This post is an introduction to the post I’m currently writing – on Russia’s archetypal image as a bear. Some of the facts seemed too specific and I decided to create a separate post dealing with medved’ (Russian word for bear) and proverbs related to this animal.



The word medvе́d’ (медведь) consists of two parts: *medu-/medv- (i.e. honey) and *ěd- (to eat). The reason why this animal was referred to indirectly was that bear’s ‘real’ name was tabooed. Thus, medved’ is an euphemism which can can literally translated as [he who] eats honey. Calling a medved’ by his real name was probably seen as an invocation of the Bear which was obviously undesirable (unless your name is Christopher Robin and the bear you want to see is Winnie-the-Pooh).

By the way, there is an interesting correlation between certain Russian names and a bear. For example, Russian surname Toptygin (cf. toptat’ – to trample) is at the same time bear’s alias (or vice versa). Similarly, Mikhailo Potapych (name and patronymic correspondingly) can be both as well – Mikhail (cf. Michael) Potapovich (i.e. son of Potap; Potapych being a vernacular version of Potapovich). Diminutive forms of the name Mikhail Misha and Mishka are also bear’s aliases.

My Top 10 Russian Proverbs about Bear:

(there are too many of them so I picked out my favourite INPO )