Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Athletics'

English Word: athletics

Key Russian Translations:

• атлетика [ɐtˈlʲetʲɪkə] - [Formal, General Term for Sports]
• лёгкая атлетика [ˈlʲoxkəjə ɐtˈlʲetʲɪkə] - [Formal, Specifically Track and Field]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in sports contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

атлетика: [ɐtˈlʲetʲɪkə]

Note on атлетика: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "е" is pronounced as "ye."

лёгкая атлетика: [ˈlʲoxkəjə ɐtˈlʲetʲɪkə]

Note on лёгкая атлетика: Stress is on the first syllable of "лёгкая" and the second syllable of "атлетика." The "ё" is always stressed and pronounced as "yo."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General Sports or Physical Activities

Translation(s) & Context:

• атлетика - Used broadly to refer to sports or athletic activities in general, often in formal or written contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Атлетика играет важную роль в развитии молодёжи.

  Athletics plays an important role in the development of youth.

• Он увлекается атлетикой с детства.

  He has been passionate about athletics since childhood.

• Наш университет поддерживает атлетику на высоком уровне.

  Our university supports athletics at a high level.

2. Track and Field Sports

Translation(s) & Context:

• лёгкая атлетика - Specifically refers to track and field events, such as running, jumping, and throwing. Common in both formal and informal contexts related to sports.

Usage Examples:

• Лёгкая атлетика — это основа Олимпийских игр.

  Track and field is the foundation of the Olympic Games.

• Она тренируется в лёгкой атлетике каждый день.

  She trains in track and field every day.

• Соревнования по лёгкой атлетике пройдут на стадионе.

  Track and field competitions will take place at the stadium.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

атлетика (Feminine Noun):

Case	Singular
Nominative	атлетика
Genitive	атлетики
Dative	атлетике
Accusative	атлетику
Instrumental	атлетикой
Prepositional	об атлетике

Note: "атлетика" is rarely used in plural form as it typically refers to the concept of athletics.

лёгкая атлетика (Feminine Noun Phrase):

The noun "атлетика" follows the same declension as above. The adjective "лёгкая" agrees with "атлетика" in gender, number, and case, e.g., "лёгкой атлетики" (Genitive Singular).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for атлетика:

• спорт (broader term for sports)

Note: "спорт" is more general and can refer to any sport, while "атлетика" often implies physical or competitive activities.

Synonyms for лёгкая атлетика:

• No direct synonyms; often described per event (e.g., бег - running)

Antonyms:

• No direct antonyms; contextually, "пассивность" (passivity) could be used as an opposite concept.

Related Phrases:

• заниматься атлетикой - To engage in athletics (general).
• соревнования по лёгкой атлетике - Track and field competitions.
• атлетический зал - Athletic gym or training hall.

Usage Notes:

• "атлетика" is a general term for athletics or sports, often used in formal or written contexts. It does not always specify track and field.
• "лёгкая атлетика" explicitly refers to track and field sports and is the more precise term when discussing events like running or jumping. It is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.
• English speakers should be cautious not to overuse "атлетика" when referring to specific sports; context often dictates the appropriate term.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "атлетика" to refer specifically to track and field.
  Incorrect: Я участвую в атлетике на беговой дорожке.
  Correct: Я участвую в лёгкой атлетике на беговой дорожке.
  Explanation: "лёгкая атлетика" is the correct term for track and field events.
• Error: Mispronouncing "лёгкая" by ignoring the stress on "ё."
  Explanation: Always stress the "ё" in "лёгкая" to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "лёгкая атлетика" holds significant importance due to the country's historical success in Olympic track and field events. Athletics is often associated with national pride, especially during international competitions.

Related Concepts:

• спорт (sports)
• бег (running)
• прыжки (jumping)
• метание (throwing)