Prepositional	Russian: миллио́не	Russian: миллио́нах

For numbers above 1,000 Russian uses a modified short scale with the following loanwords: миллио́н (10⁶, million; as for both long and short scales), миллиа́рд (10⁹, milliard; as for long scale – an exception), триллио́н (10¹², trillion), квадриллио́н (10¹⁵, quadrillion), квинтиллио́н (10¹⁸, quintillion), etc. (continued as short scale). They decline in the same way as миллио́н. Russian uses words Russian: биллио́н (billion) and numerals with -ard endings only in historical texts or literal translations. Also, Russian: биллиа́рд (billiard) is a noun meaning a cue sport.

Examples

	5 meters	94 meters	3 19 meters
Nominative	пятдеся́т^n=a одн^n=a метр^n=a	шест^n=a ты́сяч^G девятст^n=a со́рок^n=a четы́р^n=a ме́тр^g	три́дцат^n=a дв^n=a ты́сяч^g ст^n=a девяно́ст^n=a сем^n=a ме́тр^G
Accusative
Genitive	пятдесят^g одн^g ме́тр^g	шест^g тысяч^G девятст^g сорок^g четыр^g ме́тр^G	тридцат^g дв^g ты́с^G ст^g девяно́ст^g сем^g ме́тр^G
Dative	пятдесят^d одн^d ме́тр^d	шест^d ты́сяч^D девятст^d сорок^d четыр^d ме́тр^D	тридцат^d дв^d ты́сяч^D ст^d девяно́ст^d сем^d ме́тр^D
Instrumental	пятдеся́т^i одн^i ме́тр^i	шест^i ты́сяч^I девятст^i сорок^i четыр^i ме́тр^I	тридцат^i дв^i ты́сяч^I ст^i девяно́ст^i сем^i ме́тр^I
Prepositional	пятдесят^p одн^p ме́тр^p	шест^p ты́сяч^P девятст^p сорок^p четыр^p ме́тр^P	тридцат^p дв^p ты́сяч^P ст^p девяно́ст^p сем^p ме́тр^P

Note for superscript case notations: small letters denote singular forms, capitals denote plural. Russian: Метр is masculine (important for "51"); both Russian: метр and Russian: тысяча are inanimate (important for Accusative). Blue digits are indicatives of case endings, marked by blue letters.

Collective numerals

Collective numerals (Russian: собира́тельные числи́тельные) are used in Russian (and many other Slavic languages) instead of usual cardinal ones in specific lexical and semantic situations. Russian collective numerals are different from the cardinal numerals in that the former emphasize ‘the totality’ or ‘the aggregate as a whole’, while the latter – ‘theindividuated quantity’.^[20] Only numerals from 2 to 7 are actively used nowadays, while 8 to 10 are seldom used and 11–13 are not normative;^[21] word (both) is also considered to be collective numeral.^[20] In nominative and accusative, they always force the noun into genitive plural form (while their own accusative form is dependent on the animacy of the noun): Russian: трое друзей на охоту пошли, вижу двоих мужчин, вижу двое саней. (Three friends went hunting [together], I see two men [together], I see two sleighs [together].) These numerals are seldom used in oblique cases, especially instrumental.^[21] A brief table of usage situations follows:

Usage of Russian collective numerals

Usage	Number	Case	Example	Notes
Mandatory	2–4	Pluralia tantum nouns in nominative case^[22]	Russian: двое ножниц, трое похорон	With paired objects, construction with classifier are preferred: Russian: две пары ножниц
Normative	5–7		Russian: пятеро прений
Likely mandatory	3, 4	Russian: Masculine (and common-gender as masculine and mixed-gender) nouns in {{lang|ru|-а/-я^[23]	Russian: трое мужчин, о четверых судьях
Preferred	2–7	Masculine (and rarely neuter) personal nouns, including common-gender but excluding presumed female groups	Russian: трое друзей, пятеро мальчиков, шестеро мужчин	Collective numerals are used to emphasize the cohesiveness of the group, while cardinal (Russian: пять мальчиков etc.) shows more individuality. In oblique cases, there is no preference to collective numerals.
Colloquial		Feminine nouns denoting people	Russian: трое подруг
Unlikely used		Terms of high rank	Russian: два министра (instead of Russian: *двое министров), Russian: два короля (instead of Russian: *двое королей)
Prohibited		First names	Russian: три Коли, not Russian: *трое Коль
Preferred	2–7	Russian: With {{wikt-lang|ru|дети (children), especially about number in a family	Russian: У неё двое детей	8–10 are seldom used; in oblique cases is optional
Preferred	2–7	With masculine substantivated adjectives	Russian: двое рабочих, пятеро учёных	Mostly in nominative
Preferred	2–7	Russian: With {{wikt-lang|ru|ребята (children), ]	Russian: пятеро ребят, трое внуков
Colloquial	2–7	Russian: With animal's cubs in {{lang|ru|-ата/ята	Russian: пятеро щенят
Highly likely	2–7 (2–10)	As noun denoting people group or with personal pronoun	Russian: Нас было четверо. Шестеро бились против десятерых

Dobrushina and Panteleeva (2008),^[21] having analyzed usage of Russian: два/двое in a Russian corpus, summarize cases of usage of collective numerals in the following common rules:

1. Collective numerals denote number of persons likely to have collective behaviour, i.e., existence in groups, not one by one: Russian: боевики́ 'militants', Russian: жи́тели 'inhabitants', Russian: пассажи́ры 'passengers', 'soldiers'.
2. Collective numbers are used while denoting several persons to emphasize unity, cohesion of this group.
3. Contexts of nominal groups with collective numerals have properties showing their individualization and dedication: referentness, empathy, definiteness; they are unlikely to be out of focus.

Ordinal numerals

Ordinal numbers have grammatically no differences with adjectives. While forming them, upper three orders of numerals are agglutinated to nearest dividing power of 1000, which results in constructing some of the longest natural Russian words, e.g. Russian: стапятидесятитрёхты́сячный (153,000-th), while the next is Russian: сто пятьдеся́т три ты́сячи пе́рвый (153,001-st). In the latter example, only the last word is declined with noun.

Fractions

Fractions are formed as: (how much parts), expressed by cardinal number in case of the phrase, plus (of how numerous parts), expressed by ordinal number; the construction is formed as like it were related to word "part" (grammatically feminine), which is usually omitted. Noun to such construction always comes in Genitive single, also as like it belonged to word часть: Russian: девяно́сто две пятидеся́тых то́нны "92/50 tons". If an integer precedes a fraction, it is bound to it usually with the conjunction, while the noun remains in Genitive: Russian: два и три восьмы́х оборо́та "2 3/8 turns" (Russian: оборо́т is masculine, so the numeral is Russian: два, not *Russian: две).

Fractions 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4 have proper names (nouns): Russian: полови́на, треть and Russian: че́тверть, which are used instead of ordinal numbers. They are also often added with preposition Russian: с, while form of noun appears to be related to the integer part rather than to the fraction: Russian: де́сять с че́твертью [Instr.] Russian: оборо́тов [Gen.] "10 1/4 turns". Prefixes (with Genitive) and Russian: полу- (with Nominative) are used for "half" of something: Russian: пол-лимо́на (half of a lemon), полчаса́ (half an hour; but: Russian: полови́на ча́са); Russian: полуме́сяц (half moon, crescent). Words with Russian: пол- are not declined, and there is a set of rules for writing with or without dash.

For "1 1/2" there is a special word (feminine полторы́; in oblique cases полу́тора; requires Genitive): Russian: полтора́ я́блока – 3/2 apples. It can be used with larger numbers (Russian: полторы́ ты́сячи – 1 500, Russian: полтора миллио́на – 1 500 000) and, for approximate values, with smaller numbers (Russian: полтора деся́тка – ≈15, Russian: полторы со́тни – ≈150). There was also now-outdated form for exactly 150. As with other single-word numerals, it's possible to form nouns and multiplicative adjectives, associated with "1.5": Russian: полу́торка (old truck with 1.5 tonnes of payload capacity), Russian: полтора́шка (1.5 liter plastic bottle for beverage); Russian: полу́торный (something of 150% amount). Also (colloquially): Russian: полтора́ челове́ка "almost nobody" (lit. one and a half men).

To read decimal fractions,^[24] convert them to simple ones: 2,71828 = 2+71828/100000 Russian: - два и се́мьдесят одна́ ты́сяча восемьсо́т два́дцать во́семь стоты́сячных. After integer in such cases is often used word Russian: це́лая (substantiated adjective "full, integer", which also refers to omitted word Russian: часть and thus is feminine): 3,14 – Russian: три це́лых (Russian: и) Russian: четы́рнадцать со́тых (union is often omitted); word Russian: це́лая can appear also in naming non-decimal simple fractions: 2 3/8 – Russian: две це́лых три восьмы́х. Zero before comma is often read: 0,01 = 0+1/100 – Russian: ноль це́лых одна́ со́тая (shortly: Russian: одна́ со́тая). Informally, decimal fractional part can be read more conveniently as sequence of simple digits and numbers: Russian: два и семь-восемна́дцать-два́дцать во́семь. Same method is used to read long numerals unrelated to a noun (phone numbers, address indexes, etc.), grouping two or three digits: 123406 – Russian: сто два́дцать три четы́реста шесть, двенадцать три́дцать четы́ре ноль шесть (forced Russian: ноль added to avoid missing digit).

Count form

Russian also has so-called "count form" (Russian: [[:ru:счётная форма|счётная фо́рма]]) for use by nouns in numerical phrases instead of genitive plural (for some words mandatory, for others optional), mainly with units of measure (especially derived from names): Russian: во́семь бит (8 bits; not *Russian: би́тов), Russian: шестна́дцать байт (16 bytes), Russian: две́сти два́дцать вольт (220 volts), Russian: пять килогра́мм(ов) (5 kilograms; optional). But: Russian: коли́чество ба́йтов (amount of bytes), Russian: изба́виться от ли́шних килогра́ммов (get rid of excess kilograms).

Count form also exists for paucal numbers (1.5, 2, 3 and 4); usually it coincides with genitive singular, but has notable exceptions with stressed endings: Russian: два часа́ (2 hours), but Russian: середи́на ча́са (middle of an hour); Russian: два́дцать два шара́ (22 balls), but Russian: объём ша́ра (volume of the ball); Russian: три ряда́ (3 rows/lines), but Russian: вы́йти из ря́да (step out of the line); Russian: четы́ре шага́ (4 steps), but Russian: полша́га (half a step). Russian: Полчаса́ (half an hour) is additional exception; other nouns with Russian: пол- prefix does not have stressed Russian: -а ending.

A few nouns have unrelated suppletive genitive plural forms: Russian: 4 го́да, but Russian: 5 лет (years); Russian: 3 челове́ка, but Russian: 30 люде́й/челове́к (people; optional). Count forms for adjectives and nouns with adjectival declension after numerals require genitive plural and nominative plural: Russian: два лу́чших (G. pl.) Russian: игрока́ (G. sg.) "2 best players"; Russian: три зелёные (N. pl.) Russian: прямы́е (N. pl.) lit. "3 green straight lines", but Russian: три зелёных (G. pl.) Russian: прямы́х (G. pl.) Russian: штриха́ (G. sg.) lit. "3 green straight strokes".

Notes and References

1. Zaliznyak A. A. "Русское именное словоизменение." Moscow: Nauka, 1967
2. Uspenskij V. A. "К определению падежа по А. Н. Колмогорову // Бюллетень объединения по проблемам машинного перевода." Issue. 5. Moscow., 1957 online copy
3. Klobukov E. V. "Семантика падежных форм в современном русском литературном языке. (Введение в методику позиционного анализа)" Moscow: Moscow State University Press, 1986.
4. Web site: The Cases of Russian Nouns. Master Russian. 31 March 2015.
5. Book: Frarie, Susan E.. Animacy in Czech and Russian. 1992. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
6. Book: Klenin, Emily. Animacy in Russian: a new interpretation. 1983. Slavica Publishers. Columbus, OH.
7. Е. И. Литневская. Русский язык. Краткий теоретический курс для школьников БСМП «ЭЛЕКС-Альфа», 2000
8. masterrussian.com/aa052000a.shtml
9. Le Fleming, Svetlana & Kay, Susan E. Colloquial Russian: the Complete Course for Beginners, Routledge, 2007, page25
10. https://www.russianlessons.net/grammar/nouns_gender.php
11. http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/lingvistic/864/%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%8F%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%8B%D0%B5 Несклоняемые существительные
12. Russian: Калакуцкая Л.П. Склонение фамилий и личных имен в русском литературном языке / Ред. Ф.П. Филин, В.В. Иванов. — М.: Наука, 1984
13. These are adjectives and not adverbs, since they can't modify verbs.
14. Современный русский язык / Под ред. В. А. Белошапковой.
15. Web site: Сорокин. Значение Пушкина в развитии русского литературного языка. 15 February 2014.
16. Corbett. Greville G.. The Morphology/Syntax Interface: Evidence from Possessive Adjectives in Slavonic. Language. June 1987. 63. 2. 2. 299–345. 13 December 2013. 10.2307/415658. 415658.
17. Book: Matasović, Ranko. Slavic Possessive Genitives and Adjectives from the Historical Point of View.
18. Collective numerals for more than 7 are seldom used.
19. Book: Cubberley, Paul. Russian: a linguistic introduction. 2002. 141.
20. Web site: Kim. Hyongsup. The structure and use of collective numeral phrases in Slavic: Russian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, and Polish. University of Texas. 30 March 2014. pdf. August 2009.
21. Добрушина. Н. Р.. Пантелеева С. А.. Собирательные числительные: коллектив как индивидуализация множественности. Slavica Helsingiensia. 2008. 34. Инструменты русистики: корпусные подходы.
22. Book: Wade, Terence. A Comprehensive Russian Grammar. 2010. John Wiley & Sons. 9781405136396. 221–225. 3, revised.
23. Янко. Т. Е.. ru:Русские числительные как классификаторы существительных. Русский язык в научном освещении. 2002. 1. 168–181. http://rlls.hlju.edu.cn/eyu_ru/manage/upload/2012412/201241214257151.pdf#page=168. Москва. ru.
24. In Russian, the comma is used as the decimal separator.