tvari

Tvari is the transliteration of the Cyrillic Russian word твари, the plural form of тварь, meaning “creatures” or “beings.” The singular тварь refers to a creature or living being and, when used figuratively, can carry strong moral or pejorative connotations. In folklore, mythology, and literature, твари is often used to describe living beings, including monsters or sentient creatures, rather than inanimate objects.

In historical and literary Russian, твари can appear in a range of contexts from neutral references to living beings to more charged or allegorical uses. The plural форм, твари, may be encountered in religious texts, epic poetry, or fantasy literature when speaking of multiple beings or creatures in a depicted world. In modern everyday speech, тварь is commonly used as an insult meaning “you beast” or “you creature,” with твари appearing mainly in written or stylized language.

Etymologically, тварь and its plural твари derive from older Slavic roots associated with the idea of being, form, or figure. The exact development of meaning—from a neutral term for a living being to its moralized or offensive usage—varies by era and text, but the core sense remains tied to the notion of a living form or creature.

See also: тварь, твари, related Slavic terms for creature or being, and linguistic discussions of Slavic derivations.