Chort

Chort is a demon or devil in East Slavic folklore and related Slavic traditions. The word exists in Russian (чёрт, chert), Ukrainian (чорт, chort), and Belarusian (чорт) with similar meanings; in Polish it appears as czort or czart. Etymology traces to a Proto-Slavic form čortъ, linked to the broader Slavic demon-word family, though precise origins are debated.

In folklore, chorts are malevolent supernatural beings. They are often imagined as horned, cloven-hooved, or shapeshifting figures capable of mischief, theft, or leading people astray. They inhabit forests, mountains, caves, or the underworld and can act as tempters, deceivers, or agents of ill fortune. They may be bound by moral law or religious items and defeated by protective measures such as holy symbols, crosses, saints, or religious rituals. Stories sometimes portray chorts as tricksters who can be outwitted by cleverness or humility.

In literature and modern culture, chorts appear as symbolic embodiments of temptation, misfortune, or the unknown. The term remains common in idiomatic expressions in several languages, used to denote “the devil” or malice in a general sense. In some regional folk beliefs, chorts coexist with other beings such as domovoi (house spirits) or leshy (forest guardians), highlighting a layered cosmology in Slavic folklore.