рука
ruka
/ˈru.kə/
Definition
The hand or arm; the part of the body from the shoulder to the fingertips, used for touching, holding, and doing things.
Example
Она держала цветы в руке.
Show translation
She was holding flowers in her hand.
Etymology
From Proto-Slavic *rǫka, cognate with Old Church Slavonic рѫка and related to Lithuanian rankà ("hand"). The root is linked to the Proto-Indo-European *h₃renh₂- ("to reach, stretch"). The word has remained remarkably stable across all Slavic languages — Polish ręka, Czech ruka, Ukrainian рука — all mean essentially the same thing.
Cultural note
In Russian, рука covers both "hand" and "arm" — the distinction English makes is blurred unless you specify кисть руки (the hand/wrist part) or плечо (shoulder). Culturally, the phrase подать руку ("to extend a hand") means both a literal handshake and the act of helping someone — a rich double meaning. The idiom своими руками ("with one's own hands") carries strong connotations of pride in craftsmanship and self-reliance.