Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'basically'

English Word: basically

Key Russian Translations:

• в основном [v ɐsˈnovnəm] - [Neutral, Common in written and spoken language]
• по сути [pɐ ˈsutʲi] - [Neutral, Often used to explain core meaning]
• в общем [v ˈobʂɨm] - [Informal, Conversational]

Frequency: High (All translations are commonly used in everyday Russian)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Intermediate - Suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

в основном: [v ɐsˈnovnəm]

Note on в основном: Stress falls on the second syllable "нов". The "о" sounds like a reduced "a" due to Russian vowel reduction.

по сути: [pɐ ˈsutʲi]

Note on по сути: Stress on "су", with a soft "т" sound due to the following "и".

в общем: [v ˈobʂɨm]

Note on в общем: Stress on "об", and the final "м" is pronounced softly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Essentially / Fundamentally (Core meaning or idea)

Translation(s) & Context:

• по сути - Used when summarizing or explaining the main point of something.
• в основном - Can also fit here, but often implies "for the most part".

Usage Examples:

• По сути, это простая идея.

  Basically, it's a simple idea.

• В основном, мы согласны с этим планом.

  Basically, we agree with this plan.

• По сути, всё зависит от тебя.

  Basically, everything depends on you.

2. Generally / For the most part (Indicating a general trend or majority)

Translation(s) & Context:

• в основном - Commonly used to describe something that applies in most cases.
• в общем - More conversational, often used to wrap up or generalize.

Usage Examples:

• Я в основном работаю из дома.

  I basically work from home.

• В общем, всё прошло хорошо.

  Basically, everything went well.

• В основном, люди здесь дружелюбные.

  Basically, people here are friendly.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adverbial phrases or fixed expressions in Russian and do not inflect or change form based on grammatical context. They remain invariant regardless of the sentence structure.

• в основном - Fixed adverbial phrase, no inflection.
• по сути - Fixed prepositional phrase, no inflection.
• в общем - Fixed phrase, though "общем" can technically vary in other contexts (e.g., as part of a larger phrase), but as used here, it remains unchanged.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• в целом (generally, on the whole) - Broader in scope than "в общем".
• практически (practically) - Closer to "almost" in some contexts.

Antonyms:

• в частности (in particular) - Focuses on specifics rather than generalities.
• детально (in detail) - Opposite of summarizing or generalizing.

Related Phrases:

• в основном и целом - "Basically and overall" (used for emphasis in summarizing).
• по сути дела - "Basically, in essence" (a stronger, more formal version of "по сути").
• в общем и целом - "Generally and basically" (a common conversational phrase to wrap up a point).

Usage Notes:

• "Basically" in English can be translated into Russian depending on the intended nuance. Use "по сути" when emphasizing the core or essence of something, "в основном" when referring to "for the most part," and "в общем" for a conversational or summarizing tone.
• These phrases are often placed at the beginning or middle of a sentence in Russian, similar to English usage of "basically".
• Be cautious with overusing "в общем" in formal writing, as it can sound too casual. Opt for "в основном" or "по сути" in such contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "в общем" in formal contexts.
  Incorrect: В общем, этот проект важен для компании.
  Correct: В основном, этот проект важен для компании.
  Explanation: "В общем" is too informal for professional or written contexts; "в основном" is a better choice.
• Error: Misplacing the phrase in a sentence, e.g., at the end.
  Incorrect: Я согласен с этим в основном.
  Correct: Я в основном согласен с этим.
  Explanation: These phrases typically appear at the start or middle of a sentence for natural flow in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, summarizing or generalizing with phrases like "в общем" is common in casual conversation, reflecting a cultural tendency to wrap up discussions with a broad statement. "По сути" often appears in intellectual or analytical discussions, as Russians value precision when discussing core ideas.

Related Concepts:

• в целом (generally)
• короче (in short, basically - very informal)
• по существу (essentially, on the merits)