Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Belong'

English Word: belong

Key Russian Translations:

• принадлежать [prʲɪnədˈlʲeʐatʲ] - [Formal, Used for ownership or affiliation]
• быть частью [bɨtʲ ˈt͡ɕastʲju] - [Informal, Used for being part of a group or whole]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "принадлежать"; A2 (Elementary) for "быть частью"

Pronunciation (Russian):

принадлежать: [prʲɪnədˈlʲeʐatʲ]

Note on принадлежать: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced fricative, similar to the 's' in "measure".

быть частью: [bɨtʲ ˈt͡ɕastʲju]

Note on быть частью: Stress falls on "часть". The "ч" sound is like 'ch' in "church".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To be owned by someone or something

Translation(s) & Context:

• принадлежать - Used in formal contexts to indicate ownership or affiliation (e.g., property, organization).

Usage Examples:

• Эта книга принадлежит мне.

  This book belongs to me.

• Земля принадлежит государству.

  The land belongs to the state.

• Он принадлежит к известной семье.

  He belongs to a well-known family.

2. To be a part of a group or entity

Translation(s) & Context:

• быть частью - Used in informal or neutral contexts to express being part of something (e.g., a team, community).

Usage Examples:

• Я хочу быть частью этой команды.

  I want to belong to this team.

• Она чувствует себя частью общества.

  She feels like she belongs to the community.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

принадлежать (Verb, Imperfective): This verb conjugates regularly according to the second conjugation pattern in Russian. It is often used with the Dative case to indicate the owner.

быть частью (Phrase): The verb "быть" (to be) conjugates irregularly, while "частью" is the instrumental case of "часть" (part). The phrase structure remains consistent across contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for принадлежать:

• входить (to be included)
• относиться (to relate to)

Note: "входить" is often used for physical inclusion, while "относиться" implies a conceptual connection.

Antonyms for принадлежать:

• отчуждаться (to be alienated)

Related Phrases:

• принадлежать к группе - To belong to a group; often used in social or professional contexts.
• быть частью истории - To be part of history; used for significant contributions or events.

Usage Notes:

• "Принадлежать" is more formal and often used in written language or official contexts. It directly corresponds to ownership or affiliation in English.
• "Быть частью" is more conversational and emphasizes emotional or conceptual belonging rather than legal ownership.
• When using "принадлежать", pair it with the Dative case to indicate the owner (e.g., "мне" for "to me").

Common Errors:

• Incorrect Case Usage with "принадлежать": English learners often forget to use the Dative case, saying "Эта книга принадлежит я" instead of "Эта книга принадлежит мне". Correct form: Use Dative ("мне").
• Overusing "быть частью": Learners may overuse this phrase in formal contexts where "принадлежать" is more appropriate. Example of error: "Земля быть частью государства" instead of "Земля принадлежит государству".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of belonging (especially through "принадлежать") can carry a strong sense of collective identity, often tied to family, community, or national heritage. Expressing belonging to a group or place is a common theme in Russian literature and speech.

Related Concepts:

• сообщество (community)
• идентичность (identity)
• собственность (ownership)