Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cuban'

English Word: Cuban

Key Russian Translations:

• кубинский [kʊˈbʲinskʲɪj] - [Adjective, Formal; used to describe something or someone related to Cuba]
• кубаец [kʊˈbaets] - [Noun, Masculine, Informal; refers to a male person from Cuba]
• кубянка [kʊˈbʲankə] - [Noun, Feminine, Informal; refers to a female person from Cuba]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation, primarily appearing in cultural, historical, or geographical contexts.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level should understand basic country-related adjectives and nouns, but mastering inflections may require practice. For 'кубинский', it's straightforward; for 'кубаец' and 'кубянка', noun genders add slight complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кубинский: [kʊˈbʲinskʲɪj]

Note on кубинский: The stress is on the second syllable. Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) which softens the preceding consonant, making it sound more palatalized—a common feature in Russian adjectives.

кубаец: [kʊˈbaets]

Note on кубаец: The ending '-ец' indicates a masculine noun and can vary in pronunciation based on regional accents; in standard Russian, it's pronounced with a clear 'ts' sound.

кубянка: [kʊˈbʲankə]

Note on кубянка: Similar to 'кубаец', but with a feminine ending; the 'a' sound is softer, and it's less common in formal writing.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Relating to Cuba (Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кубинский - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as discussing Cuban culture, politics, or geography in written or spoken Russian.

Usage Examples:

• Кубинский революционер сыграл ключевую роль в истории. (Kubinsky revolyutsioner sygral klyuchevuyu rol' v istorii.)

  A Cuban revolutionary played a key role in history. (This example shows the adjective in a historical context, modifying a noun.)

• Эта кубинская музыка всегда поднимает настроение. (Eta kubinskaya muzika vsegda podnimaet nastroyeniye.)

  This Cuban music always lifts my spirits. (Demonstrates use in cultural discussions, with agreement in gender and number.)

• В музее выставлены кубинские артефакты. (V muzeye vystavleny kubinskie artefakty.)

  Cuban artifacts are exhibited in the museum. (Illustrates plural agreement and formal usage.)

• Кубинский климат идеален для кофе. (Kubinsky klimat idealen dlya kofe.)

  The Cuban climate is ideal for coffee. (Shows adjective modifying a noun in a geographical context.)

• Он носит кубинский стиль одежды. (On nosit kubinsky stil' odezhdy.)

  He wears Cuban-style clothing. (Highlights everyday informal use.)

Meaning 2: A person from Cuba (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кубаец - Informal reference to a male Cuban, often in casual conversations or media.
• кубянка - Informal reference to a female Cuban, used similarly but less frequently.

Usage Examples:

• Мой друг — кубаец, он рассказал мне о Гаване. (Moy drug — kubaets, on rasskazal mne o Gavane.)

  My friend is a Cuban; he told me about Havana. (This shows the noun in a personal anecdote, with nominative case.)

• Эта кубянка — известная танцовщица. (Eta kubianka — izvestnaya tantzovshchitsa.)

  This Cuban woman is a famous dancer. (Demonstrates feminine noun in a biographical context.)

• Кубаец и кубянка вместе выступили на фестивале. (Kubaets i kubianka vmeste vystupili na festivale.)

  The Cuban man and woman performed together at the festival. (Illustrates use in a plural or paired context.)

• Я встретил кубаца в Москве. (Ya vstretil kubatsa v Moskve.)

  I met a Cuban in Moscow. (Shows accusative case in informal storytelling.)

• Кубянка поделилась рецептом кубинского блюда. (Kubianka podelylas' retseptom kubinskogo blyuda.)

  The Cuban woman shared a recipe for a Cuban dish. (Combines noun with adjective for emphasis.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'кубинский' (adjective), it follows standard Russian adjective patterns with inflections based on gender, number, and case. It is a regular adjective.

For 'кубаец' (noun, masculine), it is a second-declension noun with regular inflections:

• Nominative: кубаец
• Genitive: кубаца
• Dative: кубацу

For 'кубянка' (noun, feminine), it follows first-declension patterns and is also regular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • из Кубы (iz Kubi) - Literally "from Cuba"; more literal and less specific.
  • кубовец (kubovets) - A variant, often used in historical contexts; slight regional difference.
• Antonyms:
  • некубинский (nekubinsky) - Not Cuban; used to denote the opposite in descriptive contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Кубинский стиль (Kubinsky stil') - Cuban style; refers to fashion or architecture influenced by Cuba.
• Кубинская революция (Kubinskaya revolyutsiya) - Cuban Revolution; a historical phrase with cultural significance.
• Кубаец в эмиграции (Kubaets v emigratsii) - A Cuban in emigration; used in discussions of diaspora.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'кубинский' directly corresponds to the English adjective 'Cuban' when describing origins, but it's more formal and often used in written contexts like articles or books. For people, use 'кубаец' for males and 'кубянка' for females to match gender, which is crucial in Russian grammar. Be cautious with inflections; for example, in genitive case, it becomes 'кубинского'. When choosing between translations, opt for 'кубинский' in general descriptions and nouns for personal references. This vocabulary is ideal for topics like geography or culture but rarely in casual speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'кубинский' as a noun, e.g., saying "Я видел кубинский" instead of "Я видел кубинца".

  Correct: "Я видел кубинца" (Ya videl kubintsa). Explanation: 'Кубинский' is an adjective and must agree with a noun; use the noun form for people to avoid grammatical errors.

• Error: Forgetting gender agreement, e.g., using 'кубаец' for a female.

  Correct: Use 'кубянка' for females. Explanation: Russian nouns have genders, so mismatching can confuse listeners; always check the subject's gender.

Cultural Notes:

The term 'кубинский' often evokes images of Cuban culture, such as salsa music, cigars, and the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro. In Russian media, it's frequently linked to Cold War history, as Cuba was a Soviet ally, adding a layer of geopolitical connotation that English speakers might explore for deeper cultural understanding.

Related Concepts:

• американский (amerikanskiy) - Relating to America.
• гаванец (gavanets) - A person from Havana.
• латиноамериканский (latinoamerikanskiy) - Latin American.