Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'daughter'

English Word: daughter

Key Russian Translations:

• дочь [dotʲ] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• дочка [ˈdotʃkə] - [Informal, Affectionate]

Frequency: High (commonly used in family contexts)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

дочь: [dotʲ]

Note on дочь: The soft 'ч' sound [tʲ] may be challenging for beginners; ensure the tongue is positioned for a soft consonant.

дочка: [ˈdotʃkə]

Note on дочка: Stress falls on the first syllable; the 'чк' cluster is pronounced smoothly as a single sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Female Child (Literal Meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дочь - Used in neutral or formal contexts to refer to one's female child.
• дочка - Used affectionately or informally, often when speaking directly to or about a young daughter.

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть дочь, ей десять лет.

  I have a daughter; she is ten years old.

• Моя дочка любит рисовать.

  My little daughter loves to draw.

• Дочь помогла мне с уборкой.

  My daughter helped me with cleaning.

• Дочка, иди сюда!

  Sweetie, come here!

• Я горжусь своей дочерью.

  I am proud of my daughter.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

дочь (Singular Feminine Noun): This noun follows the third declension pattern in Russian, with irregular forms in some cases.

дочка (Singular Feminine Noun): Follows the regular first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -а.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for дочь/дочка:

• девочка (used for young girls, less formal)

Antonyms for дочь/дочка:

• сын (son)

Related Phrases:

• любимая дочь - beloved daughter
• моя дочка - my little daughter (affectionate)
• дочь отца - father's daughter (emphasizing connection to father)

Usage Notes:

• "дочь" is the standard and neutral term for "daughter" and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is appropriate for written and spoken language.
• "дочка" is a diminutive form, often used affectionately or when speaking to or about a young daughter. It is more common in spoken, informal settings.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between "дочь" and "дочка"; using "дочка" in a formal setting might seem out of place.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "дочка" in formal writing or speech, e.g., "У меня есть дочка" in a formal letter. Correction: Use "дочь" instead, e.g., "У меня есть дочь."
• Error: Incorrect case usage, e.g., saying "Я вижу дочь" but using the wrong form in other cases. Correction: Learn the declension patterns (see table above), e.g., "Я горжусь дочерью" (Instrumental case).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, family terms like "дочь" and "дочка" often carry emotional weight, reflecting close family bonds. Using the diminutive "дочка" can express warmth and affection, especially from parents to children, which is a common linguistic feature in Slavic languages.

Related Concepts:

• мама (mother)
• папа (father)
• сестра (sister)
• брат (brother)