Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Bachelor'

English Word: bachelor

Key Russian Translations:

• холостяк [xɐlɐˈstʲak] - [Informal, Singular, Masculine]
• бакалавр [bəkɐˈlaʊr] - [Formal, Academic Context, Singular, Masculine]

Frequency: Medium (both translations are used, but context-dependent)

Difficulty: A2 (холостяк - Beginner to Intermediate); B1 (бакалавр - Intermediate due to academic context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

холостяк: [xɐlɐˈstʲak]

Note on холостяк: The stress falls on the second syllable. The initial 'х' is a voiceless fricative, similar to a strong 'h' sound in English.

бакалавр: [bəkɐˈlaʊr]

Note on бакалавр: The stress is on the third syllable. The 'р' at the end is rolled slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A man who has never been married

Translation(s) & Context:

• холостяк - Used to describe an unmarried man, often with a casual or colloquial tone.

Usage Examples:

• Он уже за тридцать, но всё ещё холостяк.

  He is over thirty, but still a bachelor.

• Мой брат - настоящий холостяк, он любит свободу.

  My brother is a true bachelor; he loves his freedom.

• Холостяки часто проводят вечера с друзьями.

  Bachelors often spend evenings with friends.

2. A person who holds a bachelor's degree

Translation(s) & Context:

• бакалавр - Used in formal or academic contexts to refer to someone with a bachelor's degree.

Usage Examples:

• Она получила степень бакалавра в прошлом году.

  She received her bachelor's degree last year.

• Бакалавр экономики может продолжить обучение в магистратуре.

  A bachelor of economics can continue studying for a master's degree.

• У нас в университете много бакалавров из разных стран.

  We have many bachelors from different countries at our university.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

холостяк (Masculine Noun): Follows the standard masculine noun declension in Russian.

бакалавр (Masculine Noun): Also follows the standard masculine noun declension, with similar patterns to "холостяк".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for холостяк (unmarried man):

• неженатый
• свободный мужчина

Note: "неженатый" is more formal than "холостяк", while "свободный мужчина" is a descriptive phrase rather than a single word.

Antonyms for холостяк (unmarried man):

• женатый
• муж

Synonyms for бакалавр (degree holder):

• выпускник (in some contexts)

Related Phrases:

• закоренелый холостяк - A confirmed bachelor (someone unlikely to ever marry).
• жизнь холостяка - Bachelor's life (a lifestyle associated with being single).
• степень бакалавра - Bachelor's degree (the academic qualification).

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "холостяк" and "бакалавр" depends entirely on context. Use "холостяк" when referring to marital status and "бакалавр" for academic degrees.
• "холостяк" can sometimes carry a playful or slightly negative connotation, implying someone who avoids commitment.
• "бакалавр" is a formal term and is rarely used outside educational or professional settings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "холостяк" to refer to a bachelor's degree. Incorrect: "Он получил холостяка в университете." Correct: "Он получил степень бакалавра в университете."
• Error: Using "бакалавр" to describe marital status. Incorrect: "Он бакалавр, поэтому не женат." Correct: "Он холостяк, поэтому не женат."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "холостяк" often implies a certain social expectation or curiosity about why a man remains unmarried, especially past a certain age. It can be a topic of light-hearted teasing. On the other hand, "бакалавр" reflects the growing adoption of Western academic terminology in post-Soviet education systems, where it was introduced relatively recently.

Related Concepts:

• брак (marriage)
• свобода (freedom)
• магистр (master's degree)
• образование (education)