Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Answer'

English Word: Answer

Key Russian Translations:

• ответ [ˈotvʲet] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• отвечать [ɐtˈvʲetʲɪtʲ] - [Verb, To Respond]
• решение [rʲɪˈʂenʲɪjə] - [Neutral, Solution to a Problem]

Frequency: High (especially "ответ" and "отвечать")

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate for "ответ"; Intermediate for "отвечать" due to verb conjugations; B1 for "решение")

Pronunciation (Russian):

ответ: [ˈotvʲet]

Note on ответ: Stress on the first syllable; the "тв" combination can be tricky for non-native speakers.

отвечать: [ɐtˈvʲetʲɪtʲ]

Note on отвечать: Stress on the second syllable; note the soft "ч" sound.

решение: [rʲɪˈʂenʲɪjə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Response to a Question or Request

Translation(s) & Context:

• ответ - Used as a noun for a reply in most contexts (e.g., answering a question).
• отвечать - Verb form, used when describing the act of responding.

Usage Examples:

• Я жду твоего ответа.

  I am waiting for your answer.

• Он быстро ответил на вопрос.

  He quickly answered the question.

• Ответ был очень подробным.

  The answer was very detailed.

2. Solution to a Problem or Puzzle

Translation(s) & Context:

• решение - Used specifically for answers as solutions (e.g., to math problems or dilemmas).

Usage Examples:

• Решение задачи заняло час.

  Solving the problem took an hour.

• Мы нашли решение этой проблемы.

  We found the answer to this issue.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

ответ (Noun, Masculine):

отвечать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Example (Present): я отвечаю, ты отвечаешь, он/она отвечает, etc.

решение (Noun, Neuter): Follows standard neuter declension patterns similar to "ответ" but with different endings (e.g., Nominative Plural: решения).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for ответ:

• реакция (reaction, less formal)
• отклик (response, often emotional)

Antonyms for ответ:

• вопрос (question)
• молчание (silence)

Related Phrases:

• дать ответ - To give an answer (formal or neutral context).
• отвечать за свои слова - To answer for one’s words (to take responsibility).
• найти решение - To find an answer/solution (problem-solving context).

Usage Notes:

• "Ответ" is the most common translation for "answer" as a noun and can be used in most general contexts.
• "Отвечать" is the verb form and must be conjugated according to the subject and tense; it cannot be used as a standalone noun.
• "Решение" is reserved for contexts where "answer" means a solution to a problem or dilemma, not a reply to a question.
• Be mindful of formality: "ответ" is neutral, while certain phrases with "отвечать" can sound conversational or informal.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "отвечать" as a noun. Incorrect: "Мой отвечать был длинным." Correct: "Мой ответ был длинным." (My answer was long.) Explanation: "Отвечать" is a verb and cannot be used as a noun.
• Error: Confusing "ответ" and "решение." Incorrect: "Какой ответ у этой задачи?" when referring to a math problem. Correct: "Какое решение у этой задачи?" (What is the solution to this problem?)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, giving a direct "ответ" (answer) is often valued in formal and professional settings, but indirectness or hesitation may be more common in personal conversations to avoid confrontation. Additionally, answering the phone in Russian often involves saying "Алло" (Allo) rather than a direct "answer."

Related Concepts:

• вопрос (question)
• диалог (dialogue)
• проблема (problem)