Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Babylonian'

English Word: Babylonian

Key Russian Translations:

• вавилонский /vəvɪˈlonskʲɪj/ - [Adjective, Formal, Used in historical or cultural contexts]

Frequency: Low (This term is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation but appears in academic, historical, or literary discussions.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires familiarity with Russian adjective declensions and historical vocabulary; suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic grammar.

Pronunciation (Russian):

вавилонский: /vəvɪˈlonskʲɪj/

Note on вавилонский: The stress falls on the third syllable ("lon"), and the "кʲ" sound is a palatalized 'k', which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, quick ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to ancient Babylon (as an adjective describing origins, culture, or history)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вавилонский - Used in formal or academic contexts to describe anything associated with the ancient Babylonian civilization, such as language, art, or history.

Usage Examples:

• Вавилонский язык оказал влияние на многие древние культуры. (Vavilonkiy yazyk okazal vliyaniye na mnogiye drevniye kultury.)

  The Babylonian language influenced many ancient cultures. (This example shows the adjective in a historical discussion.)

• Этот музей имеет коллекцию вавилонских артефактов. (Etot muzey imayet kollektsiyu vavilonkikh artefaktov.)

  This museum has a collection of Babylonian artifacts. (Illustrates use in a cultural or museum context.)

• Вавилонские легенды часто упоминаются в мировой литературе. (Vavilonkiye legendy chasto upominayutsya v mirovoy literature.)

  Babylonian legends are often mentioned in world literature. (Demonstrates plural agreement in a literary context.)

• Изучение вавилонской астрономии открывает новые горизонты. (Izucheniye vavilonkoy astronomii otkryvayet novyye gorizonty.)

  Studying Babylonian astronomy opens new horizons. (Shows the adjective with a genitive noun in an educational setting.)

• Вавилонский период истории интересен для археологов. (Vavilonkiy period istorii interesen dlya arkheologov.)

  The Babylonian period of history is interesting for archaeologists. (Highlights use in temporal or historical descriptions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

вавилонский is an adjective in Russian, which follows the standard first-declension adjective pattern. It changes based on gender, number, and case. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective is regular and follows standard rules; no irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вавилонский – близкий (blizhniy) [used for similar historical proximity, but less specific]
  • вавилонский – древний (drevniy) [general term for ancient, but not exclusive to Babylon]
• Antonyms:
  • современный (sovremennyy) [modern, contrasting with ancient historical terms]
  • западный (zapadnyy) [western, if contrasting cultural spheres]

Related Phrases:

• вавилонская башня (vavilonkaya bashnya) - Refers to the Tower of Babel, often used metaphorically for confusion or ambition.
• вавилонское царство (vavilonkoye tsarstvo) - Denotes the Babylonian Empire, in historical or educational contexts.
• вавилонские хроники (vavilonkiye khroniki) - Babylonian chronicles, used in discussions of ancient records.

Usage Notes:

This translation corresponds closely to the English "Babylonian" as an adjective, emphasizing historical or cultural aspects. In Russian, use вавилонский in formal writing or academic discussions; avoid in casual speech. When selecting between synonyms like древний, choose вавилонский for specificity. Grammatically, ensure agreement with the noun's gender, number, and case, as Russian adjectives must declinate accordingly.

• Context tip: It's often paired with nouns related to history, archaeology, or mythology.
• Multiple translations: If a more general term is needed, древний can substitute, but вавилонский is preferred for precision.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget to decline the adjective correctly. For example:

• Error: Saying "вавилонский музей" incorrectly in other cases, e.g., using the nominative form everywhere.
• Correct: In genitive, it should be "вавилонского музея" (of the Babylonian museum). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always check the noun's case.
• Another error: Confusing it with similar-sounding words like "вавилон" (Babylon as a noun), leading to misuse in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "вавилонский" often evokes the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, symbolizing confusion of languages and human hubris. This term is frequently used in educational contexts to discuss ancient Mesopotamian civilizations, reflecting Russia's interest in world history and archaeology.

Related Concepts:

• ассирийский (assiriyskiy)
• шумерский (shumerskiy)
• древневосточный (drevne-vostochnyy)