mobik

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Russian мо́бик (móbik), from моб(илизо́ванный) (mob(ilizóvannyj), “mobilized”) +‎ -ик (-ik, diminutive suffix).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /məʊbɪk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /moʊbɪk/
• Rhymes: -əʊbɪk

Noun

mobik (plural mobiks or mobiki)

1. (informal, derogatory, Internet, military, sometimes humorous) A Russian conscript during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, especially a young man with little to no fighting experience.
   • 2022 October 6, Isabel van Brugen, “Putin Has 'Lost Control' as Infighting Breaks Out Among Russia's Elite”, in Newsweek‎^[1]:

     "The video was posted on and being reposted by pro-Wagner channels, which matches Prigozhin's 'Fire Shojgu' narrative...Also some Wagner patches are visible on it. Nearly all 'poor mobiks' (mobilized men) on the video wear balaclavas," Krutov wrote.

   • 2022 October 16, Neil MacFarquhar, “'Coffins Are Already Coming': The Toll of Russia's Chaotic Draft”, in The New York Times‎^[2]:

     The Defense Ministry has pumped out a stream of videos showing happy "mobiks," as the recruits are known in Russian slang, learning to shoot, attack tanks, tie a tourniquet, plant a land mine and other military tasks.

Alternative forms

• mobnik (nonstandard)

Derived terms

• chmobik

See also

• mogilization