Russian · Colors & Shapes
Большой
bolshoy
Big / Large
Beginneradjective
Definition
Of considerable size or extent.
Example
Это большой город.
This is a big city.
Etymology
The adjective "большой" (bolshoy) traces back to the Old East Slavic "большьшой" and shares roots with the Proto-Slavic *bolьšь. It conveys the idea of size and has retained its core meaning intact.
How & Where It’s Used
Both formal and informal contexts employ "большой", appearing in everyday speech and written texts. It is widely understood across all Russian-speaking regions.
Literary Heritage
Frequently found in literature and poetry, often to describe vastness or significance.