варяг
Russian
Etymology
Inherited from Old East Slavic варѧгъ (varęgŭ), from Old Norse væringi.[1] The figurative sense stems from the legendary summoning of Rurik and the Varangians by the East Slavs.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [vɐˈrʲak]
Audio (file)
Noun
варя́г • (varjág) m anim (genitive варя́га, nominative plural варя́ги, genitive plural варя́гов or варя́г, feminine варя́жка)
- (historical) Varangian, Viking
- (modern use) an outsider or foreigner brought in to lead or help an organization or company, e.g. local bodies of state administration or a sports team
- Зачем нам приглашать варяга, если есть свой специалист?
- Začem nam priglašatʹ varjaga, jesli jestʹ svoj specialist?
- Why should we invite an outsider if we have our own specialist?
Declension
Declension of варя́г (anim masc-form velar-stem accent-a irreg)
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | варя́г varjág | варя́ги varjági |
| genitive | варя́га varjága | варя́гов, варя́г△* varjágov, varjág△* |
| dative | варя́гу varjágu | варя́гам varjágam |
| accusative | варя́га varjága | варя́гов, варя́г△* varjágov, varjág△* |
| instrumental | варя́гом varjágom | варя́гами varjágami |
| prepositional | варя́ге varjáge | варя́гах varjágax |
△ Irregular.
* The irregular genitive/accusative plural forms are archaic.
Derived terms
- из варя́г в гре́ки (iz varjág v gréki)
Descendants
- → Armenian: վարյագ (varyag)
References
- Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), “варяг”, in Этимологический словарь русского языка [Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), transl. and suppl. by Oleg Trubachyov, Moscow: Progress