река
reka
/rʲɪˈka/
Definition
A large, natural flow of water that moves across the land and empties into a sea, lake, or another river.
Example
Дети плавали в реке всё лето.
Show translation
The children swam in the river all summer.
Etymology
From Old East Slavic *рѣка (rěka), from Proto-Slavic *rěka, derived from the root *rěj- ("to flow"). Cognate with Czech řeka, Polish rzeka, and Ukrainian річка — all meaning "river."
Cultural note
Rivers hold a central place in Russian culture, history, and identity. The Volga (Волга) — Europe's longest river — is poetically called "Мать-Волга" (Mother Volga) and symbolises the Russian soul in folk songs and literature. Many major Russian cities, including Moscow (on the Moskva River) and St. Petersburg (on the Neva), grew around rivers that served as trade and travel routes. Note: "река" is a feminine noun (1st declension), so adjectives and past-tense verbs must agree: *широкая река* (a wide river), *река текла* (the river flowed).