Winter is a wonderful, absolutely unique season. It’s snowy, icy, cold, sometimes frosty, but still very cosy and warm – when you think about winter you remember about warm clothes and reading books in front of a fireplace. For many of us it’s the best time of the year.
Winter has it’s own vocabulary and in this post we’ll be learning new words and phrases that are associated with this season.
Weather/climate (Погода/климат)
снег [snyek] – snow
Идёт снег. – It’s snowing.
снегопад [snyegapat] – snowfall
снеговик [snyegaveek] – snowman (also снежная баба)
снежинка [snyezhinka] – snowflake
снежный – snowy
лёд [lyot] – ice
ледяной – icy
холод [holat] – cold
холодно – it’s cold
мороз [maros] – frost
Вчера ночью был мороз. – There was a frost last night.
морозный – frosty
See Also: Talking about the weather in Russian
морозное утро – frosty morning
метель / вьюга / пурга – blizzard
снежная буря – snowstorm
сугроб – snowdrift
каток – (ice) rink
коньки – skates
сани – sledge (informal санки)
Winter clothes (зимняя одежда)
шапка [shapka] – winter hat, beanie
шарф [sharf] – scarf
зимняя куртка [koortka] – winter coat
свитер [sveetyer] – sweater
варежки [varyeshkee] – mittens
перчатки [pyerchatkee] – gloves
носки [naskee] – socks
зимняя обувь – winter shoes
зимние сапоги – winter boots
валенки [valyenkee] – felt boots
тёплые вещи / тёплая одежда – warm clothes
See Also: Russian Vocabulary for Clothing
Winter activities (зимние занятия)
In winter we can do things that are only possible during this season.
кататься на лыжах – to ski
кататься на коньках – to ice skate
Когда я был мальчиком, я обожал кататься на коньках. – When I was a boy, I used to love ice-skating.
кататься на санках – to sled
играть в снежки – to play snowballs
лепить снеговика – to build a snowman
See Also: Seasons and Months in Russian
чистить снег – to shovel snow
греться – to get warm
греться у камина – to warm yourself in front of the fireplace
замерзать/мёрзнуть – to freeze
Я замёрз(ла). – I’m cold (I’m frozen).
кататься с горки – to ride down the hill
валяться в снегу – to roll in the snow
зимняя рыбалка – ice fishing
сноубординг – snowboarding
хоккей (на льду) – ice hockey