Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'acquaintance'

English Word: acquaintance

Key Russian Translations:

• знакомый [znɐˈkomɨj] - [Informal, Masculine]
• знакомая [znɐˈkomɐjɐ] - [Informal, Feminine]
• знакомство [znɐˈkomstvə] - [Neutral, Abstract noun for the concept of acquaintance]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "знакомый/знакомая"; B1 for "знакомство")

Pronunciation (Russian):

знакомый: [znɐˈkomɨj]

Note on знакомый: Stress falls on the second syllable. The final 'й' is a soft consonant sound, often challenging for non-native speakers.

знакомая: [znɐˈkomɐjɐ]

Note on знакомая: Similar stress pattern to "знакомый," but note the feminine ending '-ая'.

знакомство: [znɐˈkomstvə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person one knows slightly (noun - person)

Translation(s) & Context:

• знакомый/знакомая - Used to refer to a casual friend or someone you know but are not close to. Gender-specific.

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть знакомый, который может помочь.

  I have an acquaintance who can help.

• Это моя знакомая из университета.

  This is my acquaintance from university.

• Я встретил знакомого на улице.

  I met an acquaintance on the street.

2. The act or state of knowing someone (noun - abstract)

Translation(s) & Context:

• знакомство - Refers to the process or state of being acquainted with someone or something.

Usage Examples:

• Наше знакомство началось много лет назад.

  Our acquaintance began many years ago.

• У меня нет знакомства с этим предметом.

  I have no acquaintance with this subject.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

знакомый/знакомая (Adjective used as Noun): These words follow regular adjective declension patterns based on gender, number, and case.

знакомство (Noun): Neuter noun, follows regular second declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for знакомый/знакомая:

• приятель (more casual, often implies slight friendship)
• собеседник (in the context of someone you talk to)

Antonyms for знакомый/знакомая:

• чужой (stranger)
• незнакомец (unknown person)

Related Phrases:

• завести знакомство - to make an acquaintance (start a relationship)
• шапочное знакомство - a nodding acquaintance (very superficial relationship)
• знакомый с детства - an acquaintance from childhood

Usage Notes:

• "знакомый" and "знакомая" are gender-specific; use "знакомый" for males and "знакомая" for females. This distinction is crucial in Russian.
• "знакомство" refers to the abstract concept or act of acquaintance, not a person. Do not use it to refer to an individual.
• Unlike English, Russian does not use "acquaintance" in formal introductions as often; context and tone matter when choosing between "знакомый" and other terms like "приятель" (buddy).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "знакомство" to refer to a person. Incorrect: "Он мое знакомство." Correct: "Он мой знакомый."
• Error: Ignoring gender agreement. Incorrect: "Она мой знакомый." Correct: "Она моя знакомая."
• Error: Misplacing stress in pronunciation (e.g., stressing the first syllable of "знакомый"). Correct stress is on the second syllable: [znɐˈkomɨj].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, personal relationships are often categorized more distinctly than in English. An "acquaintance" (знакомый/знакомая) implies a casual connection, and Russians may be more reserved in using terms like "друг" (friend) until a deeper bond is formed. The concept of "знакомство" also carries a sense of formality in certain contexts, such as business or social introductions.

Related Concepts:

• друг (friend)
• товарищ (comrade, colleague)
• коллега (colleague)