The Prison Language, Part I: A–B

А

Абер: operations department of a correctional facility.
Автозак: a specially equipped vehicle for transporting people under arrest.
Автомат: pen.
Авторитет: a respected person among inmates; a leader of a criminal group, an experienced thief.
Агрегат: syringe for injecting narcotics; also: scales used for weighing drugs.
Ажур: order, calm, everything’s fine.
Акам: criminal, respected inmate.
Академия: prison or meeting place for thieves and hustlers.
Аквариум: pretrial detention center (temporary holding facility).
Акробат: passive homosexual.
Актив: inmates cooperating with prison administration.
Акула: inmate serving a long sentence with confiscation of property.
Аллигатор: criminal capable of any crime.
Алтушка: money, small change.
Алупа: novice prostitute.
Амара: prostitute.
Амба: hopeless situation, dead end.
Амбец: death, ruin, disaster, or capture by the police.
Амбразура: small window in a cell door.
Американка: game of flipping coins for money.
Амнистия: amnesty.
Ампула: bottle of alcohol.
Анархист: criminal acting alone.
Антик: antique item.
Антрацит: cocaine.
Арап: crook, swindler.
Аристократ: highly skilled pickpocket.
Аркашка: noose, loop.
Артист: con artist.
Атас!: “Watch out!” — a warning cry or signal of danger.
Атасник: person who signals danger.
Афер: fraudster.
Ацетонка: drug purified with acetone.

Б

Бабай: old man, usurer, or Asian man.
Бабан: peasant, simple rural man.
Бабка: ring or signet.
Бабки: money.
Бабочка: shirt, tennis shirt.
Багажник: pocket.
Баглай: “take it” (command).
Бадяга: meaningless talk or empty activity.
Бадяжить: to cook or mix food.
Базар: noise, talk, chatter.
Базарило: person who cannot be trusted, blabbermouth.
Базаровать: to talk too much or to pickpocket in a crowd.
Базлат: shout for help, to scream.
Байбут: dagger or knife.
Байдан: airport, train station, or dock.
Байданщик: inmate working at the train station (port thief).
Байка: rag or cloth placed near a cellmate’s face while sleeping.
Байкал: weak tea.
Баки: watch, clock.
Баки вколачивать: to fool, deceive, distract someone in conversation.
Баклан: inexperienced or rowdy thief, troublemaker.
Бакланка: petty hooliganism.
Бакланье: inmate with no respect or authority.
Балабаны: money.
Балавайка: revolver.
Балаган: prison gruel or mush.
Баланда травить: to lie or talk nonsense.
Баландер: kitchen worker or food distributor in prison.
Баланка: smoothed logs (used in makeshift constructions).
Балаш: head, narcotics, or genital organ (depending on context).
Балду гонять: to waste time, do nothing, or masturbate.
Балдёж: drug-induced euphoria.
Балдюк: soldier.
Балеринка: picklock or burglary tool.
Балкончик: apartment thief.
Баллон катить: to criticize a respected inmate.
Баланда: greasy prison soup, food.
Банк: place of gathering for criminals; also: table for card games.
Бандер: brothel owner.
Бандерша: female brothel keeper.
Бандюк: gangster.
Банщица: prostitute at a train station.
Баняк: pot or bucket; slang for train station prostitute.
Баня: bathhouse; also: punishment room.
Банка: bottle of vodka.
Банки ставить: to hit with an open palm or give corporal punishment.
Банковать: to deal cards in a game.
Банщик: police officer.
Баня: see above — bathhouse, also used as slang for torture or punishment cell.
Барабан: bribe to prison staff for smuggling prohibited items.
Барабанить: to smuggle.
Барак: prison barrack or restricted area in a colony.
Барахло: stolen goods or worthless things.
Барин: colony chief with respect among inmates.
Баркас: forbidden zone or outer wall of a colony.
Бармен: inmate selling alcohol in prison.
Барыга: trader in stolen goods, black market dealer.
Баска: lower-ranked inmate.
Басман: unrecognized thief, petty criminal.
Басить: to speak in a deep tone, assertively.
Батаг: gang leader (“pahan”).
Батареи: ribs.
Батон: overweight prostitute.
Батя: cook; also “father” (older inmate).
Баян: accordion; also: to urinate or play cards (contextual).
Бацилка: lard, butter, or high-calorie food sent as a package.
Бацильный: sick, weak, or unhealthy inmate.
Бачок: cigarette butt.
Безузка: good luck.
Безьяна: solitary confinement or punishment cell.
Белая кость: upper criminal caste.
Белки: money.
Белое-чёрное: false passport or forged ID.
Белочка: female handbag.
Бензолка: codeine.
Бесовка: thief’s girlfriend.
Бессон: liar, deceiver.
Беспредел: act beyond criminal code; excessive cruelty or lawlessness.
Бестолковка: head, or thoughtlessness.
Бешеные: drugs.
Бивень: fool, idiot.
Бика: young attractive woman.
Билить: to get acquainted.
Биму: gold jewelry without gemstones.
Бирка: inmate’s ID tag or label.
Битая ката: exposed brothel.
Битя: beaten, experienced, reliable inmate.
Благо: favor, help, or connection used for gain.
Блат: underworld influence or protection.
Блатной: connected to criminal circles.
Блатняк: thief’s song or slang.
Блатота: group of respected criminals.
Блок: cell or punishment chamber.
Бобик: police car.
Бобёр: well-dressed speculator or prisoner with money.
Бой: fight or card game.
Боковой: paper sheet (for secret communication).
Боковик: card trick or sleight of hand.
Болтать: to talk excessively or spread information.
Болтун: unreliable person or snitch.
Бомба: pocket watch.
Бомбист: beggar.
Борзеть: to act insolently.
Борода: failure or bad luck.
Братва: criminal “brotherhood.”
Браслеты: handcuffs.
Братан: friend or comrade.
Братишка: cellmate or friend.
Братское очко: the “four” card in a deck (symbolic).
Брать на храпок: to grab by the throat.
Братуха: brother, comrade.
Бригадир: gang leader in prison.
Бродяга: general term for prisoner.
Броневик: police van.
Бублик: loaf of bread.
Бугай: thug or tough guy.
Букет: combination of criminal charges; also used for a man exploited sexually in prison.
Букин: pocket thief.
Булава: phallus.
Булка: woman’s buttocks.
Бур: game of cards.
Буркать: to mumble or deceive.
Бурчать: to talk or distract someone.
Бус: lover of luxury.
Буфер: crowd of people.
Бухало: alcoholic drinks.
Бухта: safe hideout or reliable den.
Бухтеть: to talk, complain, or deceive.
Бучить: to beat up.
Бык: simple-minded man; person following a leader’s orders.
Бык-рогомет: overachiever, show-off.
Быть в бедности: to suffer due to lack of drugs.
Бычок: cigarette butt.