Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ancient'

English Word: ancient

Key Russian Translations:

• древний [ˈdrʲevnʲɪj] - [Formal, General Use]
• старинный [stɐˈrʲinnɨj] - [Neutral, Often for Objects or Traditions]
• ветхий [ˈvʲetxʲɪj] - [Formal, Often for Old and Worn-Out Things]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in historical or literary contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on context and translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

древний: [ˈdrʲevnʲɪj]

Note on древний: Stress on the first syllable; the 'r' is rolled, and 'e' sounds like 'ye'.

старинный: [stɐˈrʲinnɨj]

Note on старинный: Stress on the second syllable; the 'ы' sounds like a short 'i'.

ветхий: [ˈvʲetxʲɪj]

Note on ветхий: Stress on the first syllable; 'х' is a guttural sound similar to 'h' in 'loch'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Very old, from a distant past (historical or mythological)

Translation(s) & Context:

• древний - Used for historical eras, civilizations, or ancient times (e.g., Ancient Greece).

Usage Examples:

• Древний Рим был великой империей.

  Ancient Rome was a great empire.

• Это древний текст, написанный на санскрите.

  This is an ancient text written in Sanskrit.

• Древние боги всё ещё почитаются в некоторых культурах.

  Ancient gods are still revered in some cultures.

2. Old in terms of objects or traditions (not necessarily historical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• старинный - Refers to old objects, customs, or styles, often with a nostalgic tone.

Usage Examples:

• У бабушки есть старинный сундук.

  Grandma has an ancient (old) chest.

• Это старинная русская песня.

  This is an ancient (traditional) Russian song.

3. Old and worn out (often with a negative connotation)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ветхий - Refers to something very old and dilapidated, often physical objects or structures.

Usage Examples:

• Этот ветхий дом скоро рухнет.

  This ancient (dilapidated) house will collapse soon.

• Ветхий свитер порвался на куски.

  The ancient (worn-out) sweater tore into pieces.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

древний (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case, following standard Russian adjective patterns.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	древний	древняя	древнее	древние
Genitive	древнего	древней	древнего	древних

старинный (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as древний.

ветхий (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as древний, with a focus on physical decay.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for древний:

• старый (general term for old, less formal)
• античный (specifically for antiquity, formal)

Note: античный is more specific to classical antiquity (Greek/Roman), while древний is broader.

Antonyms for древний:

• новый (new)
• современный (modern)

Related Phrases:

• древний мир - Ancient world (refers to historical ancient civilizations).
• старинный обычай - Ancient (old) custom (refers to traditional practices).
• ветхий завет - Old Testament (a fixed religious term).

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between "древний", "старинный", and "ветхий" depends on context. Use "древний" for historical or distant past references, "старинный" for old objects or traditions with a neutral or nostalgic tone, and "ветхий" for something old and physically worn out.

• These words are adjectives and must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key feature of Russian grammar.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "ветхий" to describe ancient history (e.g., Веткая Греция instead of Древняя Греция). Explanation: "ветхий" implies physical decay, not historical age. Correct usage: Древняя Греция (Ancient Greece).

• Error: Failing to decline adjectives according to the noun's case. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun in case, gender, and number. For example, "древний город" (nominative) becomes "древнего города" (genitive).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "древний" often evokes a sense of reverence for history, especially when referring to "Древняя Русь" (Ancient Rus), the historical precursor to modern Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Understanding this cultural weight can help learners use the term more authentically.

Related Concepts:

• история (history)
• археология (archaeology)
• античность (antiquity)