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Russian family words

The first topic anyone asks you about — and a perfect excuse to practise у меня́ есть.

Quick answer

ма́ма (mum), па́па (dad), брат (brother), сестра́ (sister). To say you have one: У меня́ есть брат.

The closest ones

ма́маmámamum
па́паpápadad — masculine despite the -а
матьmatmother — formal
оте́цotétsfather — formal
братbratbrother
сестра́sestrásister
сынsynson
дочьdochdaughter

The wider family

ба́бушкаbábushkagrandmother
де́душкаdédushkagrandfather — masculine
жена́zhenáwife
мужmuzhhusband
тётяtyótyaaunt
дя́дяdyádyauncle — masculine

Together

семья́semyáfamily
роди́телиrodíteliparents
де́тиdétichildren
ребёнокrebyónokchild

Talking about your family

У меня́ есть брат и сестра́.I have a brother and a sister.
У меня́ нет бра́та.I don’t have a brother. — genitive after нет
Мою́ сестру́ зову́т А́нна.My sister’s name is Anna.
Мои́ роди́тели живу́т в Москве́.My parents live in Moscow.

Men ending in -а

па́па, де́душка, дя́дя look feminine but are masculine: мой па́па, not “моя́ па́па”. Their endings still behave like feminine nouns, which is a small cruelty you get used to.

Typical mistakes

Моя́ па́па

Мой па́па

Men are masculine whatever the ending looks like.

У меня́ есть сестра́ и брат — when denying

У меня́ нет сестры́ и бра́та.

нет takes the genitive.

Check yourself

How do you say “I have a sister”?

Possession is у меня́ есть + nominative.

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