Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Contemporary'

English Word: Contemporary

Key Russian Translations:

• Современный [səvrʲɪˈmʲenːɨj] - [Formal, Informal, Adjective]
• Нынешний [ˈnɨnʲɪʂːɨj] - [Formal, Often used in context of time or era]

Frequency: High (especially "Современный")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "Современный"); B1 (Intermediate for "Нынешний")

Pronunciation (Russian):

Современный: [səvrʲɪˈmʲenːɨj]

Note on Современный: Stress falls on the third syllable. The double "н" is pronounced with a slight pause for emphasis.

Нынешний: [ˈnɨnʲɪʂːɨj]

Note on Нынешний: Stress on the first syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft "shch" unique to Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Relating to the Present Time (Modern)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Современный - Used to describe something modern or current, applicable to objects, ideas, or people.
• Нынешний - Refers specifically to the current time or era, often in formal or historical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Современная архитектура очень разнообразна.

  Contemporary architecture is very diverse.

• Современные технологии меняют нашу жизнь.

  Contemporary technologies are changing our lives.

• Нынешнее поколение сталкивается с новыми вызовами.

  The contemporary generation faces new challenges.

• Нынешний год оказался сложным для экономики.

  The contemporary year has been tough for the economy.

• В современном мире важно быть гибким.

  In the contemporary world, it is important to be flexible.

2. Belonging to the Same Time Period (Coexisting)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Современный - Can refer to people or events existing at the same time, often in historical or literary contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Пушкин был современником многих великих писателей.

  Pushkin was a contemporary of many great writers.

• Эти события были современными друг другу.

  These events were contemporary with each other.

• Современники часто не понимали его идей.

  His contemporaries often did not understand his ideas.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Современный (Adjective): Declines according to gender, number, and case, following standard Russian adjective patterns.

Нынешний (Adjective): Follows similar adjective declension patterns as "Современный." Refer to standard Russian grammar for full declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for Современный:

• Новый (New) - Often used for recent or modern things, less formal.
• Актуальный (Relevant) - Focuses on relevance to the present.

Antonyms for Современный:

• Старый (Old)
• Древний (Ancient)

Related Phrases:

• Современное искусство - Contemporary art, referring to modern artistic expressions.
• Современные проблемы - Contemporary issues, often used in discussions of current challenges.
• Нынешний день - The present day, a formal expression for "today" in a broader sense.

Usage Notes:

• "Современный" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for "contemporary," suitable for both formal and informal contexts when describing modern things or people of the same era.
• "Нынешний" is more specific to temporal contexts, often used in formal writing or speech to denote "current" or "present" time, and less common in casual conversation.
• Be mindful of adjective agreement in Russian; both words must match the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Нынешний" to describe modern objects (e.g., "Нынешний телефон" for "Contemporary phone").
  Correction: Use "Современный телефон." "Нынешний" is better for eras or periods, like "Нынешний век" (This century).
• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "Современный женщина" instead of "Современная женщина."
  Correction: Ensure the adjective matches the noun’s gender ("женщина" is feminine, so use "Современная").

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "contemporary" often carries a sense of progress or innovation, especially when discussing art, literature, or technology. The term "Современный" is frequently used in discussions of post-Soviet changes, reflecting a break from traditional or outdated practices.

Related Concepts:

• Модный (Trendy)
• Прогрессивный (Progressive)
• Текущий (Current)