Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Both'

English Word: Both

Key Russian Translations:

• оба [ˈoba] - [Masculine/Neuter, Plural]
• обе [ˈobʲe] - [Feminine, Plural]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

оба: [ˈoba]

Note on оба: Stress falls on the first syllable; the "o" is pronounced as a clear, open vowel.

обе: [ˈobʲe]

Note on обе: Similar to "оба," but with a palatalized 'b' sound before the 'e,' giving it a softer tone.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Referring to Two Entities Together

Translation(s) & Context:

• оба/обе - Used to refer to two entities (people, objects, etc.) collectively, depending on the gender of the nouns.

Usage Examples:

• Оба студента сдали экзамен.

  Both students passed the exam.

• Обе книги очень интересные.

  Both books are very interesting.

• Я знаю обоих братьев.

  I know both brothers.

• Оба окна открыты.

  Both windows are open.

• Мы посетили обе страны.

  We visited both countries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The Russian words оба and обе are pronouns or determiners that agree in gender and case with the nouns they modify. They are used for dual reference and decline according to the six cases of Russian grammar.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• двое (used in specific contexts for "two")

Note: "Двое" is often used for people and implies a pair, while "оба/обе" can apply to any two entities.

Antonyms:

• ни один (neither)

Related Phrases:

• оба раза - both times (used to refer to two occasions)
• обе руки - both hands (common in everyday speech)
• обоих сторон - from both sides (used in discussions or arguments)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "оба" and "обе" depends on the gender of the noun they modify. Use "оба" with masculine and neuter nouns, and "обе" with feminine nouns.
• These words must agree in case with the nouns they describe, as shown in the inflection table above.
• Unlike English "both," which is invariable, Russian requires attention to grammatical agreement.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect Gender Agreement: English speakers often use "оба" with feminine nouns. For example, saying "оба книги" instead of the correct "обе книги" (both books).
• Case Misuse: Failing to decline the word according to the case, e.g., using "оба" in the genitive case as "оба" instead of "обоих," as in "Я знаю оба братьев" (incorrect) vs. "Я знаю обоих братьев" (correct: I know both brothers).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of duality (referring to two entities) is grammatically significant, and words like "оба/обе" reflect this precision. This is different from English, where "both" is a more general term without gender or case agreement.

Related Concepts:

• двое (pair, two people)
• все (all, everyone)
• каждый (each, every)