False Friends of the Slavist/Belarusian


Discussion
Wikipedia

Беларуская мова (Belarusian)

(c. 8 million native speakers)


адказ
  • is a complete false friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘answer’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘denial’ (адмова) is attested in R. отказ.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
айцец
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
аповесць
  • is a complete false friend for about 100.5 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian;
  • is a true friend for about 260 million native speakers of Russian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Serbian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘novelette’ is shared by R. повесть, Mk. повест, Bg. повест.
  • The meaning ‘novel’ (раман) is attested in Ukr. повість, Pol. powieść.
  • The meaning ‘history’ (гісторыя) is attested in Cr. povijest, Bo. povijest.
  • The meaning ‘fame, reputation’ (рэпутацыя, пашана) is attested in Cz. pověst, Slk. povesť.
  • The meaning ‘legend’ (падание, быліна) is attested in Cz. pověst, Slk. povesť, Sln. povest.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
араць
  • is a complete false friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘to plough’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘to scream’ (галасіць) is attested in R. орать.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
бабка
  • does not have all its Belarusian meanings in the mother tongue of about 288 million speakers of Russian, Polish.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘old woman’ is shared by R. бабка, Pol. babka, Bg. бабка.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘a cake’ is shared by Pol. babka.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘rough boletus (a mushroom)’ is unique.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk.]
багатыр
  • is a complete false friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘rich man’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘muscled hero’ (волат, асілак) is attested in R. богатырь.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
благі
  • is a complete false friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘bad’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘good’ (добры) is attested in R. благой.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
буйны
  • is a complete false friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘very large’’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘wild’ (вар’яцкі, буйный) is attested in R. буйный.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
булка
  • is a complete false friend for about 8 million native speakers of Bulgarian;
  • is a true friend for about 325 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘roll, white bread’ is shared by R. булка, Ukr. булка, Pol. bułka.
  • The meaning ‘bride’ (нявеста, нарачоная) is attested in Bg. булка.
  • The meaning ‘young woman’ (дзяўчына) is attested in Bg. булка.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Mk.]
бялізна
  • is a complete false friend for about 277.5 million native speakers of Russian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 37 million native speakers of Ukrainian;
  • is a true friend for about 38 million native speakers of Polish;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Czech.

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Slk., Sln.]
бярозавік
  • is a complete false friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘birch sap’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘rough boletus (a mushroom)’ (падбярозавік) is attested in R. берёзовик.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk.]
бяседа

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘party, ceremony’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘talk’ (гутарка) is attested in R. беседа, Pol. biesiada, Bg. беседа.
  • The meaning ‘word’ (слова) is attested in Sln. beseda.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk.]
вораг
  • is a complete false friend for about 35.5 million native speakers of Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian;
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 2 million native speakers of Macedonian;
  • is a true friend for about 333 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘enemy’ is shared by R. враг, Ukr. ворог, Pol. wróg, Mk. враг, Bg. враг.
  • The meaning ‘devil, demon’ (чорт) is attested in Sln. vrag, Cr. vrag, Bo. vrag, Sb. враг, Mk. враг.
  • The meaning ‘murderer’ (забойца) is attested in Cz. vrah, Slk. vrah.
  • The meaning ‘slyboots, smartie’ (хітрун) is attested in Mk. враг.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
выгода
  • is a complete false friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘comfort’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘profit’ ыгада) is attested in R. выгода.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
выхад
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 16 million native speakers of Czech, Slovak;
  • is a true friend for about 287 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Polish, Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘exit’ is shared by R. выход, Ukr. вихід, Cz. východ, Slk. východ.
  • The meaning ‘east’ (усход) is attested in Cz. východ, Slk. východ.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
вясельле
  • is a complete false friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘wedding’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘fun, joy’ (весялосьць) is attested in R. веселье.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
гаворка
  • is a complete false friend for about 55.5 million native speakers of Polish, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian;
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 8 million native speakers of Bulgarian;
  • does not have all its Belarusian meanings in the mother tongue of about 45 million speakers of Ukrainian, Bulgarian;
  • is a true friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘dialect’ is shared by R. говор, Ukr. говір, Bg. говор.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘talking’ is shared by R. говор.
  • The meaning ‘speech’ (мова) is attested in Cr. govor, Bo. govor, Sb. говор, Bg. говор.
  • The meaning ‘noise’ (шум) is attested in Pol. gwar.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Mk.]
гадзіна
  • is a complete false friend for about 27.5 million native speakers of Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • does not have all its Belarusian meanings in the mother tongue of about 250 million speakers of Russian;
  • is a true friend for about 91 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Slovenian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘hour’ is shared by Ukr. година, Pol. godzina, Cz. hodina, Slk. hodina.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘time, hour (poet.)’ (гадзіна, час) is shared by R. година, Ukr. година, час, Pol. godzina, czas, Cz. hodina, čas, Slk. hodina, čas.
  • The meaning ‘year’ (год) is attested in Cr. godina, Bo. godina, Sb. година, Mk. година, Bg. година.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
гара
  • is a complete false friend for about 8 million native speakers of Bulgarian;
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 6 million native speakers of Slovak;
  • is a true friend for about 354.5 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Macedonian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘mountain’ is shared by R. гора, Ukr. гора, Pol. góra, Cz. hora, Slk. hora, Sln. gora, Cr. gora, Bo. gora, Sb. гора.
  • The meaning ‘forest’ (лес) is attested in Slk. hora, Bg. гора.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
гарбуз
  • is a complete false friend for about 288 million native speakers of Russian, Polish;
  • is a true friend for about 37 million native speakers of Ukrainian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘pumpkin’ is shared by Ukr. гарбуз.
  • The meaning ‘watermelon’ (арбуз) is attested in R. арбуз, Pol. arbuz.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln.]
горад
  • is a complete false friend for about 37 million native speakers of Ukrainian;
  • is a true friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘town’ is shared by R. город.
  • The meaning ‘vegetable garden’ (агарод) is attested in Ukr. город.
[NB: No information yet for Pol., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
дадатны
  • is a complete false friend for about 17.5 million native speakers of Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian;
  • is a true friend for about 75 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Polish;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Russian, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘positive’ is shared by Ukr. додатний, Pol. dodatni.
  • The meaning ‘additional’ (дадатковы) is attested in Cr. dodatni, Bo. dodatni, Sb. додатни.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Sln., Mk.]
дварэц
  • is a complete false friend for about 75 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Polish;
  • is a true friend for about 277.5 million native speakers of Russian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Czech, Slovak.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘palace’ is shared by R. дворец, Cr. dvorac, Bo. dvorac, Sb. дворац, Mk. дворец, Bg. дворец.
  • The meaning ‘railway station’ (вакзал) is attested in Ukr. двірець, Pol. dworzec.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Sln.]
дума
  • is a complete false friend for about 46 million native speakers of Polish, Bulgarian;
  • is a true friend for about 287 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘thought’ (думка, дума) is shared by R. дума (arch.), мысль, Ukr. дума.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘East Slavonic folk song’ is shared by R. дума, Ukr. дума.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘parliament’ is shared by R. дума, Ukr. дума.
  • The meaning ‘word’ (слова) is attested in Bg. дума.
  • The meaning ‘pride’ (гордасць) is attested in Pol. duma.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln.]
дыван
  • is a complete false friend for about 285.5 million native speakers of Russian, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian;
  • is a true friend for about 38 million native speakers of Polish;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Ukrainian, Macedonian, Bulgarian.

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
жонка

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
жывот

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[NB: No information yet for LSo., USo.]
запомніць
  • is a complete false friend for about 48 million native speakers of Polish, Czech;
  • is a true friend for about 262 million native speakers of Russian, Slovenian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Ukrainian, Slovak, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘to memorize’ is shared by R. запомнить, Sln. zapomniti, Mk. запомни, Bg. запомня.
  • The meaning ‘to forget’ (забыць) is attested in Pol. zapomnieć, Cz. zapomenout.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
зрок
  • is a complete false friend for about 21.5 million native speakers of Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian;
  • is a true friend for about 16 million native speakers of Czech, Slovak;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘eyesight’ is shared by Cz. zrak, Slk. zrak.
  • The meaning ‘air’ (паветра) is attested in Sln. zrak, Cr. zrak, Bo. zrak.
  • The meaning ‘ray, beam’ (прамень) is attested in Sb. зрак, Mk. зрак.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
іграць

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
князь
  • is a complete false friend for about 48 million native speakers of Polish, Czech;
  • is a true friend for about 304.5 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘prince, duke’ is shared by R. князь, Ukr. князь, Cr. knez, Bo. knez, Sb. кнез.
  • The meaning ‘priest’ (святар) is attested in Pol. ksiądz, Cz. kněz.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Slk., Sln., Mk., Bg.]
край
  • is a complete false friend for about 38 million native speakers of Polish;
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 66.5 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • does not have all its Belarusian meanings in the mother tongue of about 2 million speakers of Macedonian;
  • is a true friend for about 266 million native speakers of Russian, Czech, Slovak.

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
краска
  • is a complete false friend for about 258 million native speakers of Russian, Bulgarian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Polish, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedo-nian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘flower’ (краска (colloq.), кветка) is unique.
  • The meaning ‘paint’ (фарба) is attested in R. краска, Bg. краска.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln.]
крэсла
  • does not have all its Belarusian meanings in the mother tongue of about 349 million speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian.

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
лета
  • is a complete false friend for about 2 million native speakers of Slovenian;
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 304 million native speakers of Russian, Polish, Czech, Slovak;
  • is a true friend for about 64.5 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian.

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
ліпень
  • is a complete false friend for about 6 million native speakers of Croatian;
  • is a true friend for about 75 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Polish;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Russian, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘July’ is shared by Ukr. липень, Pol. lipiec.
  • The meaning ‘June’ (чэрвень) is attested in Cr. lipanj.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
ліст

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[NB: No information yet for LSo., USo.]
лістапад

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo.]
люлька
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 250 million native speakers of Russian;
  • is a true friend for about 27.5 million native speakers of Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedo-nian, Bulgarian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Polish.

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[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln.]
майка
  • is a complete false friend for about 27.5 million native speakers of Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • is a true friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Ukrainian, Polish, Slovenian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘gym shirt’ is shared by R. майка.
  • The meaning ‘mother’ (маці) is attested in Cr. majka, Bo. majka, Sb. мајка, Mk. мајка, Bg. майка.
  • The meaning ‘dam, female animal’ (матка) is attested in Mk. мајка, Bg. майка.
  • The meaning ‘nut (to screw on a bolt)’ (гайка) is attested in Bg. майка.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk.]
маса
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 10 million native speakers of Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • is a true friend for about 360.5 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘mass’ is shared by R. масса, Ukr. маса, Pol. masa, Cz. masa, Slk. masa, Sln. masa, Cr. masa, Bo. masa, Sb. маса, Mk. маса, Bg. маса.
  • The meaning ‘table’ (стол) is attested in Mk. маса, Bg. маса.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
матка
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 10 million native speakers of Czech;
  • does not have all its Belarusian meanings in the mother tongue of about 351 million speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘mother’ is shared by Pol. matka, Cz. matka, Slk. matka.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘womb, uterus’ is shared by R. матка, Ukr. матка, Mk. матка, Bg. матка.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘dam, female animal’ is shared by R. матка, Pol. matka.
  • The meaning ‘nut (to screw on a bolt)’ (гайка) is attested in Cz. matka.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
меч
  • is a complete false friend for about 55.5 million native speakers of Polish, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian;
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 2 million native speakers of Macedonian;
  • is a true friend for about 305 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Czech, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘sword’ is shared by R. меч, Ukr. меч, Cz. meč, Mk. меч, Bg. меч.
  • The meaning ‘match, game’ (матч) is attested in Pol. mecz, Cr. meč, Bo. meč, Sb. меч, Mk. меч.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Slk., Sln.]
муж
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 65 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • is a true friend for about 305.5 million native speakers of Russian, Polish, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian.

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
наглы

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
направа
  • is a complete false friend for about 27.5 million native speakers of Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • is a true friend for about 341.0 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Kashubian, Czech, Slovak;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Slovenian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘to the right’ is shared by R. направо, Ukr. направо, Pol. na prawo, Ka. w prawo, w prawą, Cz. napravo, Slk. napravo.
  • The meaning ‘straight on’ (прама, наўпрост, проста) is attested in Cr. pravo, Bo. pravo, Sb. право, Mk. (на)право, Bg. (на) право.
[NB: No information yet for LSo., USo.]
нядзеля
  • is a complete false friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian;
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 23.5 million native speakers of Czech, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian;
  • is a true friend for about 97 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Croatian, Bulgarian.

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
пакой

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[NB: No information yet for LSo., USo., Bo.]
пара

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘pair’ is shared by R. пара, Ukr. пара, Pol. para.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘a couple of, some’ is shared by R. пара, Ukr. пара, Pol. parę.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘steam’ is shared by Ukr. пара, Pol. para, Cz. pára, Slk. para, Sln. para, Cr. para, Bo. para, Sb. пара, Mk. пара, Bg. пара.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
поўдзень

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[NB: No information yet for LSo., USo.]
поўнач

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
проста

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[NB: No information yet for LSo., USo.]
радзіна

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[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
расейскі
  • does not have all its Belarusian meanings in the mother tongue of about 250 million speakers of Russian;
  • is a true friend for about 75 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Polish;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Czech, Croatian, Bosnian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘Russian (of the people or the language)’ (расейскі, рускі) is shared by Ukr. російський, Pol. rosyjski.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘Russian (of the country or the state)’ (расейскі, рускі) is shared by R. российский, Ukr. російський, Pol. rosyjski.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Slk., Sln., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
рускі

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘Russian’ (рускі, расейскі) is shared by R. русский, Cr. ruski, Bo. ruski, Sb. руски.
  • The Belarusian meaning ‘Ruthenian, East Slavic’ (рускі, усходнеславянскі) is shared by Ukr. руський, Pol. ruski.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo., Cz., Slk., Sln., Mk., Bg.]
рэч

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘matter’ is shared by Ukr. річ, Pol. rzecz, Sln. reč.
  • The meaning ‘word’ (слова) is attested in Cr. riječ, Bo. riječ, Sb. реч.
  • The meaning ‘speech’ (мова) is attested in R. речь, Cz. řeč, Slk. reč, Mk. реч, Bg. реч.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
славенскі
  • is a complete false friend for about 28 million native speakers of Czech, Slovak, Serbian, Macedonian;
  • is a true friend for about 342.6 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Kashubian, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘Slovenian’ is shared by R. словенский, Ukr. словінський, Pol. słoweński, Ka. słowensczi, LSo. słowjeński, USo. słowjenski, Sln. slovenski, Cr. slovenski, Bo. slovenski, Bg. словенски.
  • The meaning ‘Slovak’ (славацкі) is attested in Cz. slovenský, Slk. slovenský.
  • The meaning ‘Slavonic’ (славянскі) is attested in Sb. словенски, Mk. словенски.
[NB: Information complete.]
слова
  • is a complete false friend for about 19.5 million native speakers of Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian;
  • is a true friend for about 349 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Macedonian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘word’ is shared by R. слово, Ukr. слово, Pol. słowo, Cz. slovo, Slk. slovo, Bg. слово.
  • The meaning ‘letter (of the alphabet)’ (літара) is attested in Cr. slovo, Bo. slovo, Sb. слово.
  • The meaning ‘leave-taking, farewell’ (развітанне) is attested in Sln. slovo.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
сталіца

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘capital’ is shared by R. столица, Ukr. столиця, Pol. stolica, Ka. stolëca, Bg. столица.
  • The meaning ‘chair’ (крэсла) is attested in Cz. stolice, Slk. stolica, Cr. stolica, Bo. stolica, Sb. столица, Mk. столица.
  • The meaning ‘professorship’ (кафедра) is attested in Sln. stolica.
[NB: No information yet for LSo., USo.]
сто
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 17.5 million native speakers of Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian;
  • is a true friend for about 353 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Macedonian, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘a hundred’ is shared by R. сто, Ukr. сто, Pol. sto, Cz. sto, Slk. sto, Sln. sto, Cr. sto, Bo. sto, Sb. сто, Mk. сто, Bg. сто.
  • The meaning ‘table’ (стол) is attested in Cr. sto, Bo. sto, Sb. сто.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
стол
  • is a complete false friend for about 12 million native speakers of Slovenian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • is a true friend for about 358.5 million native speakers of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘table’ is shared by R. стол, Ukr. стіл, Pol. stół, Cz. stůl, Slk. stôl, Cr. stol, Bo. sto, Sb. сто.
  • The meaning ‘chair’ (крэсла) is attested in Sln. stol, Mk. стол, Bg. стол.
  • The meaning ‘canteen’ (сталоўка, сталовая) is attested in Bg. стол.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
студзень
  • is a complete false friend for about 256 million native speakers of Russian, Croatian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘January’ is unique.
  • The meaning ‘November’ (лістапад) is attested in Cr. studeni.
  • The meaning ‘jelly’ (квашаніна, халадзец) is attested in R. студень.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
чайка
  • is a complete false friend for about 48 million native speakers of Polish, Czech;
  • is a true friend for about 250 million native speakers of Russian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘seagull’ is shared by R. чайка.
  • The meaning ‘peewit, lapwing’ (каня) is attested in Pol. czajka, Cz. čejka.
[NB: No information yet for Ukr., Ka., LSo., USo., Slk., Sln., Cr., Bo., Sb., Mk., Bg.]
час
  • is a complete false friend for about 271.5 million native speakers of Russian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian;
  • is a true friend for about 93 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Croatian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘time’ is shared by Ukr. час, Pol. czas, Cz. čas, Slk. čas, Sln. čas.
  • The meaning ‘hour’ (гадзіна) is attested in R. час, Bo. čas, Sb. час, Mk. час, Bg. час.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
чэрвень
  • is a complete false friend for about 10 million native speakers of Czech;
  • is a true friend for about 75 million native speakers of Ukrainian, Polish;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian.

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  • The Belarusian meaning ‘June’ is shared by Ukr. червень, Pol. czerwiec.
  • The meaning ‘July’ (ліпень) is attested in Cz. červenec.
[NB: No information yet for Ka., LSo., USo.]
шына
  • is a complete false friend for about 57.5 million native speakers of Polish, Kashubian, Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Macedonian;
  • has additional meanings in the language of about 37 million native speakers of Ukrainian;
  • is a true friend for about 258 million native speakers of Russian, Bulgarian;
  • does not have any formally similar counterparts in Czech, Slovak, Slovenian.

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[NB: No information yet for LSo., USo.]
Ø

There is no Belarusian word like Cr. šuma, Bo. šuma, Sb. шума, Mk. шума, Bg. шума.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like Ka. rujan, Cz. říjen, Cr. rujan.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like Pol. doba, Cz. doba, Slk. doba, Sln. doba, Cr. doba, Bo. doba, Sb. доба, Bg. доба.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. тыква, Cz. tykev, Sln. tikva, Cr. tikva, Bo. tikva, Sb. тиква, Mk. тиква, Bg. тиква.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. вещь, Pol. wiec, Cz. věc, Slk. vec, Sln. več, Cr. već, Bo. već, Sb. већ, Bg. вещ.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. стул, Pol. stół, Cz. stůl.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. вредный, Pol. wredny, Sln. vreden, Cr. vrijedan, Bo. vrijedan, Sb. вредан, Mk. вреден, Bg. вреден.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. памятник, Ukr. пам’ятник, Pol. pamiętnik, Ka. pamiãtnik, Slk. pamätník, Bg. паметник.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. вещь, Pol. wieść, Cz. věc, Slk. vec, Sln. vešč, Cr. vješt, Bo. vješt, Sb. вешт, Mk. вешт, Bg. вещ.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. страна, Ukr. сторона, Pol. strona, Ka. strona, Cz. strana, Slk. strana, Sln. stran, Cr. strana, Bo. strana, Sb. страна, Mk. страна, Bg. страна.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. овощи, Ukr. овочі, Pol. owoce, Cz. ovoce, Slk. ovocie, Cr. voće, Bo. voće, Sb. воће.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. мрак, Cz. mrak, Slk. mrak, Cr. mrak, Bo. mrak, Sb. мрак.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. охотник, Ukr. охочий, Pol. ochotnik.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. существовать, Cr. suučestvovati, Bg. съществувам.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like R. цветень, Ukr. квітень, Pol. kwiecień, Cz. květen.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like Ukr. серпень, Pol. sierpień, Cz. srpen, Sln. srpen (mali, veliki), Cr. srpanj.

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Ø

There is no Belarusian word like Ukr. лікарня, Cz. lékárna, Slk. lekáreň, Sln. lekarna.

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More Belarusian-Slavonic false friends:

  • Валентина А. Выхото. Немецко-русско-белорусский словарь: омонимия, паронимия, полисемия. Минск 2002.
  • Валянціна А. Выхота. Беларуска-рускі слоўнік: міжмоўныя амонімы, паронімы і полісемія. Мінск 2004. ISBN 985-6730-48-1.
  • Степан Митрофанович Грабчиков. Межъязыковые омонимы и паронимы: Опыт словаря русско-белорусских омонимов и паронимов. Минск 1980.

For additional information on false friends, see the On-line hypertext bibliography by Daniel Bunčić and Ryszard Lipczuk.

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