From the adverbs ша́ром (šarom), ши́ром (širom), шу́ром (šurom) ‘free of charge’ (from hucksters' slang), plus the suffix -ыга (-yga). The popular version deriving the word from French cher ami (“dear friend”), a term used by soldiers of the retreating army of Napoleon to appeal for help, mercy, etc. nowadays is considered wrong.
шаромы́га • (šaromýga) m anim or f anim (genitive шаромы́ги, nominative plural шаромы́ги, genitive plural шаромы́г)
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | шаромы́га šaromýga |
шаромы́ги šaromýgi |
| genitive | шаромы́ги šaromýgi |
шаромы́г šaromýg |
| dative | шаромы́ге šaromýge |
шаромы́гам šaromýgam |
| accusative | шаромы́гу šaromýgu |
шаромы́г šaromýg |
| instrumental | шаромы́гой, шаромы́гою šaromýgoj, šaromýgoju |
шаромы́гами šaromýgami |
| prepositional | шаромы́ге šaromýge |
шаромы́гах šaromýgax |