Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Afternoon'

English Word: afternoon

Key Russian Translations:

• день [dʲenʲ] - [Neutral, General Use]
• вторая половина дня [ftɐˈraja pɐlɐˈvʲinə ˈdnʲa] - [Formal, Descriptive]

Frequency: High (especially for "день")

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "день"; B1 (Intermediate) for "вторая половина дня"

Pronunciation (Russian):

день: [dʲenʲ]

Note on день: The soft "д" sound (indicated by [dʲ]) is a common feature in Russian. Ensure the tongue touches the palate lightly for the palatalized sound.

вторая половина дня: [ftɐˈraja pɐlɐˈvʲinə ˈdnʲa]

Note on вторая половина дня: Stress falls on the second syllable of "вторая" and "половина", and the last word "дня" carries a secondary stress.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General Time of Day (After Midday)

Translation(s) & Context:

• день - Commonly used to refer to the afternoon in everyday speech, often in casual or neutral contexts.
• вторая половина дня - Literally "second half of the day", used in formal or precise contexts to specify the time after midday.

Usage Examples:

• Я приду во второй половине дня.

  I will come in the afternoon (literally: in the second half of the day).

• Давай встретимся днём.

  Let's meet in the afternoon.

• Во второй половине дня будет собрание.

  There will be a meeting in the afternoon.

• Днём я обычно занят.

  I am usually busy in the afternoon.

• Она позвонит днём.

  She will call in the afternoon.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

день (noun, masculine): This word follows regular noun declension patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. It changes based on case and number.

вторая половина дня (phrase): This is a fixed expression. While "вторая" (second) and "половина" (half) can inflect independently, the whole phrase often remains unchanged in casual use. "Дня" is the genitive singular form of "день".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for день (in the context of afternoon):

• послеобеденное время (post-lunch time, more specific)

Antonyms for день (in the context of afternoon):

• утро (morning)
• вечер (evening)

Related Phrases:

• во второй половине дня - "in the afternoon"; used to specify a time frame after midday.
• днём и ночью - "day and night"; a common idiom meaning "all the time".
• среди дня - "in the middle of the day"; often refers to afternoon hours.

Usage Notes:

• "День" is the most common and versatile translation for "afternoon" in everyday speech. It can also mean "day" in broader contexts, so the meaning often depends on the surrounding words or time frame discussed.
• "Вторая половина дня" is more formal and precise, often used in written language or schedules. It explicitly refers to the time after midday.
• When using "день", be mindful of the instrumental case "днём" when indicating time, as in "днём я занят" (I am busy in the afternoon).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "день" in the wrong case. For example, saying "Я приду день" instead of "Я приду днём". Explanation: The instrumental case "днём" is required when indicating a time of day.
• Error: Overusing "вторая половина дня" in casual speech. Explanation: This phrase sounds overly formal in everyday conversations; native speakers prefer "днём" for simplicity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "afternoon" often aligns with a slower pace, especially in smaller towns or rural areas, where people may take a break after lunch. The word "день" carries a broader cultural weight as it also means "day", often associated with light and activity, in contrast to "ночь" (night).

Related Concepts:

• утро (morning)
• вечер (evening)
• полдень (midday)