Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'December'

English Word: December

Key Russian Translations:

• декабрь [dʲɪˈkabrʲ] - [Formal, Standard usage for the month]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday conversations, calendars, and dates)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it is a basic vocabulary item in Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

декабрь: [dʲɪˈkabrʲ]

Note on декабрь: The stress falls on the second syllable ('kabrʲ'). The 'дʲ' sound is a palatalized 'd', which may be challenging for English speakers; it sounds softer, like in "dew".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The twelfth month of the year

Translation(s) & Context:

• декабрь - Used in general contexts such as dates, weather discussions, or holiday planning in Russian-speaking regions.

Usage Examples:

• Сегодня декабрь, и на улице уже лежит снег.

  Today is December, and there's already snow on the ground.

• Мой день рождения в декабре.

  My birthday is in December.

• В декабре мы всегда празднуем Новый год.

  In December, we always celebrate New Year's.

• Декабрь — это последний месяц года.

  December is the last month of the year.

• Погода в декабре бывает очень холодной в России.

  The weather in December can be very cold in Russia.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Декабрь is a masculine noun (third declension in Russian). It follows standard noun declension patterns for months, which are generally invariable in the nominative case but change in other cases. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: This noun does not have a plural form in standard usage, as months are typically treated as singular concepts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: None exact, but related terms include "зимний месяц" (zimniy mesyats - winter month) for contextual synonyms.
• Antonyms: None direct, as months don't have opposites, but conceptually related to "июнь" (iyun - June) for seasonal contrast.

Related Phrases:

• Декабрьский - December's or of December; e.g., used in adjectives like "декабрьский праздник" (a December holiday).
• В декабре месяце - In the month of December; a more formal way to specify the month.
• Новый год в декабре - New Year in December; common in holiday contexts, emphasizing cultural celebrations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "декабрь" directly corresponds to the English "December" as the twelfth month. It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings. Always capitalize it when starting a sentence, as with all nouns in Russian. When discussing dates, pair it with numbers, e.g., "1 декабря" (1st of December). If multiple translations exist, "декабрь" is the standard choice; no alternatives are common for this word.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing as [dɛˈkæbr] (like the English word). Correct: [dʲɪˈkabrʲ] with palatalization. Explanation: English speakers often forget the soft 'd' sound, which affects clarity in Russian pronunciation.

• Error: Using it in the wrong case, e.g., saying "в декабрь" instead of "в декабре". Correct: "в декабре" for prepositional case. Explanation: Russian requires correct case agreement; "в" (in) governs the prepositional case.

• Error: Treating it as a feminine noun and applying wrong inflections. Correct: It's masculine, so follow the declensions above. Explanation: This is a common mistake for learners unfamiliar with Russian noun genders.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, December is deeply associated with winter and the New Year celebrations, which are more prominent than Christmas due to historical and cultural reasons. The word "декабрь" evokes images of snow, holidays like New Year's Eve (Новый год), and the end-of-year reflections, making it a symbol of seasonal transition in Russia and other Slavic countries.

Related Concepts:

• январь (January)
• ноябрь (November)
• зима (winter)
• Новый год (New Year)