What is/are Rusalka/Rusalki?

Question

I think it is a mythical female entity which lives in or around water. please help me understand better. Thanks

Answer 1

Usually they're young women that drowned themselves. Unlike mermaids, they live in fresh water and have legs instead of a fish tail. If a traveller is not careful, rusalki will tickle him to death (I know it doesn't sound so scary, but that's supposedly what they do)

Here's a picture, if it will give you a better idea:
http://bibliotekar.ru/Kvasiliev/23.files/image001.jpg

Answer 2

Main article: Rusalka
In Slavic mythology, a Rusalka was a female ghost, water nymph, succubus or mermaid-like demon that dwelled in a lake. She was considered a being of evil force. The ghostly version is the soul of a young woman who had died in or near a lake (many of these rusalki had been murdered by lovers) and came to haunt that lake; this undead Rusalka is not invariably malevolent, and will be allowed to die in peace if her death is avenged. In most versions, the Rusalka is an unquiet dead being. According to Zelenin, people who die violently and before their time, such as young women who commit suicide because they have been jilted by their lovers, or unmarried women who are pregnant out of wedlock, must live out their designated time on earth as a spirit. Another theory is that rusalki are the female spirits of the unclean dead; this includes suicides, unbaptized babies, and those who die without last rites. (Under this theory male unclean dead were said to become vodianoi).

Here is the website
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_fairies#Rusalka

Answer 3

Russian for mermaid, or woman fish

Answer 4

Mermaid:)

Answer 5

it is a mermaid in russian

Answer 6

Its a mermaid :)