Fenya: Russian Prison Slang Dictionary — Letters M–P

Disclaimer: This glossary contains historical Russian prison slang, including expressions that may be offensive or discriminatory. The material is presented solely for linguistic, historical, and educational purposes. We do not endorse insults, discrimination, or hostility toward anyone on any grounds.

М — M

Маза (Maza): leadership; supremacy; standing up for one another; supporting comrades in conversation.

Мазировать (Mazirovat): to defend.

Майдан (Maydan): train.

Макар (Makar): unknown criminal.

Макасы (Makasy): boots.

Макитра (Makitra): head.

Макленуть (Maklenut): to exchange.

Малина (Malina): thieves' den.

Мальчик (Malchik): lockpick.

Малявка (Malyavka): note.

Мандра (Mandra): bread.

Мантель (Mantel): cloak.

Мантулить (Mantulit): to work.

Мама (Mama): woman who leads a criminal gang.

Мара, маруха (Mara, Marukha): mistress; prostitute.

Маркоташки (Markotashki): female breasts.

Марку держать (Marku derzhat): to steal on public transportation.

Марочка (Marochka): handkerchief.

Маршал (Marshal): foreman in a penal colony.

Маршрутник (Marshrutnik): train thief.

Марьяна (Maryana): young woman; girl.

Масел (Masel): person subjected to oppression in a prison cell.

Маслины (Masliny): cartridges.

Массовать (Massovat): to take away; to select.

Мастер (Master): highly skilled thief.

Мастырка (Mastyrka): artificially created (false) illness.

Масть (Mast): mood; criminal caste.

Матурить (Maturit): to cut open pockets.

Матуха (Matukha): mother.

Мацать (Matsat): to feel; to touch.

Маяк (Mayak): agreed-upon signal; lantern.

Маячить (Mayachit): to persuade.

Медвежатник (Medvezhatnik): safecracker.

Медвежонок (Medvezhonok): safe.

Медвежья лапа (Medvezhya lapa): tool for breaking into a safe.

Мелодия (Melodiya): militia (Soviet police).

Менжеваться (Menzhevatsya): to be indecisive.

Меняться наездниками (Menyatsya naezdnikami): group sexual cohabitation followed by a change of partners.

Мертвец (Mertvets): drunk person.

Мессер (Messer): knife.

Метла (Metla): duty orderly in a punishment isolation cell; tongue.

Механша (Mekhansha): woman who maintains an apartment.

Микстура (Mikstura): firearm.

Митрополит (Mitropolit): person presiding over a meeting.

Мобать (Mobat): to interrogate.

Мойка (Moyka): razor blade.

Мойщики (Moyshchiki): thieves who steal belongings and money from sleeping passengers.

Моква (Mokva): rain.

Мокрое дело, мокруха (Mokroye delo, Mokrukha): murder.

Мокрушник, мокрятник (Mokrushnik, Mokryatnik): murderer.

Мокрый грант (Mokry grant): robbery involving bloodshed.

Молитва (Molitva): rule.

Мостка (Mostka): ammunition magazine.

Мотать душу (Motat dushu): to interrogate.

Мотор (Motor): taxi.

Мотороллер (Motoroller): convicted prisoner who has balls inserted into his penis.

Мотыль (Motyl): thin person.

Мошка (Moshka): mattress.

Мужик (Muzhik): worker in a penal colony.

Мурло (Murlo): face.

Мусор (Musor): police officer.

Мутный (Mutny): incomprehensible person.

Мыло (Mylo): failure; useless undertaking.

Мыши (Myshi): pickpockets who steal in the subway.

Мясник (Myasnik): person who has committed a murder with particular cruelty.

Н — N

Наблатыкаться (Nablatykatsya): to learn to speak criminal slang.

Наблындить (Nablyndit): to steal; to carry away stolen goods.

Набухариться, набухаться (Nabukharitsya, Nabukhatsya): to get drunk.

Набушмаченный фраер (Nabushmachenny fraer): person who knows thieves' life and its laws well.

Наварить (поймать) на конец (Navarit / poymat na konets): to contract a venereal disease.

Наводить макли (Navodit makli): to exchange.

Нагрудный чердак (Nagrudny cherdak): breast pocket.

Надыбать (Nadybat): to discover.

Накидыш (Nakidysh): Finnish knife; dagger.

Наколка (Nakolka): tip-off for a crime; tattoo.

Накнохать (Naknokhat): to see something (someone).

Накрыть (Nakryt): to detain at the scene of a crime.

Намыливаться (Namylivatsya): to undergo fingerprinting.

Наниматели квартир (Nanimateli kvartir): thieves who enter apartments under the pretext of renting living space.

Наплести веревки (Naplesti verevki): to say too much.

Наплести лапти (Naplesti lapti): to escape from an escort.

Насадить (Nasadit): to steal.

Наседка (Nasedka): informant placed in a prison cell.

Насунул галье (Nasunul galye): stole money.

Нахрапом (Nakhrapom): by force.

Нашкодить (Nashkodit): to kill.

Небо (Nebo): ceiling.

Невестка (Nevestka): pillow.

Невхипиш (Nevkhipish): carefully.

Не кантуйся (не контуйся) (Ne kantuysya / ne kontuysya): don't lie.

Не крути панты (Ne kruti panty): don't bother.

Не питюкай (Ne pityukay): be silent.

Ништяк (Nishtyak): good.

Нищало (Nishchalo): basket containing belongings.

Ночник (Nochnik): theft at night.

Нырять (Nyryat): to steal without a predetermined plan.

О — O

Обвиниловка (Obvinilovka): indictment.

Обжать, обмыть (Obzhat, obmyt): to rob; to strip someone of their belongings; to steal from someone.

Обзовись (Obzovis): swear an oath.

Оборваться (Oborvatsya): to run away.

Обработать (Obrabotat): to commit a crime.

Обставить (Obstavit): to beat someone in a game.

Обшманать (Obshmanat): to search.

Огольцы (Ogoltsy): fingers.

Оказачить (Okazachit): to take away.

Окно (Okno): back pocket of trousers.

Окопаться (Okopatsya): to fall silent.

Окрутить (Okrutit): to detain; to catch.

Окунуть (Okunut): to put in prison.

Окусываться (Okusyvatsya): to look around.

Опарафинить (Oparafinit): to insult using obscene language.

Оперсос (Opersos): operative officer.

Оправилы (Opravily): documents.

Определить с бутором (Opredelit s butorom): to detain with stolen goods.

Орехи (Orekhi): cartridges.

Оритка (Oritka): letter.

Оркан (Orkan): exposure; unmasking.

Отваливай (Otvalivay): go away.

Отвернул (Otvernul): took something in passing.

Отвернул угол (Otvernul ugol): stole a suitcase.

Отводить (Otvodit): to deceive.

Отжать внутряк (Otzhat vnutryak): to unlock an internal lock.

Отколоться (Otkolotsya): to move away.

Откыркаться (Otkyrkatsya): to talk one's way out.

Отмазал (Otmazal): helped someone out.

Отмазаться (Otmazatsya): to win back what was lost.

Отначить (Otnachit): to take away; to hide.

Отоварить (Otovarit): to hit.

Отонда (Otonda): danger; save yourself.

Отопнулся (Otopnulsya): was released.

Отхарить (Otkharit): to rape.

Отыграться (Otygratsya): to take revenge.

Охмуряться (Okhmuryatsya): to get angry.

Охнарик (Okhnarik): cigarette butt.

Охотиться за духом (Okhotitsya za dukhom): to rob a drunk person.

Охотник (Okhotnik): operative officer.

Очко (Ochko): anus; window; small window.

Очко рвать (Ochko rvat): to curry favor with the penal colony administration.

П — P

Падать (Padat): to sleep.

Падло (Padlo): police officer.

Панты (Panty): bribe.

Папа (Papa): head of a unit in a penal colony.

Папка, попка (Papka, popka): police officer; guard.

Парадка, парадняк, парадуха (Paradka, paradnyak, paradukha): front entrance door.

Парамыга (Paramyga): frame.

Параша (Parasha): false rumor.

Парижанин (Parizhanin): person arriving from a rural area.

Париться, припухать (Paritsya, pripukhat): to be under arrest; to be held in custody.

Партак (Partak): tattoo.

Паруса (Parusa): walls.

Паутина, паутинка (Pautina, pautinka): watch chain.

Паутину снять (Pautinu snyat): to steal linen.

Пахан (Pakhan): gang leader; father; keeper of a criminal den.

Пахарь (Pakhar): good person.

Пельмени (Pelmeni): ears.

Пентюх (Pentyukh): five rubles.

Перековаться (Perekovatsya): to change footwear.

Перекопаться, перетыриться (Perekopatsya, peretyritsya): to change clothes.

Перекупить, перетырить (Perekupit, peretyrit): to pass money to another accomplice.

Перо, перышко (Pero, peryshko): Finnish knife; dagger.

Петушок (Petushok): five rubles.

Петь (Pet): to inform the police.

Печник (Pechnik): active pederast.

Пидорка, пидорастка (Pidorka, pidorastka): prisoner's cap.

Пиковина (Pikovina): knife.

Пират (Pirat): operative officer.

Писака (Pisaka): pickpocket who steals by cutting open a pocket (or bag).

Писалка, писка, письмо (Pисалка / Pisalka, piska, pismo): razor.

Пишки (Pishki): civilian clothing.

Платформа (Platforma): table.

Плевальник (Plevаlnik): mouth.

Плетануть (Pletanut): to run away.

Плетень (Pleten): deceiver.

Плюнуть (Plyunut): to shoot someone.

Повенчать (Povenchat): to convict.

Повесить галстук (Povesit galstuk): to strangle.

Повязать (Povyazat): to arrest.

Погорчить (Pogorchit): to drink vodka; to have fun.

Подбить клинья (Podbit klinya): to gain someone's trust.

Подельник (Podelnik): accomplice.

Подковать стиры (Podkovat stiry): to mark playing cards.

Подкрамсать (Podkramsat): to rob.

Подлипало (Podlipalo): police officer.

Подмазывать (Podmazyvat): to bribe.

Подмастырить (Podmastyrit): to prepare.

Подогрев (Podogrev): support with food.

Подрывать (Podryvat): to run.

Подтыривать (Podtyrivat): to help steal.

Подхвост (Podkhvost): help.

Пожар (Pozhar): warning of danger; trouble; death.

Позвонить в хаверу (Pozvonit v khaveru): to break a windowpane in an apartment.

Позорник (Pozornik): person who has failed to justify someone's trust.

Показухи (Pokazukhi): orders and medals.

Поканал (Pokanal): went.

Поколоться (Pokolotsya): to confess to something.

Покумок (Pokumok): inspector of the operational department.

Покупка (Pokupka): deception.

Полуцветной (Polutsvetnoy): criminal investigation officer.

Помазуха (Pomazukha): butter.

Помарать (Pomarat): to kill.

Помараться (Pomaratsya): to have sexual intercourse.

По музыке ходить (Po muzyke khodit): to engage in theft.

Помыть (Pomyt): to take (steal) something from a sleeping person (in plain sight).

Понт (Pont): lie; trick (a ruse used by thieves to distract people's attention).

По огонькам ходить (Po ogonkam khodit): to commit thefts in the evening.

Поп (Pop): deputy head of a penal colony responsible for political and educational work.

Попутать (Poputat): to detain; to expose someone as having committed a crime.

Поросенок (Porosenok): wallet; purse.

Портяночник (Portyanochnik): petty thief.

Порчила, портач (Porchila, portach): inexperienced thief.

Посалить (Posalit): to cut.

По соне ботать (Po sone botat): to know how to steal.

Поставить на хор (Postavit na khor): to gang-rape.

Посунул дудку (Posunul dudku): stole a weapon.

По тихой (Po tikhoy): theft through open windows or doors.

Потварить (Potvarit): to rape.

Потолок (Potolok): breast pocket.

Потянуть локш (Potyanut loksh): to receive nothing.

Пофартило (Pofartilo): got lucky.

По фене ботать (курсать) (Po fene botat / kursat): to speak thieves' slang.

Прелки (Prelki): mouth.

Приблуда (Pribluda): knife; dagger.

Приковаться (Prikovatsya): to register one's place of residence.

Прилуниться (Prilunitsya): to enter a restaurant.

Припаять (Pripayat): to convict.

Приправа (Priprava): razor.

Припухнуть (Pripukhnut): to be detained.

Пристяжь (Pristyazh): entourage (retinue) of thieves.

Притаранить (Pritaranit): to bring.

Притырить (Prityrit): to cover.

Прихват (Prikhvat): robbery; raid.

Прихериться (Prikheritsya): to pretend to be drunk or asleep.

Прицеп (Pritsep): bag for belongings.

Причалиться (Prichalitsya): to be in prison.

Причандалы (Prichandaly): belongings; footwear; clothing.

Пришмотить (Prishmotit): to kill.

Продать (Prodat): to betray an accomplice; to inform on someone.

Проколка (Prokolka): residence registration.

Пропулить (Propulit): to sell stolen goods.

Прохоря (Prokhorya): boots.

Птюха (Ptyukha): bread ration.

Пули (Puli): money.

Пулить (Pulit): to steal.

Пустить коня (Pustit konya): to establish communication between prison cells through a window.

Пустить парашу (Pustit parashu): to spread a false rumor.

Пуха, пушка (Pukha, pushka): pistol.

Пчелки (Pchelki): cartridges; bullets.

Пыхтеть (Pykhtet): to be held in prison.