Nadsat is the dialect/language used by the teenagers in the Anthony Burgess novel “A Clockwork Orange”. It is derived mainly from Russian and British Cockney rhyming slang. Stanley Kubrick didn’t use the words quite as much as they appear in the book in the movie because then nobody would understand anything. When you first read the book it appears quite daunting, even though it’s a rather short book, because it is so heavy in this language. To me the book started to become easier to understand as I am reading it but most don’t have that luxery. Apparently actor Malcolm McDowell, when given a copy by Stanley Kubrick to read for the movie (above: McDowell as Alex), had to read the thing at least three times to finally figure it out. Not sure if his copy had a dictionary in the back, but here is one for you.
Sidenote: Years ago I knew this friend from Armenia. They speak a lot of Russian there and I told her I knew the word for “milk”–moloko. She asked how I knew it, as she was quite impressed. I didn’t know how to describe “A Clockwork Orange”.
WORD MEANING ORIGINS
Appypolly loggy Apology School boy speak
Baboochka Old woman Russian: babooshka/grandmother
Baddiwad Bad School boy speak
Banda Band Russian: banda/band, gang
Bezoomy Mad Russian: byezoomiyi/mad, insane
Biblio Library Russian: biblioteka/library
Bitva Battle Russian: bitva/battle
Bog God Russian: Bog/God
Bolnoy Sick Russian: bolnoy/sick
Bolshy Big Russian: bolshoy/big
Bratchny Bastard Russian: vnyebrachnyi/illegitimate
Bratty Brother Russian: brat/brother
Britva Razor Russian: britva/razor
Brooko Belly Russian: bryukho/abdomen
Brosay Throw Russian: brosat/to throw
Bugatty Rich Russian: bogaty/wealthy
Cal Shit Russian: kal/excrement, faeces
Cancer Cigarette Standard slang term: ie. cancer stick
Cantora Office Russian: kontora/office
Carman Pocket Russian: karman/pocket
Chai Tea Russian: chai/tea
c.f. English Slang: cha/tea
Charlie Chaplain/Priest Rhyming slang: Charlie Chaplin -> Chaplain
Chasha Cup Russian: chashka/cup
Chasso Guard Russian: chasovoy/sentry
Cheena Woman Russian: zhenshcheena/woman
Cheest Wash Russian: cheestit/to clean
Chelloveck Fellow Russian: chelovyek/person, man
Chepooka Nonsense Russian: chyepookha/nonsense
Choodessny Wonderful Russian: choodesniyi/miraculous
Chumble Mumble Invented slang: chatter + mumble (?)
Clop Knock German: klop/hit
Dutch/Malay: kloppen/to hit
Cluve Beak Russian: klyuv/beak
Collocol Bell Russian: kolokol/bell
Crark Yowl Unknown
Crast Steal Russian: krast/steal
Creech Scream Russian: kreechat/scream
Cutter Money Unknown
Dama Lady Russian: dama/lady
Ded Old Man Russian: ded/grandfather
Deng Money Russian: dengi/money
Devotchka Girl Russian: devochka/girl
Dobby Good Russian: dobro/good
Domy House Russian: dom/house
Dook Ghost Gypsy: dook/magic
Russian: dukh: spirit/shost
Dorogoy Valuable Russian: dorogoi/expensive, dear
Drat Fight Russian: drat/to tear to pieces, to kill
drat'sya/to fight
Drencrom A drug Invented slang: adrenochrome?
Droog Friend Russian: droog/friend
Dva Two Russian: dva/two
Eegra Game Russian: igra/game
Eemya Name Russian: imya/name
Eggiweg Egg School boy speak
Em Mum Invented slang: 'M' from "Mama"
Fagged Tired English slang: tired
Filly Play Unknown
Firegold A particular drink Invented slang: Unknown
Forella Trout Russian: forel/trout
Gazetta Newspaper Russian: gazeta/newspaper
Glazz Eye Russian: glaz/eye
Gloopy Stupid Russian: glupiyi/foolish, stupid
Godman Priest Invented slang: 'man of God'
Golly Unit of Money Invented slang: related to 'lolly' (money)
Goloss Voice Russian: golos/voice
Goober Lip Russian: guba/lip
Gooly To Walk Russian: gulyat/to walk, stroll
Gorlo Throat Russian: gorlo/throat
Govoreet To speak or talk Russian: govorit/to speak, talk
Grazhny Dirty Russian: gryuzniyi/dirty
Grazzy Soiled Russian: gryuzniyi/dirty
Gromky Loud Russian: gromkii/loud
Groody Breast Russian: grud/breast
Gruppa Group Russian: gruppa/group
Guff Laugh Invented slang: short "guffaw"
Gulliver Head Russian: golova/head
Guttiwuts Guts School boy speak
Hen-korm Chickenfeed Invented slang: hen-corn
Possibly Russian: korm/animal feed
Horn To Cry Out Invented slang: sound a horn
Horrorshow Good, well Russian: khorosho/good
Hound-and-Horny corny Rhyming Slang: corny
In-out-in-out Sex Invented slang: obvious
Interessovat To interest Russian: interesovat/ to interest
Itty To go Russian: idti/to go
Jammiwam Jam School boy speak
Jeezny Life Russian: zhizn/life
Kartoffel Potatoes Russian: kartofel/potatoes
Keeshkas Guts Russian: kishka/intestines
Kleb Bread Russian: kleb/bread
Klootch Key Russian: klyuch/key
Knopka Button Russian: knopka/push-button
Kopat To Dig (Eng. idiom) Russian: kopat/to dig (a hole, ditch, etc)
Koshka Cat Russian: koshka/cat
Kot Tomcat Russian: kot/cat
Krovvy Blood Russian: krov/blood
Kupet To Buy Russian: kupit/to buy
Lapa Paw Russian: lapa/paw
Lewdies People Russian: lyudi/people
Lighter Crone (?) Invented slang: related to"blighter"?
Litso Face Russian: litso/face
Lomtick Slice Russian: lomtik/slice (of bread)
Loveted Caught Russian: lovit/to catch
Lubbilubbing Making love Russian: lyublyu/love
Luscious Glory Hair Rhyming Slang: upper story/hair
Malchick Boy Russian: malchik/boy
Malenky Little Russian: malyenkiyi/small
Maslo Butter Russian: maslo/butter
Merzky Filthy Russian: merzkiyi/loathsome, vile
Messel Thought Russian: misl/thought
Mesto Place Russian: mesto/place
Millicent Policeman Russian: militsiya/policeman
Minoota Minute Russian: minuta/minute
Molodoy Young Russian: molodoy/young
Moloko Milk Russian: moloko/milk
Moodge Man Russian: muzhchina/male human being
Morder Snout Russian: morda/snout
Mounch Snack Invented slang: munch?
Mozg Brain Russian: mozg/brain
Nachinat To Begin Russian: nachinat/to begin
Nadmenny Arrogant Russian: nadmenniyi/arrogant
Nadsat Teenage Russian: ending for numbers 11-19
Nagoy Naked Russian: nagoi/naked
Nazz Fool Russian: nazad/literally backwards (adv.)
Neezhnies Underpants Russian: nizhniyi/lower (adj.)
Nochy Night Russian: noch/night
Noga Foot Russian: noga/foot
Nozh Knife Russian: nozh/knife
Nuking (scent) Smelling (of perfume) Russian: nyukhat/to smell, take a whiff
Oddy-knocky Lonesome Russian: odinok/lonesome
Odin One Russian: odin/one
Okno Window Russian: okno/window
Oobivat To Kill Russian: ubivat/to kill
Ookadeet To leave Russian: ukhodit/to leave
Ooko Ear Russian: ukho/ear
Oomny Clever Russian: umniyi/clever
Oozhassny Terrible Russian: ukhasniyi/terrible
Oozy Chain Russian: uzh/snake (?)
Orange Man Malay: Orang/Man (c.f. the Orang Utan ape)
Osoosh To Dry Russian: osushat/to dry
Otchkies Eyeglasses Russian: otchki/glasses
Pan-handle Erection Invented slang:
Pee Father Invented slang: 'P' from "Papa"
Peet To Drink Russian: pit/to drink
Pishcha Food Russian: pisha/food
Platch To Cry Russian: plakat/to cry
Platties Clothes Russian: platye/clothes
Plenny Prisoner Russian: plenniyi/prisoner
Plesk Splash Russian: pleskat/to splash
Pletcho Shoulder Russian: plecho/shoulder
Plott Flesh Russian: plot/flesh
Podooshka Pillow Russian: podushka/pillow
Pol Sex Russian: pol/sex (gender)
Polezny Useful Russian: polezniyi/useful
Polyclef Skeleton key English: poly/many + clef/key
Pony To understand Russian: ponimat/to understand
Poogly Scared Russian: pugat/ to frighten
Pooshka Gun Russian: pushka/cannon
Pop-disk Pop-music disc Invented slang
Prestoopnik Criminal Russian: prestupnik/criminal
Pretty Polly Money Rhyming slang: Derived from 'lolly' (money)
Privodeet To lead somewhere Russian: privodit/to lead (somewhere)
Prod To produce English slang: shortening of 'produce'
Ptitsa Girl Russian: ptitsa/bird
Pyahnitsa Drunk Russian: pyanitsa/a drunkard
Rabbit Work Russian: rabota/work
Radosty Joy Russian: radost/joy
Raskazz Story Russian: rasskaz/story
Rasoodock Mind Russian: rassudok/sanity, common sense
Raz Time Russian: raz/occasion
Razdrez Upset Russian: razdrazhat/to irritate
Razrez To Rip Russian: razrvat/to rip
Rooker Hand Russian: ruka/hand
Rot Mouth Russian: rot/mouth
Rozz Policeman Russian: rozha/ugly face or grimace
Sabog Shoe French: sabot/a type of shoe (?)
Possibly Russian: sapog/a tall shoe
Sakar Sugar Russian: sakhar/sugar
Sammy Generous Russian: samoye/ the most
Sarky Sarcastic English slang: shortening of 'sarcastic'
Scoteena "Cow" Russian: skotina/colloquial: brute or beast
Shaika Gang Russian: shaika/band (as of thieves)
Sharp Female Invented slang: Unknown
Sharries Balls Russian: shariki/marbles
Shest Pole Russian: pole
Shilarny Concern Unknown
Shive Slice, cut English slang: shiv-a knife
Shiyah Neck Russian: shyeya/neck
Shlaga Club German: Schlager/club or bat (more exactly,
something you use to hit with)
Possibly Dutch/Malay origin: slaag/hit
Shlapa Hat Russian: shlyupa/hat
Shlem Helmet Russian: shlem/helmet
Shoom Noise Russian: shum/noise
Shoot Fool (v.) Russian: shutit/to fool
Sinny Movies, film Invented slang: from cinema
Skazat To say Russian: skazat/to say
Skolliwoll School School boy speak
Skorry Quick, quickly Russian: skori/quick
Skriking Scratching Invented slang: strike + scratch
Skvat To Grab Russian: khvatat/to grab, snatch
Sladky Sweet Russian: sladkiyi/sweet
Sloochat To happen Russian: sluchatsya/to happen
Slooshy To listen, hear Russian: slushat/to hear
Slovo Word Russian: slovo/word
Smeck Laugh (n.) Russian: smekh/a laugh
Smot To look Russian: smotret/to look
Sneety Dream Russian: snitsya/to dream
Snoutie Tobacco, snuff Invented slang: related to snout?
Snuff It To Die English slang: to snuff is to kill
Sobirat To Pick Up Russian: sobirat/to gather (people)
Sod Bastard (idiom) English slang: from sodomite
Sodding Fucking (idiom) English slang: from sodomy
Soomka Woman Russian: sumka/bag
Soviet Advice, order Russian: sovyet/advice, council
Spat, spatchka Sleep Russian: spat/to sleep
Spoogy Terrified Russian: spugivat/to frighten
Staja State Jail Invented Slang: State + Jail
Starry Old, ancient Russian: stariyi/old
Strack Horror Russian: strakh/fear
Synthmesc A particular drug Invented slang: synthetic mescaline
Tally Waist Russian: taliya/waist
Tashtook Handkerchief German: Taschentuch/Hankerchief
Tass Cup French: tasse/cup
Tolchock To hit Russian: tolchok/a push, shove
Toofles Slippers Russian: tuflya/slipper
Tree Three Russian: tri/three
Vareet To "cook up" Russian: varit/to cook up
Vaysay Washroom, toilet French: W.C. (pron. vey-sey)/watercloset
Veck Guy Russian: chelovyek/person, man
Vellocet A particular drug Invented slang: Amphetamine (Speed)/Cocaine?
Veshch Thing Russian: vesh/thing
Viddy To see Russian: vidyet/to see
Voloss Hair Russian: volos/hair
Von Smell (n.) Russian: von/stench
Vred To Harm Russian: vred/to harm
Warble Song English: sing, a bird's song
Yahma Hole Russian: yama/hole, pit
Yahoody Jew Arabic
Yahzick Tongue Russian: yazik/tongue
Yarbles Balls, testicles Russian: yarblicka/apples
Yeckate To Drive Russian: echatz (pron: "yekatz")/to go
Zammechat Remarkable Russian: zamechatelniyi/remarkable
Zasnoot To Sleep Russian: zasnut/to fall asleep
Zheena Wife Russian: zhena/wife
Zoobies Teeth Russian: zubi/teeth
Zvonock Doorbell/Bellpull Russian: zvonok/doorbell
Zvook Sound Russian: zvuk/sound
Writing As I Please 