Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'absence'

English Word: absence

Key Russian Translations:

• отсутствие [ɐtˈsutstvʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Common]
• неявка [nʲɪˈjæfkə] - [Formal, Often used in official contexts]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "отсутствие"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "неявка"

Pronunciation (Russian):

отсутствие: [ɐtˈsutstvʲɪjə]

Note on отсутствие: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "о" is pronounced as a reduced "ɐ" due to Russian vowel reduction.

неявка: [nʲɪˈjæfkə]

Note on неявка: Stress on the second syllable. The "я" is a distinct diphthong sound in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Lack or non-existence of something

Translation(s) & Context:

• отсутствие - Used to describe the lack of something abstract or concrete, e.g., absence of evidence or a person.

Usage Examples:

• Отсутствие доказательств затрудняет расследование.

  The absence of evidence complicates the investigation.

• Его отсутствие на собрании было замечено всеми.

  His absence from the meeting was noticed by everyone.

• Отсутствие интереса к предмету сказывается на оценках.

  The absence of interest in the subject affects the grades.

2. Failure to appear or attend

Translation(s) & Context:

• неявка - Used specifically for failure to show up, often in formal or legal contexts, e.g., absence from court or work.

Usage Examples:

• Неявка на суд может повлечь штраф.

  Absence from court may result in a fine.

• Неявка на работу без уважительной причины недопустима.

  Absence from work without a valid reason is unacceptable.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

отсутствие (neuter noun):

Case	Singular
Nominative	отсутствие
Genitive	отсутствия
Dative	отсутствию
Accusative	отсутствие
Instrumental	отсутствием
Prepositional	об отсутствии

Note: "отсутствие" does not have a plural form as it is an abstract concept.

неявка (feminine noun):

Case	Singular
Nominative	неявка
Genitive	неявки
Dative	неявке
Accusative	неявку
Instrumental	неявкой
Prepositional	о неявке

Note: "неявка" can have a plural form (неявки), though it is less common.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for отсутствие:

• недостаток (deficiency, shortage)
• нехватка (lack, scarcity) - Often used for tangible shortages.

Antonyms for отсутствие:

• наличие (presence, availability)
• присутствие (presence, attendance)

Synonyms for неявка:

• пропуск (skip, absence from an event)

Antonyms for неявка:

• явка (appearance, attendance)

Related Phrases:

• отсутствие на месте - "absence from the place" (often used for someone not being at their desk or post).
• по причине отсутствия - "due to the absence of" (common in formal writing).
• неявка по уважительной причине - "absence for a valid reason" (used in formal contexts like work or school).

Usage Notes:

• "отсутствие" is the more general and versatile term for "absence" and can be used for both tangible and intangible things. It is neutral in tone and fits most contexts.
• "неявка" is more specific and formal, often tied to legal, professional, or official settings where someone fails to appear as expected.
• Be mindful of prepositional constructions: "отсутствие" often pairs with Genitive case (e.g., отсутствие денег - absence of money).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "неявка" for abstract absences (e.g., "неявка интереса" instead of "отсутствие интереса").
  Explanation: "неявка" refers to physical non-attendance, not abstract concepts. Correct: "отсутствие интереса" (absence of interest).
• Error: Incorrect case usage after "отсутствие."
  Explanation: It requires the Genitive case for the noun following it. Wrong: "отсутствие деньги"; Correct: "отсутствие денег."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, explaining an absence ("неявка") in formal settings like work or school often requires a valid reason or documentation (e.g., a medical certificate). The concept of "отсутствие" can also carry emotional weight in literature or speech, often used to evoke longing or loss (e.g., absence of a loved one).

Related Concepts:

• пропуск (absence from a specific event or class)
• уход (departure, leaving)
• пустота (emptiness, void)