Definition: The word "muzhik" refers to a Russianpeasant, especiallyonewholivedbefore the year 1917. Historically, these were ruralfarmersorlaborerswhoworked the land and lived in villages.
UsageInstructions:
"Muzhik" is oftenused in historicalcontexts when discussingRussiansociety, particularlybefore the Russian Revolution.
It is typicallyused in a formalorliterarywayrather than in everydayconversation.
ExampleSentence:
"In the oldRussianvillage, the muzhiksworkedhard in the fields from sunrise to sunset."
AdvancedUsage:
You mightfind "muzhik" in discussionsaboutRussianhistory, literature, orculture. It can be used tohighlightsocial classdifferencesor to describe the life of ruralpopulations in Russia.
Word Variants:
The plural form of "muzhik" is "muzhiks."
There is no directadjectiveform, but you could use "muzhik-like" to describesomethingrelated toorcharacteristic of a muzhi.
Different Meanings:
In modernusage, "muzhik" can sometimesrefer to a traditional, masculine, orrugged man, especially in a positiveorromanticizedway.
Synonyms:
Peasant
Farmer
Rustic (thoughthis can have a differentconnotation)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
Thereare no specificidiomsorphrasalverbs that directlyinclude "muzhik," but you could encounterphrasesaboutpeasantlife, suchas "life of a peasant" or "peasantroots," which reflect a similarmeaning.
CulturalNote:
The term "muzhik" carrieshistoricalsignificance and mightevokeimages of a simpler, agrarianlifestyle in Russia. It is important to understand the socio-economicconditions of the time when usingthisword.