вода
voda
/vɐˈda/
Definition
Water; the clear liquid that falls as rain, fills rivers and seas, and is essential for all living things.
Example
Она выпила стакан холодной воды.
Show translation
She drank a glass of cold water.
Etymology
From Old East Slavic *вода (voda), inherited from Proto-Slavic *voda, which traces back to Proto-Indo-European *wódōr / *wéd- ("water"). Cognates span much of the Indo-European family: English "water," German "Wasser," Latin "unda" (wave), Greek "ὕδωρ" (hydor), and Sanskrit "udán." The root is among the most ancient and widespread in human language.
Cultural note
Water imagery runs deep in Russian culture and folklore. Rivers — especially the Volga, called "Волга-матушка" (Mother Volga) — are near-sacred symbols of the Russian soul. Phraseologically, "водой не разольёшь" ("you couldn't separate them with water") means two people are inseparable, and "тише воды, ниже травы" ("quieter than water, lower than grass") describes someone keeping a very low profile. False-friend alert for English speakers: "водка" literally means "little water" (diminutive of вода), a charming etymological irony.