Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Count'

English Word: Count

Key Russian Translations:

• считать [ˈsʲt͡ɕɪtətʲ] - [Informal, Verb, General Use]
• подсчитывать [pɐtˈsʲt͡ɕɪtɨvətʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Often for Calculations]
• счёт [ˈsʲt͡ɕot] - [Noun, Refers to Counting or Score]

Frequency: High (especially "считать" and "счёт")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "считать" and "счёт"); B1 (Intermediate for "подсчитывать")

Pronunciation (Russian):

считать: [ˈsʲt͡ɕɪtətʲ]

Note on считать: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft, hissing sound unique to Russian, often challenging for English speakers.

подсчитывать: [pɐtˈsʲt͡ɕɪtɨvətʲ]

Note on подсчитывать: Stress on the second syllable. The prefix "под-" adds a sense of detailed or thorough counting.

счёт: [ˈsʲt͡ɕot]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. As a Verb ("to count")

Translation(s) & Context:

• считать - Used in everyday contexts for counting objects, numbers, or considering something (e.g., an opinion).
• подсчитывать - Used in formal or technical contexts, often implying a detailed or final calculation (e.g., votes, expenses).

Usage Examples:

• Я считаю до десяти.

  I count to ten.

• Она считает деньги перед покупкой.

  She counts the money before buying.

• Мы подсчитываем голоса после выборов.

  We count the votes after the election.

2. As a Noun ("count" as in tally or score)

Translation(s) & Context:

• счёт - Refers to a score in games, a bill in a restaurant, or the act of counting.

Usage Examples:

• Счёт в игре был 3:2.

  The score in the game was 3:2.

• Можно принести счёт?

  Can you bring the bill?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

считать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular verb with standard conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Person	Form
Я (I)	считаю [sʲt͡ɕɪˈtaju]
Ты (You, singular)	считаешь [sʲt͡ɕɪˈtajeʂ]
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	считает [sʲt͡ɕɪˈtajet]
Мы (We)	считаем [sʲt͡ɕɪˈtajem]
Вы (You, plural/formal)	считаете [sʲt͡ɕɪˈtajete]
Они (They)	считают [sʲt͡ɕɪˈtajut]

подсчитывать (Verb, Imperfective): Follows similar conjugation patterns as "считать" but with the prefix "под-".

счёт (Noun, Masculine): Declines according to the second declension pattern for masculine nouns.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	счёт [sʲt͡ɕot]	счёты [ˈsʲt͡ɕotɨ]
Genitive	счёта [ˈsʲt͡ɕotə]	счётов [ˈsʲt͡ɕotəf]
Dative	счёту [ˈsʲt͡ɕotʊ]	счётам [ˈsʲt͡ɕotəm]

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "считать" (Verb):

• вычислять (to calculate)
• полагать (to consider, believe)

Note: "вычислять" is more technical, while "полагать" often relates to opinions rather than literal counting.

Antonyms for "считать" (Verb):

• игнорировать (to ignore)

Related Phrases:

• считать в уме - "to count in one’s head" (mental arithmetic)
• счёт на секунды - "counting seconds" (used for urgent timing)
• вести счёт - "to keep score" (in games or competitions)

Usage Notes:

• "считать" is the most versatile and commonly used verb for counting in Russian, suitable for most informal and general contexts. It can also mean "to consider" (e.g., an opinion), which may confuse learners.
• "подсчитывать" is more specific and often used in formal or written contexts, implying a detailed or final count.
• "счёт" as a noun can refer to a bill in a restaurant, a score in sports, or an account in banking, so context is crucial.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "считать" when referring to a bill in a restaurant. Wrong: Я хочу считать. Correct: Я хочу счёт. Explanation: "считать" is a verb, while "счёт" is the noun needed for requesting a bill.
• Error: Misusing "подсчитывать" in casual speech. Wrong: Я подсчитываю яблоки. Correct: Я считаю яблоки. Explanation: "подсчитывать" sounds overly formal for everyday counting.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "счёт" often appears in social contexts, such as splitting the bill ("разделить счёт") at restaurants, which is less common than in some Western cultures where individuals often pay separately.

Related Concepts:

• число (number)
• количество (quantity)
• расчёт (calculation, payment)