Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'as'

English Word: as

Key Russian Translations:

• как [kak] - [General, Comparison]
• в качестве [v kachéstve] - [Formal, Role/Function]
• поскольку [poskól’ku] - [Formal, Reason/Cause]

Frequency: High (especially for "как")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "как"); B2 (Intermediate for "в качестве" and "поскольку")

Pronunciation (Russian):

как: [kak]

Note on как: The stress is on the single syllable, pronounced with a clear, short 'a' sound.

в качестве: [v kachéstve]

Note on в качестве: Stress falls on "ка" in "качестве". The 'e' at the end is pronounced softly.

поскольку: [poskól’ku]

Note on поскольку: Stress is on "кól". The 'u' at the end is a reduced vowel sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Comparison or Manner (e.g., "as tall as")

Translation(s) & Context:

• как - Used for direct comparisons or to describe manner (e.g., "as I said").

Usage Examples:

• Он такой же высокий, как его брат.

  He is as tall as his brother.

• Сделай это так, как я показал.

  Do it as I showed you.

• Как ты думаешь, это правильно?

  As you think, is this correct?

2. Role or Function (e.g., "as a teacher")

Translation(s) & Context:

• в качестве - Used to indicate a role, capacity, or function, often in formal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я работаю в качестве переводчика.

  I work as a translator.

• Его пригласили в качестве эксперта.

  He was invited as an expert.

3. Reason or Cause (e.g., "as it was late")

Translation(s) & Context:

• поскольку - Used to express cause or reason, often in formal or written language.

Usage Examples:

• Мы остались дома, поскольку шел дождь.

  We stayed home as it was raining.

• Поскольку времени мало, давайте начнем.

  As there is little time, let’s begin.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

как: An adverb or conjunction, does not inflect. It remains unchanged in all contexts.

в качестве: A fixed prepositional phrase. "качество" (quality) can inflect based on case, but in this phrase, it is always in the prepositional case ("качестве").

поскольку: A conjunction, does not inflect. It is used as a fixed form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for как (comparison/manner):

• подобно
• словно

Note: "подобно" and "словно" are more poetic or literary, often used in written language rather than everyday speech.

Synonyms for поскольку (reason/cause):

• так как
• потому что

Note: "так как" and "потому что" are more conversational compared to the formal "поскольку".

Antonyms: Not directly applicable for conjunctions or adverbs like these.

Related Phrases:

• так же, как - "just as" or "in the same way as". Used for stronger emphasis in comparisons.
• в качестве примера - "as an example". Common in formal or academic contexts.
• поскольку я знаю - "as far as I know". A conversational phrase to express limited knowledge.

Usage Notes:

• "как" is the most versatile and frequent translation of "as", covering comparisons, manner, and some temporal uses. It is the default choice for beginners.
• "в качестве" is strictly used for roles or functions and sounds formal. Avoid using it in casual speech.
• "поскольку" is primarily used in formal or written contexts to indicate reason or cause. In spoken Russian, "потому что" or "так как" are more common.
• Be cautious when translating "as" into Russian, as the choice of word depends heavily on the context of the sentence.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "как" for roles or functions (e.g., *Я работаю как учитель* instead of "Я работаю в качестве учителя").
  Explanation: "как" is incorrect here because it implies comparison rather than role. Use "в качестве" for roles.
• Error: Overusing "поскольку" in casual speech (e.g., *Поскольку я устал, я ушел* instead of "Так как я устал, я ушел").
  Explanation: "поскольку" sounds overly formal in everyday conversation. Use "так как" or "потому что" instead.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the choice between formal and informal translations of "as" (like "поскольку" vs. "потому что") often reflects the speaker’s level of education or the context’s formality. Using "поскольку" in casual settings might make the speaker sound overly academic or stiff.

Related Concepts:

• потому что
• так как
• будучи