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Glite Dictionary
tovarish

tovarish

9.9
A word people use when speaking to a friend in Russian or Soviet groups
  • noun
  • /təˈvɑːrɪʃ/
translation icon : camarada
  • During the meeting, each tovarish shared their thoughts on the new policy.

Examples

  • He greeted his old friend with a cheerful 'Hello, tovarish!'

  • Comrade, you are my tovarish in this struggle.

  • The novel describes the loyalty between two tovarish during difficult times.

  • We will fight together, tovarish!

  • He greeted his friend with a cheerful, "tovarish, how have you been?"

  • In the old revolutionary films, characters often referred to each other as tovarish in moments of camaraderie.

  • The literal translation of tovarish is comrade, but it carries a unique sense of friendship in Russian culture.

Synonyms

comrade
vstovarish
88 3.8

A friend or companion who shares activities and experiences

is more specific to Russian or Soviet address in communist or socialist contexts
tovarisch
vstovarish
9.9

A person called comrade by Russian or Soviet communists

is used more generally and not only as a direct address
tovarich
vstovarish
9.9

A person who Soviet and Russian communists call a friend or fellow member

is the same idea but emphasizes term of address in some contexts

Surface Forms

tovarish singular
tovarishes plural

Etymology

The word tovarish comes from Russian and first meant a trading partner: it comes from tovar meaning 'goods', so a tovarish was someone you shared goods or business with. Later it became a word for a close companion and in the Soviet Union it was used like 'comrade', which is why today tovarish still means a comrade or friend.