Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'altogether'

English Word: altogether

Key Russian Translations:

• вместе [ˈvmʲestʲe] - [Informal, General Use]
• всего [ˈfsʲevo] - [Formal, Often Used with Quantities]
• в целом [ˈv ˈtseləm] - [Formal, Meaning 'On the Whole']

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for 'вместе'; B1 for 'всего' and 'в целом')

Pronunciation (Russian):

вместе: [ˈvmʲestʲe]

Note on вместе: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'е' is pronounced as a soft 'ye' sound.

всего: [ˈfsʲevo]

Note on всего: Stress on the first syllable. The 'о' at the end is reduced to a schwa-like sound in rapid speech.

в целом: [ˈv ˈtseləm]

Note on в целом: Two-word phrase with stress on the first syllable of 'целом'. Pronounced distinctly as separate words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Meaning: 'All Together' (As a Group)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вместе - Used when referring to people or things being in one place or acting collectively.

Usage Examples:

• Мы поехали вместе на отдых.

  We went on vacation altogether (together).

• Давайте работать вместе над этим проектом.

  Let's work altogether on this project.

• Они живут вместе в одной квартире.

  They live altogether in one apartment.

2. Meaning: 'In Total' (Sum or Quantity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• всего - Used when indicating a total amount or sum, often with numbers.

Usage Examples:

• У меня всего десять рублей.

  I have altogether ten rubles.

• Всего за час мы собрали сто подписей.

  Altogether, we collected a hundred signatures in one hour.

3. Meaning: 'On the Whole' (Generally Speaking)

Translation(s) & Context:

• в целом - Used to summarize or give a general opinion or assessment.

Usage Examples:

• В целом, мне понравился фильм.

  Altogether (on the whole), I liked the movie.

• В целом, ситуация выглядит стабильной.

  Altogether, the situation looks stable.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

вместе: An adverb, does not change form. Used consistently regardless of grammatical context.

всего: An adverb derived from the pronoun 'всё' (all). It remains invariable in most contexts but can reflect genitive case influence in phrases like 'всего хорошего' (all the best).

в целом: A fixed prepositional phrase (в + locative case of 'целое'). Does not inflect or change form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for 'вместе':

• совместно (more formal, collaborative)
• вдвоём (specifically for two people)

Synonyms for 'всего':

• итого (used in summing up, formal)

Synonyms for 'в целом':

• в общем (less formal, 'generally')
• в основном (closer to 'mainly')

Antonyms:

• по отдельности (separately, for 'вместе')
• частично (partially, for 'всего' or 'в целом')

Related Phrases:

• вместе с тем - 'at the same time' (used to introduce a contrasting point)
• всего хорошего - 'all the best' (common farewell phrase)
• в целом и в частности - 'in general and in particular' (used in formal discussions)

Usage Notes:

• 'вместе' is the most versatile and commonly used translation for 'altogether' when referring to collective actions or physical togetherness. It is informal and widely understood.
• 'всего' is strictly used for totals or quantities and cannot be substituted for other meanings of 'altogether'.
• 'в целом' is formal and often appears in written or academic contexts to mean 'on the whole'. It is not interchangeable with 'вместе'.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing the correct Russian translation, as the meanings of 'altogether' diverge significantly in Russian.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'вместе' to mean 'in total'. Example: *У меня вместе 10 рублей* (Incorrect).
  Correct Usage: У меня всего 10 рублей.
  Explanation: 'вместе' implies physical or collaborative togetherness, not a numerical total.
• Error: Using 'всего' in a context of general summary. Example: *Всего, фильм был хороший* (Incorrect).
  Correct Usage: В целом, фильм был хороший.
  Explanation: 'всего' is for quantities; 'в целом' is for general assessments.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of 'вместе' (togetherness) carries significant emotional and social weight, often reflecting the value placed on community and collective effort. Phrases like 'вместе мы сила' (together we are strong) are common in motivational contexts.

Related Concepts:

• единство (unity)
• общность (community)
• сумма (sum, total)