Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Antiquity'

English Word: antiquity

Key Russian Translations:

• древность [ˈdrʲevnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Often used in historical contexts]
• старина [stərʲɪˈna] - [Neutral, Can refer to old times or old objects]

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

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

древность: [ˈdrʲevnəsʲtʲ]

Note on древность: Stress falls on the first syllable. The soft 'д' and 'н' sounds may be challenging for non-native speakers.

старина: [stərʲɪˈna]

Note on старина: Stress on the last syllable. The rolled 'р' requires practice.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Ancient Times or History

Translation(s) & Context:

• древность - Primarily used to denote ancient history or eras (e.g., Ancient Greece or Rome).

Usage Examples:

• В древности люди поклонялись многим богам.

  In antiquity, people worshipped many gods.

• История древности полна загадок.

  The history of antiquity is full of mysteries.

• Мы изучаем искусство древности на уроках.

  We study the art of antiquity in our lessons.

2. Old or Antique Objects

Translation(s) & Context:

• старина - Refers to old things, often with a sense of nostalgia or value (e.g., antiques or relics).

Usage Examples:

• Этот стол — настоящая старина.

  This table is a real piece of antiquity.

• В музее хранится много старины.

  The museum holds many antiquities.

• Он коллекционирует предметы старины.

  He collects items of antiquity.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

древность (Noun, Feminine): Follows the standard declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -ость.

Case	Singular
Nominative	древность
Genitive	древности
Dative	древности
Accusative	древность
Instrumental	древностью
Prepositional	древности

старина (Noun, Feminine): Follows the standard declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -а.

Case	Singular
Nominative	старина
Genitive	старины
Dative	старине
Accusative	старину
Instrumental	стариной
Prepositional	старине

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for древность:

• античность
• давность

Note: античность is more specific to classical antiquity (Greek/Roman), while давность implies a general sense of elapsed time.

Synonyms for старина:

• древнина
• раритет

Antonyms:

• современность (modernity)
• новизна (novelty)

Related Phrases:

• времена древности - "times of antiquity" (refers to ancient eras).
• предмет старины - "an item of antiquity" (refers to an old or antique object).
• дух старины - "spirit of antiquity" (a nostalgic or historical atmosphere).

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between translations: Use "древность" when referring to ancient history or eras, and "старина" for old objects or a sense of nostalgia.
• Formality: "древность" is more formal and academic, while "старина" can be used in casual or affectionate contexts.
• Grammar: Both are feminine nouns, so adjectives and verbs must agree accordingly.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up translations: English learners often use "старина" when referring to ancient history. Incorrect: "История старины полна загадок." Correct: "История древности полна загадок."
• Declension errors: Failing to decline the noun properly in sentences. Incorrect: "Я интересуюсь о древность." Correct: "Я интересуюсь древностью." (Instrumental case required after "интересуюсь").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "старина" often evokes a sense of nostalgia for the past, especially in rural or traditional contexts. It may refer to old customs, stories, or objects passed down through generations. On the other hand, "древность" connects more directly to scholarly discussions of ancient civilizations, often studied in academic settings.

Related Concepts:

• античность (classical antiquity)
• история (history)
• традиция (tradition)