Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Affordable'

English Word: affordable

Key Russian Translations:

• доступный [dɐˈstupnɨj] - [Formal, Neutral]
• недорогой [nʲɪdɐˈroɡoj] - [Informal, Common]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for both translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

доступный: [dɐˈstupnɨj]

Note on доступный: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ы' sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced as a short, relaxed 'i'.

недорогой: [nʲɪdɐˈroɡoj]

Note on недорогой: Stress on the third syllable. The 'г' is voiced, unlike in some other Slavic languages.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Reasonably Priced (Financial Accessibility)

Translation(s) & Context:

• недорогой - Often used for everyday items like clothes, food, or services that are not expensive.
• доступный - Can imply affordability in a broader sense, including non-financial contexts (e.g., accessible information), but also used for pricing.

Usage Examples:

• Этот магазин продаёт недорогую одежду.

  This store sells affordable clothes.

• Мы нашли недорогой ресторан в центре города.

  We found an affordable restaurant in the city center.

• Этот курс доступен для всех студентов.

  This course is affordable for all students.

• Доступные цены на жильё привлекают молодых семей.

  Affordable housing prices attract young families.

• Интернет стал более доступным в последние годы.

  The internet has become more affordable in recent years.

2. Within Reach (General Accessibility)

Translation(s) & Context:

• доступный - Used when referring to something attainable or approachable, not necessarily financial.

Usage Examples:

• Эта информация доступна каждому.

  This information is affordable (accessible) to everyone.

• Его стиль письма очень доступный для понимания.

  His writing style is very affordable (easy to understand).

Russian Forms/Inflections:

доступный (Adjective): Follows standard Russian adjective declension rules based on gender, number, and case.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	доступный	доступная	доступное	доступные
Genitive	доступного	доступной	доступного	доступных

недорогой (Adjective): Also follows standard adjective declension rules, similar to доступный.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	недорогой	недорогая	недорогое	недорогие
Genitive	недорогого	недорогой	недорогого	недорогих

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for недорогой:

• дешёвый
• бюджетный

Note: "дешёвый" can sometimes imply low quality, unlike "недорогой," which is more neutral.

Synonyms for доступный:

• понятный
• открытый

Antonyms for both:

• дорогой
• недоступный

Related Phrases:

• доступные цены - Affordable prices.
• недорогой вариант - An affordable option.
• доступный для понимания - Affordable (easy) to understand.

Usage Notes:

• "недорогой" is more commonly used when specifically referring to price or cost, and it carries a neutral tone.
• "доступный" has a broader meaning, often extending beyond price to imply general accessibility or availability. Use it when the context is not strictly financial.
• Both adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, as is standard in Russian grammar.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "дешёвый" instead of "недорогой" when neutrality is needed. "дешёвый" can imply poor quality.
  Incorrect: Этот телефон дешёвый. (This phone is cheap - implying low quality.)
  Correct: Этот телефон недорогой. (This phone is affordable.)
• Error: Misusing "доступный" in contexts where only price is discussed, leading to ambiguity.
  Incorrect: Эта еда доступная. (This food is accessible - unclear if it means price or availability.)
  Correct: Эта еда недорогая. (This food is affordable.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussing affordability (especially with "недорогой") can sometimes reflect a practical mindset, as historically, economic considerations have been significant in everyday life. Using "доступный" in non-financial contexts (e.g., accessible education) often carries a positive connotation of inclusivity.

Related Concepts:

• цена (price)
• стоимость (cost)
• доступность (accessibility)