Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Age'

English Word: age

Key Russian Translations:

• возраст [ˈvozrast] - [Formal, Neutral]
• возрасты [ˈvozrasty] - [Plural, Formal]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

возраст: [ˈvozrast]

Note on возраст: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'р' sound is rolled, which might be challenging for non-native speakers.

возрасты: [ˈvozrasty]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Chronological Age (e.g., how old someone is)

Translation(s) & Context:

• возраст - Used in formal and neutral contexts to refer to someone's age in years.

Usage Examples:

• Какой у вас возраст?

  What is your age?

• Возраст ребёнка - пять лет.

  The child's age is five years.

• В этом возрасте люди часто меняют профессию.

  At this age, people often change professions.

• Возраст не имеет значения для дружбы.

  Age doesn't matter for friendship.

• Её возраст трудно определить.

  Her age is hard to determine.

2. Era or Period (e.g., historical age)

Translation(s) & Context:

• возраст - Can refer to a historical period or era in a metaphorical sense.

Usage Examples:

• Это был возраст великих открытий.

  It was the age of great discoveries.

• Мы живём в цифровой возраст.

  We live in the digital age.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

возраст (noun, masculine, inanimate)

Declension follows the standard second declension pattern for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• года (informal, often used for someone's years)
• эпоха (for historical age or era)

Note: "года" is more colloquial and often used when speaking about someone's age in years, while "эпоха" is specific to historical periods.

Antonyms:

• молодость (youth)

Related Phrases:

• в возрасте - "at the age of" (used to specify someone's age at a certain time)
• возрастной ценз - "age limit" (used in formal contexts like voting or legal restrictions)
• золотой возраст - "golden age" (used metaphorically for a peak period)

Usage Notes:

• "возраст" is the most neutral and widely used term for "age" in Russian, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
• When referring to someone's age, Russians often use "года" (years) in informal speech, e.g., "Сколько тебе лет?" (How old are you?). However, "возраст" is preferred in written or formal settings.
• Be mindful of the case usage of "возраст" as it changes based on the grammatical structure of the sentence (see declension table above).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "возраст" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "в возраст" instead of "в возрасте" (in the age of).
  Correct: "в возрасте 20 лет" (at the age of 20).
  Explanation: The preposition "в" requires the prepositional case when used with "возраст" to indicate "at the age of."
• Error: Confusing "возраст" with "года" in formal writing.
  Correct: Use "возраст" in formal contexts like documents or surveys.
  Explanation: "года" is more conversational and should be avoided in professional settings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, asking someone's age directly ("Сколько тебе лет?") is generally acceptable, especially among peers or in informal settings. However, in formal or professional contexts, it may be considered impolite to inquire about age unless necessary, similar to many Western cultures. Additionally, age milestones (e.g., 18, 30, 50) often carry cultural significance and are celebrated with special attention.

Related Concepts:

• год (year)
• лет (years, as in age expression)
• старость (old age)
• молодость (youth)