Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'among'

English Word: among

Key Russian Translations:

• среди [ˈsrʲedʲɪ] - [Neutral, Commonly Used]
• между [ˈmʲeʐdʊ] - [Neutral, Often for Physical Position]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

среди: [ˈsrʲedʲɪ]

Note on среди: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'r' is rolled, and 'e' sounds like 'ye'.

между: [ˈmʲeʐdʊ]

Note on между: Stress on the first syllable. The 'zh' sound is similar to the 's' in 'measure'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. In the middle of or surrounded by (a group or things)

Translation(s) & Context:

• среди - Used for abstract or figurative contexts, e.g., "among friends."
• между - Often used for physical placement, e.g., "among the trees."

Usage Examples:

• Он был среди друзей на вечеринке.

  He was among friends at the party.

• Она сидела среди цветов в саду.

  She sat among the flowers in the garden.

• Между деревьями виднелся дом.

  A house could be seen among the trees.

• Среди нас есть талантливые люди.

  There are talented people among us.

• Разделите это между собой.

  Divide this among yourselves.

2. Included in or part of (a group or category)

Translation(s) & Context:

• среди - Used to indicate inclusion in a group or category.

Usage Examples:

• Среди студентов были иностранцы.

  There were foreigners among the students.

• Он считается одним из лучших среди коллег.

  He is considered one of the best among his colleagues.

• Среди причин была и его ошибка.

  His mistake was among the reasons.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

среди and между are prepositions in Russian and do not inflect. They are always used in their base form and govern specific cases:

• среди - Used with the genitive case (e.g., среди друзей - among friends).
• между - Used with the genitive case for multiple entities (e.g., между нами - among us) or instrumental case in some contexts (e.g., между делом - in between tasks).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for среди/между:

• посреди (more emphatic, often physical center)
• в кругу (in the circle of, often figurative for social groups)

Note: "посреди" is more specific to a central position, while "в кругу" is often used for intimate or social contexts.

Antonyms:

• вне (outside of)
• за пределами (beyond, outside the limits of)

Related Phrases:

• среди прочего - among other things (used to list examples).
• между строк - between the lines (figurative, implying hidden meaning).
• среди нас - among us (common in discussions of groups).

Usage Notes:

• "Among" is primarily translated as "среди" when referring to being part of a group or abstract inclusion. Use "между" when indicating a physical or spatial position between multiple entities.
• Both prepositions require the genitive case in most contexts, which may be challenging for English speakers unfamiliar with Russian case system.
• Choosing between "среди" and "между" depends on context: "среди" is broader and more versatile, while "между" often implies a more specific or limited set of entities (e.g., between two or a small group).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "между" when referring to a large or abstract group. Incorrect: "между студентами" for "among students."
  Correct: "среди студентов."
  Explanation: "между" is typically used for smaller, defined sets or physical positioning.
• Error: Forgetting to use the genitive case after these prepositions. Incorrect: "среди студент."
  Correct: "среди студентов."
  Explanation: Russian prepositions like "среди" and "между" govern specific cases, and omitting this leads to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of being "among" others, especially in social contexts (e.g., "среди друзей" - among friends), often carries a sense of belonging or community, reflecting the cultural emphasis on group identity in many Russian-speaking societies.

Related Concepts:

• вместе (together)
• рядом (nearby, next to)
• около (near, around)