Definition
A sound — something you hear, like a voice, music, or a noise.
Example
Я услышал громкий звук на улице.
Show translation
I heard a loud sound outside.
Etymology
From Proto-Slavic *zvukъ, derived from the verb *zvučati ("to sound, to ring"), related to *zvonъ ("bell, ringing"). Cognate with Ukrainian звук (zvuk), Polish dźwięk, and more distantly connected to the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷen- relating to striking or resonance.
Cultural note
Russian has a rich vocabulary around sound. Звук is the neutral, general word, while звон refers specifically to ringing (bells, glasses), and шум means noise or din. In music contexts, звук also means a musical "note" or "tone," so musicians will say "чистый звук" (pure tone). A common phrase "ни звука!" means "not a peep!" — literally "not a sound!"