Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Aged'

English Word: aged

Key Russian Translations:

• пожилой [pɐʐɨˈɫoj] - [Formal, Informal, Adjective]
• старый [ˈstarɨj] - [Neutral, Adjective, Can be pejorative in some contexts]
• престарелый [prʲɪstɐˈrʲelɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Often used in legal or medical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in descriptions of people or objects)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; varies by context and nuance)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пожилой: [pɐʐɨˈɫoj]

Note on пожилой: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ж' sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, unique to Russian.

старый: [ˈstarɨj]

Note on старый: Stress on the first syllable. The 'ы' sound is a central vowel, distinct from English sounds.

престарелый: [prʲɪstɐˈrʲelɨj]

Note on престарелый: Stress on the third syllable. The prefix 'пре-' adds a sense of 'beyond' or 'excessive' age.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Referring to an elderly person

Translation(s) & Context:

• пожилой - Used to describe someone who is elderly, often with a neutral or respectful tone.
• престарелый - More formal, often used in official contexts to refer to very old individuals.

Usage Examples:

• Пожилой мужчина читал газету в парке.

  An aged man was reading a newspaper in the park.

• Престарелые люди нуждаются в особой заботе.

  Aged people need special care.

• Моя пожилая соседка всегда улыбается.

  My aged neighbor always smiles.

2. Referring to something old or matured (e.g., wine, cheese)

Translation(s) & Context:

• старый - Used for objects or things that have aged, sometimes implying wear or obsolescence.
• выдержанный - Specifically for food/drink like wine or cheese, implying maturation.

Usage Examples:

• Это старое вино очень ценится.

  This aged wine is highly valued.

• Выдержанный сыр имеет насыщенный вкус.

  Aged cheese has a rich flavor.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

пожилой (Adjective): Changes according to gender, number, and case as per Russian adjective declension rules.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	пожилой	пожилая	пожилое	пожилые
Genitive	пожилого	пожилой	пожилого	пожилых

старый (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as above.

престарелый (Adjective): Declines similarly but is less commonly used in plural forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for пожилой:

• старший
• в возрасте

Note: 'старший' often implies relative age (e.g., elder sibling), while 'в возрасте' is a neutral descriptive phrase.

Antonyms for пожилой/старый:

• молодой
• юный

Related Phrases:

• пожилой возраст - "old age" (refers to the stage of life)
• старый друг - "old friend" (implies long-standing friendship)
• выдержанное вино - "aged wine" (refers to matured wine)

Usage Notes:

• 'пожилой' is the safest and most respectful term to describe elderly people in most contexts. It avoids negative connotations.
• 'старый' can be used for both people and objects, but when referring to people, it might sound rude or dismissive unless softened by context.
• 'престарелый' is very formal and often appears in written or official language, less common in everyday speech.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using 'старый' to describe an elderly person in a formal or polite setting.

Incorrect: Старый человек попросил помощи. (Sounds harsh or disrespectful)

Correct: Пожилой человек попросил помощи. (Neutral and polite)

Error 2: Misusing 'престарелый' in casual conversation, making speech sound overly formal or awkward.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, respect for the elderly is deeply ingrained. Terms like 'пожилой' are preferred in polite conversation to avoid offending someone by implying they are "old" in a negative sense with 'старый'. Additionally, addressing or describing older individuals often involves affectionate or respectful diminutives.

Related Concepts:

• возраст
• старость
• молодость