Professions Профе́ссии

20 Russian words on the topic of professions — each with a picture, an audio recording and an example sentence. Who does what. There is no “to be” in the present tense, so я врач is a complete sentence: “I am a doctor”.

English	Russian · Ру́сский	Notes
doctor	врач	⚠️ GenderNo standard feminine form — a female doctor is она́ врач.
nurse	медсестра́	🔗 Word familyFrom мед+сестра́ ('medical sister'). Male nurse: медбра́т.
teacher	учи́тель	⚠️ GenderIrregular plural учителя́. Feminine учи́тельница.
student	студе́нт	🔀 Several meaningsUniversity level only; a schoolchild is учени́к.
engineer	инжене́р	Plural инжене́ры (инженера́ is nonstandard).
lawyer	адвока́т	🔀 Several meaningsA courtroom lawyer; the broader term is юри́ст.
police officer	полице́йский	Declines like an adjective: полице́йский → полице́йского.
firefighter	пожа́рный	Declines like an adjective, like полице́йский. 🔗 Word familyFrom пожа́р (a blaze).
cook	по́вар	Plural повара́. 🔗 Word familyRelated to вари́ть (to boil, cook).
waiter	официа́нт	Feminine: официа́нтка.
seller	продаве́ц	The е drops: продавца́. Feminine продавщи́ца.
driver	води́тель	🔗 Word familyFrom води́ть (to drive). 🌎 RegionColloquially also шофёр.
farmer	фе́рмер	🔗 Word familyBorrowed from English 'farmer'.
carpenter	пло́тник	🔀 Several meaningsRough carpentry; a joiner or cabinetmaker is столя́р.
electrician	эле́ктрик	Stress эле́ктрик. 🔗 Word familyElectricity is электри́чество.
journalist	журнали́ст	🔗 Word familyFrom журна́л, which means 'magazine'. Feminine журнали́стка.
writer	писа́тель	🔗 Word familyFrom писа́ть (to write). Feminine писа́тельница.
singer	певе́ц	🔗 Word familyFrom петь (to sing). Feminine певи́ца. The е drops: певца́.
actor	актёр	🔗 Word familyCognate. Feminine актри́са. ё is always stressed.
retiree	пенсионе́р	🔗 Word familyFrom пе́нсия (pension). Feminine пенсионе́рка.