Ruso

Ruso is the Spanish term for “Russian” and is used as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it describes anything related to Russia, its people, language, or culture, for example, literatura rusa or comida rusa. As a noun, it refers to a person from Russia: un ruso (masculine) or una rusa (feminine). The plural forms are rusos and rusas.

Gender and agreement: When describing a group, rusos is used for mixed or male-dominated groups, while rusas is used for all-female groups. In all cases the ending agrees with the noun it modifies.

Cuisine and common uses: A well-known culinary use of the term is ensalada rusa, commonly called Russian salad. It is a potato-based dish that often includes potatoes, carrots, peas, and mayonnaise, and may incorporate other ingredients such as eggs or tuna. The dish is widespread in Spain, Latin America, and former Soviet states, though its exact recipe varies by region.

Other uses: Outside nationality or cuisine, ruso can appear in proper names or historical references to Russia. The word derives from Rusia, the Spanish name for the country, and its usage mirrors similar terms in related languages. In everyday language, it appears in phrases like el equipo ruso (the Russian team) or literatura rusa (Russian literature), functioning as a neutral descriptor of origin.