Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cost'

English Word: cost

Key Russian Translations:

• стоимость [ˈstoɪməsʲtʲ] - [Formal, Noun]
• цена [ˈt͡sena] - [Neutral, Noun]
• затраты [zɐˈtratɨ] - [Formal, Plural, Often for expenses]

Frequency: High (commonly used in various contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, depending on context and form)

Pronunciation (Russian):

стоимость: [ˈstoɪməsʲtʲ]

Note on стоимость: Stress falls on the first syllable; the 'o' is pronounced as a clear 'o' sound.

цена: [ˈt͡sena]

Note on цена: Stress on the first syllable; 'ц' is a distinct Russian sound, like 'ts' in 'cats'.

затраты: [zɐˈtratɨ]

Note on затраты: Stress on the second syllable; often used in plural form.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Cost as Price (Monetary Value)

Translation(s) & Context:

• цена - Used for the price of goods or services in everyday contexts.
• стоимость - More formal, often used in official or business contexts for value or cost.

Usage Examples:

• Какая цена этого телефона?

  What is the price of this phone?

• Стоимость билета на поезд очень высокая.

  The cost of the train ticket is very high.

• Цена на продукты растёт каждый месяц.

  The cost of groceries rises every month.

2. Cost as Expenditure or Effort (Non-Monetary)

Translation(s) & Context:

• затраты - Refers to expenses or efforts, often in a formal or business sense.

Usage Examples:

• Затраты на проект превысили бюджет.

  The costs of the project exceeded the budget.

• Эти затраты времени не оправдались.

  These costs in time were not justified.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

стоимость (Feminine Noun): Follows the standard declension for feminine nouns ending in -ость.

Case	Singular
Nominative	стоимость
Genitive	стоимости
Dative	стоимости
Accusative	стоимость
Instrumental	стоимостью
Prepositional	стоимости

цена (Feminine Noun): Follows regular feminine noun declension.

затраты (Plural Noun): Primarily used in plural form, follows plural noun declension rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for цена/стоимость (Price/Cost):

• расход
• плата

Note: 'расход' often implies expenditure, while 'плата' can mean payment or fee.

Antonyms for цена/стоимость:

• бесплатность (free of charge)

Related Phrases:

• высокая цена - High price/cost.
• стоимость жизни - Cost of living.
• затраты времени - Time costs/expenses.

Usage Notes:

• 'цена' is the most common and neutral term for 'cost' or 'price' in everyday speech, suitable for most informal and neutral contexts.
• 'стоимость' is more formal and often used in written language or business discussions to denote value or overall cost.
• 'затраты' typically refers to expenses or efforts (often plural) and is used in formal or analytical contexts, less about direct price.

Common Errors:

• Mixing 'цена' and 'стоимость': English speakers often use 'цена' in formal contexts where 'стоимость' is more appropriate. For example, saying "цена проекта" (price of the project) sounds odd; use "стоимость проекта" instead.
• Using singular 'затрата': 'затраты' is almost always plural when referring to costs. Avoid saying "одна затрата" unless in a very specific context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussing 'цена' (price) openly can sometimes be considered impolite in casual settings, especially when bargaining. It's often better to ask indirectly or use phrases like "сколько стоит?" (how much does it cost?). Additionally, 'стоимость' may carry a connotation of value beyond money in formal discussions, such as the 'cost' of life or effort.

Related Concepts:

• бюджет (budget)
• расходы (expenses)
• доход (income)