Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'affair'

English Word: affair

Key Russian Translations:

• дело [ˈdʲeɫə] - [Neutral, Common]
• роман [rɐˈman] - [Informal, Refers to romantic relationship]
• событие [sɐˈbɨtʲɪjə] - [Formal, Refers to event or incident]

Frequency: High (especially for "дело")

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "дело" is easier at A2, while "роман" and "событие" may require B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дело: [ˈdʲeɫə]

Note on дело: Stress on the first syllable; the "е" sounds like "ye" in "yes".

роман: [rɐˈman]

Note on роман: Stress on the second syllable; the "о" is reduced to a schwa sound.

событие: [sɐˈbɨtʲɪjə]

Note on событие: Stress on the second syllable; the final "е" is pronounced softly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Matter or Business (e.g., a concern or issue)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дело - Commonly used for business matters, personal concerns, or legal cases.

Usage Examples:

• Это не твоё дело.

  This is none of your business.

• У меня есть важное дело.

  I have an important matter to attend to.

• Судебное дело будет рассмотрено завтра.

  The court case will be reviewed tomorrow.

2. Romantic Relationship (e.g., an illicit or secret relationship)

Translation(s) & Context:

• роман - Refers specifically to a romantic or love affair, often with a connotation of secrecy or passion.

Usage Examples:

• У неё был роман с коллегой.

  She had an affair with a colleague.

• Их роман длился всего месяц.

  Their affair lasted only a month.

• Это был тайный роман.

  It was a secret affair.

3. Event or Incident (e.g., a significant happening)

Translation(s) & Context:

• событие - Used in formal contexts to describe an event or occurrence.

Usage Examples:

• Это было важное событие в истории.

  It was an important affair in history.

• События того дня изменили всё.

  The affairs of that day changed everything.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

дело (neuter noun):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	дело	дела
Genitive	дела	дел
Dative	делу	делам
Accusative	дело	дела
Instrumental	делом	делами
Prepositional	о деле	о делах

роман (masculine noun): Follows standard masculine noun declension with animate accusative form matching genitive in plural.

событие (neuter noun): Follows regular neuter noun declension similar to "дело".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for дело (matter/business):

• вопрос
• задача
• занятие

Note: "вопрос" often implies a question or issue, while "задача" focuses on a task or problem to solve.

Antonyms for дело (matter/business):

• безделье

Synonyms for роман (romantic affair):

• любовь
• интрижка

Note: "интрижка" has a more casual or fleeting connotation compared to "роман".

Related Phrases:

• иметь дело с кем-то - To deal with someone.
• в чём дело? - What's the matter?
• завести роман - To start an affair (romantic).
• историческое событие - A historical affair/event.

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "дело", "роман", and "событие" depends heavily on context. "Дело" is the most versatile and neutral term, often used for business or personal matters, while "роман" is strictly romantic, and "событие" is more formal and event-focused.
• In spoken Russian, "дело" can appear in idiomatic expressions like "в чём дело?" (What's the matter?), which learners should memorize as fixed phrases.
• Be cautious with "роман" as it can imply secrecy or scandal in certain contexts, unlike the more neutral English "relationship".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "роман" for a business matter. Incorrect: У меня роман с проектом. Correct: У меня дело с проектом. (I have business with the project.)
• Error: Misusing "событие" for personal matters. Incorrect: Это моё событие. Correct: Это моё дело. (This is my business.)
• Error: Forgetting case endings for "дело". Ensure proper declension based on the sentence structure (e.g., "о деле" in prepositional case).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "роман" often carries a dramatic or literary connotation, as it also means "novel" (a long fictional story). This dual meaning can sometimes color the perception of a romantic "affair" as something story-like or intense. Additionally, discussing personal "дела" (matters) can be seen as intrusive unless a close relationship is established.

Related Concepts:

• отношения (relationships)
• проблема (problem)
• случай (case/incident)