Hello back. When I was talking with my Russian friends, I noticed that they often added some suffixes in their words of objects, names and even A person’s names. After I took a look at some readings and observations, it seems that what the Russians are doing is called “diminutives”.

When the Russians use those suffixes, those suffixes are being used not only to indicate something that is small but also to convey a range of feelings, from endearment and warmth to irony and intimacy.

And here are what we are going to talk:

• Russian name diminutives
• Russian nouns/ adjectives diminutives

We are going to talk about the first part, which is called as the Russian name diminutives, and then, we are going to talk about the Russian nouns/ adjectives diminutives.

So, what are diminutives?

Diminutives or hypocorisms are a short pet form of a word. It can be a name being shortened or an object. Diminutives are used to convey a range of emotions and relationships. Diminutives work by adding a suffix in a word, and it can be used to convey a sense of closeness, the smallness of something, or sometimes to belittle someone. Many times, diminutives are being used as a “pet name” or “nicknames” for young children, between lovers, between parents and child, and between close friends.

In Russian, there are a lot of types of diminutives in names. Diminutives or short forms of names are being used, because the majority of formal names are considered as cumbersome. There are formal names, short names, affectionate forms, then intimate/ tender forms and finally, the vulgar/ impolite forms. Here are some explanations:

The Formal Names

The formal names are being used for formal matters, like official governmental documents such as passports, marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, school records, and many more. Besides, the formal names are also being used on formal settings, such as when talking to the boss at workplace, talking to a teacher or a headmaster at a school,

Here are the examples of Russian formal names: Михаил (Mikhail), Пётр (Pyotr), Мария (Mariya), Александр (Aleksandr), Валерий (Valeriy), Людмила (Lyudmila), and many others.

The Short Names

The short names are a shortened form of the formal, longer names, for a common and neutral diminutives. It is used for common introductions for everyday social interactions, such as meeting new friends, or in classrooms. For the short names, a suffix -а (-a) or -я (-ya) is being employed. For example Валерий (Valeriy) becomes Валера (Valera). But also, for the short names, there are some suffixes being used, here are some of the examples:

• -sh- (-ш-)

Mikhail (Михаил) –> Misha (Миша)

Mariya (Мария) -> Masha (Маша)

Aleksandr (Александр) -> Sasha (Саша)

• -n- (-н-)

Mariya (Мария) ->Manya (Маня)

Tatyana (Татьяна) -> Tanya (Таня)

The Affectionate Forms

The affectionate forms of a name are being used for endearments, warmth and tenderness. For the affectionate forms, the suffix -en’ka (-енька) is attached. For example:

Mikhail (Михаил) -> Mishen’ka (Мишенька)

Mariya (Мария) -> Mashen’ka (Машенька)

Aleksandr (Александр) -> Sashen’ka (Сашенька)

The Intimate/ Tender Forms

As for the tender/ intimate forms, they are being used for very informal matters, such as for intimate good close friends, romantic relationships or close families.

There is a suffix -ulya (-уля) being attached. For example:

Aleksandr (Александр) → Sashulya (Сашуля)

Mariya (Мария) → Mashunya (Машуня)

Also there are other forms for the tender/intimate forms. Here are some of them:

Mariya (Мария) → Mashunechka (Машунечка), Marusya (Маруся)

As you can see, there are another suffixes -shunechka (-шунечка), or -usya (-уся)

As you know, this form is never being used for public or formal settings or for strangers.

The Impolite/ Vulgar Forms

And finally the Vulgar or impolite terms. That form of a name is usually being used by children or close friends (or to show a lack of respect for someone). In order to create the vulgar form, you just need to add the suffix -ka (-ка) on a short neutral name form. For example:

Mariya (Мария) → Masha (Маша) → Mashka (Машка)

Mikhail (Михаил) → Misha (Миша) → Mishka (Мишка)

Aleksandr (Александр) → Sasha (Саша) → Sashka (Сашка)

Pavel (Павел) → Pasha (Паша) → Pashka (Пашка)

As you can see, the form Mashka (Машка), Mishka (Мишка), Sashka (Сашка) and Pashka (Пашка) are the vulgar/ impolite form. While it may be used humorously for close friends, it is considered as vulgar and disrespectful in formal settings. I remembered an example of the usage for this vulgar form on a Russian cartoon “Masha and the Bear” (Маша И Медведь). In that cartoon, everytime Masha the main character wants to call the bear-Misha is his name, she calls him “Mishka”. The word “Mishka” is a very vulgar term, but since Masha and the bear are best friends, that form is acceptable.

Also there are some suffixes that are only used for boys, which is -ik (-ик) or -yok (-ëк).

For example Vladik (Владик) from Vladimir (Владимир) or Vladislav (Владислав), Stasik (Стасик) from Stanislav (Станислав) or Igoryok (Игорëк) from Igor (Игорь)

Here are some list of Russian names with their diminutives:

• Ivan (Иван): Vanya (Ваня), Vanechka (Ванечка), Ivannushka (Иванушка)
• Elena (Елена): Лена (Lena), Ленушка (Lenushka)
• Ekaterina (Екатерина): Katya (Катя), Katyusha (Катюша) Katen’ka (Катенька), ​Katrusya (Катруся)
• Mikhail (Михаил): Misha (Миша), Мишка (Mishka), Mishen’ka (Мишенька), Mishanya (Мишаня), Mikhailushka (Михайлушка)
• Gavriil (Гавриил): Ganya (Ганя), ​Gavrik (Гаврик), ​Gavryusha (Гаврюша)
• Pavel (Павел): Pasha (Паша), Pashen’ka (Пашенька), Pashunya (Пашуня)
• Aleksandr (Александр): Sasha (Саша), Sashen’ka (Сашенька), ​Shurik (Шурик), ​Sanyok (Санёк)
• Vladimir (Владимир): Vova (Вова), Vovochka (Вовочка), Vlad (Влад), Volodya (Володя), ​Vovchik (Вовчик)
• Mariya (Мария): Masha (Маша), Manya (Маня), Mashunechka (Машунечка), Marusya (Маруся), Mashka (Машка)
• Kseniya (Ксения): ​Ksyusha (Ксюша), ​Ksyushen’ka (Ксюшенька), ​Ksenechka (Ксенечка)
• Sergey (Сергей): Seryoga (Серëга), Seryozha (Серëжа), Seryozhen’ka (Серëженька), Seryozhka (Серëжка)
• Tatyana (Татьяна): Tanya (Таня)
• Andrei (Андрей):​ Andryusha (Андрюша), Andreyka (Андрейка), ​Andryukha (Андрюха)
• Irina (Ирина): Irochka (Ирочка), Irishka (Иришка)
• Natalya (Наталья): Natasha (Наташа), Natusya (Натуся)
• Anastasia (Анастасия): Nastya (Настя), Nasten’ka (Настенька)

Here is part one of the Russian diminutives on personal names. As you can see, the Russian diminutives on personal names carry a deep layer of social interactions, containing emotions, nuances and affections between social relations in everyday conversations.

Thank you for reading :)