Russian · phrasebook

Darling in Russian

Darling in Russian is дорогой to a man and дорогая to a woman; милый and милая run slightly softer, closer to dear. The ending always agrees with the person addressed, not with the speaker.

Aurélien CuvelierAug 9, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

дорогой / дорогая

dorogoy / dorogaya

darling (m / f)

The ways to say it

дорогой / дорогая

dorogoy / dorogaya

darling (m / f)also the standard opener of letters

милый / милая

mily / milaya

dear (m / f)softer, everyday

любимый / любимая

lyubimy / lyubimaya

beloved (m / f)

лапочка

lapochka

sweetiegender-free; literally little paw

How to use it

Дорогой doubles as the adjective expensive and the letter-opening Dear...: Дорогая Анна! starts a letter exactly as English does. Context keeps the meanings apart, and nobody thinks you called Anna pricey.

Between partners the adjectives usually stand alone (ты где, дорогая?), and the diminutive endearments (лапочка, солнышко, зайка) take over where English would escalate to sweetheart and honey.

Watch out

Match the ending to the person addressed: дорогой to him, дорогая to her. A reversed ending is the instant marker of a learner, and unlike most grammar slips, this one gets giggles.

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Aurélien Cuvelier Founder, NuanceDeck

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