name
Very common
Russia
RUH-shuh
Russia (name) means a vast country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, with Moscow as its capital. Example: “Russia is the largest country in the world by land area.”
name
1
A vast country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, with Moscow as its capital.
"Russia is the largest country in the world by land area."
2
Historically, also used to refer to the Russian Empire (1721–1917) or, informally, the former Soviet Union.
"Under the tsars, Russia expanded steadily eastward into Siberia."
How to use Russia
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe country of Russia, and historically, related states like the Russian Empire or Soviet Union.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Russias
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_____ is the largest country in the world by land area.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin Russia, from Old East Slavic Русь (Rusĭ), tracing back to Old Norse roots connected with "rowing."
Synonyms
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Russian Federation
Rhymes for Russia
See all rhymes for Russia →Frequently asked questions
What does “Russia” mean?
The word “Russia” means a vast country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, with Moscow as its capital. In plain terms, the country of Russia, and historically, related states like the Russian Empire or Soviet Union.
How do you pronounce “Russia”?
“Russia” is pronounced RUH-shuh (/ˈɹʌʃə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Russia” in a sentence?
Here is “Russia” used in a sentence: “Russia is the largest country in the world by land area.”
What part of speech is “Russia”?
“Russia” is a name.
Where does the word “Russia” come from?
The word “Russia” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin Russia, from Old East Slavic Русь (Rusĭ), tracing back to Old Norse roots connected with "rowing.".
Is “Russia” a common word?
“Russia” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Russia” have?
“Russia” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a vast country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, with Moscow as its capital.
What is the capital of Russia?
Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia. Home to more than twelve million people, it sits in the west of the country and is the seat of government, including the Kremlin. It has been the political and cultural heart of Russia for much of its history.
Is Russia in Europe or Asia?
Both. Russia is a transcontinental country: the smaller, western part lies in Eastern Europe, while the vast eastern expanse — Siberia and the Far East — lies in North Asia. The Ural Mountains are the traditional dividing line, and most Russians live on the European side.
What is the largest country in the world?
Russia is the largest country on Earth by land area, covering about 17 million square kilometres — nearly twice the size of Canada, the second largest. It stretches across eleven time zones from Eastern Europe to the Pacific Ocean, though much of that territory is sparsely populated.
What language is spoken in Russia?
Russian is the official language and is spoken by almost everyone across the country. Written in the Cyrillic alphabet, it is one of the world's most widely spoken languages. Russia is also home to many minority peoples, so dozens of other languages are spoken regionally.
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