Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Century'

English Word: Century

Key Russian Translations:

• век [vʲek] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• столетие [stɐˈlʲetʲɪjə] - [Formal, Written]

Frequency: High (especially "век")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "век"); B1 (Intermediate for "столетие")

Pronunciation (Russian):

век: [vʲek]

Note on век: The "в" is pronounced with a soft 'v' sound, and the stress is on the single syllable.

столетие: [stɐˈlʲetʲɪjə]

Note on столетие: Stress falls on the second syllable "ле". The ending "-ие" is pronounced softly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A Period of 100 Years

Translation(s) & Context:

• век - Commonly used in both spoken and written contexts to refer to a century.
• столетие - More formal, often used in historical or academic texts.

Usage Examples:

• Мы живём в двадцать первом веке.

  We live in the twenty-first century.

• Век назад жизнь была совсем другой.

  A century ago, life was completely different.

• Двадцатое столетие было временем больших перемен.

  The twentieth century was a time of great changes.

• За одно столетие технологии изменили мир.

  In one century, technology changed the world.

• Этот замок был построен несколько веков назад.

  This castle was built several centuries ago.

2. A Long Period of Time (Figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• век - Often used figuratively to mean "a very long time" or "ages."

Usage Examples:

• Я не видел тебя целый век!

  I haven’t seen you in ages!

• Это заняло у меня целый век.

  It took me forever.

• Мы ждали его целых два века.

  We waited for him for ages.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

век (Masculine Noun):

столетие (Neuter Noun):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "век" / "столетие":

• эпоха (epoch, era - broader time period)
• эра (era - often used in scientific or historical contexts)

Antonyms:

• минута (minute - a very short time)
• мгновение (moment - an instant)

Related Phrases:

• на рубеже веков - at the turn of the century (used for historical transitions)
• век живи, век учись - live a century, learn a century (a proverb meaning "live and learn")
• за полвека - over half a century (used to emphasize duration)

Usage Notes:

• "век" is the most commonly used term for "century" in everyday speech and is versatile for both literal and figurative meanings.
• "столетие" is more formal and often appears in written texts, historical discussions, or academic contexts.
• When using numbers with "век", ordinal numbers are used (e.g., "двадцать первый век" for "21st century").

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "столетие" in casual conversation.
  Incorrect: Я ждал тебя столетие!
  Correct: Я ждал тебя целый век!
  Explanation: "столетие" sounds overly formal and unnatural in figurative or casual contexts.
• Error: Incorrect case usage after numbers.
  Incorrect: В двадцать первом веке (Accusative instead of Prepositional).
  Correct: В двадцать первом веке (Prepositional case).
  Explanation: After prepositions like "в" (in), the prepositional case must be used.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the word "век" often appears in proverbs and idiomatic expressions, reflecting a deep connection to the concept of time and longevity. For example, "век живи, век учись" emphasizes lifelong learning, a value deeply ingrained in Russian educational philosophy.

Related Concepts:

• десятилетие (decade)
• тысячелетие (millennium)
• эпоха (epoch)