Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Currency'

English Word: Currency

Key Russian Translations:

• валюта [vɐˈlʲutə] - [Formal, General Use]
• деньги [ˈdʲenʲɡʲi] - [Informal, Plural, Often Refers to Money in General]

Frequency: High (both terms are commonly used)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "валюта"); A1 (Beginner for "деньги")

Pronunciation (Russian):

валюта: [vɐˈlʲutə]

Note on валюта: Stress is on the second syllable. The "л" is palatalized (soft), which is a common feature in Russian.

деньги: [ˈdʲenʲɡʲi]

Note on деньги: Stress is on the first syllable. The "д" and "г" are palatalized, creating a softer sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Currency as a System of Money (e.g., Dollar, Euro)

Translation(s) & Context:

• валюта - Used in formal or technical contexts to refer to a specific currency or foreign exchange.

Usage Examples:

• Какая валюта используется в этой стране?

  What currency is used in this country?

• Иностранная валюта очень важна для экономики.

  Foreign currency is very important for the economy.

• Я обменял рубли на иностранную валюту.

  I exchanged rubles for foreign currency.

2. Currency as Money in General (Informal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• деньги - Refers to money in general, often used colloquially instead of a specific currency.

Usage Examples:

• У меня нет денег на поездку.

  I don’t have money for the trip.

• Сколько денег ты потратил на это?

  How much money did you spend on this?

• Деньги не приносят счастья.

  Money doesn’t bring happiness.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

валюта (Noun, Feminine):

деньги (Noun, Plural Only, Neuter): This word is always used in the plural form and does not have a singular form. Declension follows the plural pattern of neuter nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for валюта:

• денежная единица (more formal, refers to monetary unit)

Synonyms for деньги:

• наличные (cash)
• средства (means, funds)

Antonyms: No direct antonyms, as the concept of currency/money does not have a clear opposite in Russian.

Related Phrases:

• обмен валюты - Currency exchange
• иностранная валюта - Foreign currency
• нет денег - No money (common expression)
• деньги на ветер - Money down the drain (idiomatic, meaning wasted money)

Usage Notes:

• "валюта" is more specific and formal, typically used when discussing specific types of currency or foreign exchange. It is the direct equivalent of "currency" in English.
• "деньги" is broader and more colloquial, often translating to "money" rather than "currency." It is always plural in form, which can be confusing for English speakers.
• Use "валюта" in formal or technical discussions (e.g., economics), and "деньги" in everyday conversations about money.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "деньги" in singular form. Incorrect: *деньга. Correct: "деньги" is always plural.
• Error: Confusing "валюта" and "деньги" in formal contexts. Incorrect: *деньги страны (money of the country). Correct: валюта страны (currency of the country).
• Error: Mispronouncing "валюта" by stressing the first syllable. Correct stress is on the second syllable: [vɐˈlʲutə].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussions about money ("деньги") can sometimes be considered sensitive or impolite in casual conversation, especially when asking about someone’s income or expenses. The term "валюта" often carries connotations of foreign exchange, historically significant during Soviet times when access to foreign currency was restricted.

Related Concepts:

• рубль (ruble, Russian currency)
• обменник (currency exchange office)
• экономика (economy)