rabota

Rabota is a term used in several Slavic languages to denote work, labor, or a job. In Russian, the standard spelling is работа, transliterated as rabota, and it can refer to paid employment, general labor, or a specific task. In Ukrainian, the cognate робота (robota) has a similar range of meanings, including employment and activity. In many Slavic languages, related forms exist with the same root, reflecting a historical link between labor and obligation.

Etymology and historical notes: The root behind rabota is linked to concepts of work and, in some historical senses, servitude. In the broader family of Slavic languages, the word has long served to express productive activity as well as the social aspects of employment. The familiar Czech word robot, meaning forced labor, also derives from the same root; the term became widely known in modern languages after Karel Čapek’s 1920 play, influencing the use of “robot” in many languages to describe autonomous machines.

Usage and meanings: In everyday speech, rabota/robota can refer to employment (one’s job), the act of working, or a task someone is required to perform. Phrases typically include phrases like “looking for work,” “to work,” or “at work.” In economic and legal contexts, the term often appears in discussions of labor, employment regulations, or production.

See also: labor, employment, job, productivity, and the word robot as a linguistic descendant of the same root.