Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'documentary'

English Word: documentary

Key Russian Translations:

• документальный [dəkʊmʲɪnˈtalʲnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used in media and factual contexts]
• документальный фильм [dəkʊmʲɪnˈtalʲnɨj fʲɪlm] - [Noun phrase, Informal to Formal, Specifically for films or TV programs]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly used in discussions about media, journalism, and factual content, but less frequent in everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B2 (Upper Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective inflections and noun phrases, with some cultural context for media-related usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

документальный: [dəkʊmʲɪnˈtalʲnɨj]

документальный фильм: [dəkʊmʲɪnˈtalʲnɨj fʲɪlm]

Note on документальный: The stress falls on the fourth syllable (-talʲ-), which can be tricky for learners due to the soft consonants; pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A film or TV program presenting facts objectively (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• документальный фильм - Used in formal and informal contexts when referring to non-fiction media, such as educational or journalistic content.

Usage Examples:

• Я вчера смотрел интересный документальный фильм о дикой природе.

  I watched an interesting documentary about wildlife yesterday.

• Этот документальный фильм выиграл несколько премий на фестивале.

  This documentary won several awards at the festival.

• В школе мы изучаем историю через документальные фильмы.

  At school, we study history through documentaries.

• Документальный фильм о космосе всегда вдохновляет меня.

  The documentary about space always inspires me.

Meaning 2: Based on or consisting of documents; factual (Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• документальный - Used in legal, academic, or professional contexts to describe evidence or materials that are based on facts and records.

Usage Examples:

• Этот отчёт должен быть документальным, основанным на реальных данных.

  This report must be documentary, based on real data.

• В суде они представили документальный материал для доказательства.

  In court, they presented documentary material as evidence.

• Её исследование имеет документальный характер, с ссылками на архивы.

  Her research has a documentary nature, with references to archives.

• Документальный подход к истории помогает избежать спекуляций.

  A documentary approach to history helps avoid speculation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translation "документальный" is an adjective, which inflects according to gender, number, and case in Russian. It follows the standard pattern for first-declension adjectives. "документальный фильм" is a noun phrase where "фильм" (film) is a masculine noun that inflects, while "документальный" agrees with it.

For "документальный фильм", the noun "фильм" inflects as: Nominative singular - фильм; Genitive singular - фильма; etc. It has no irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • фактический (faktichyeskij) - More general for 'factual', with a neutral connotation.
  • док (dok) - Informal slang for 'documentary film', used in casual conversations.
• Antonyms:
  • художественный (khoozhdyezhnyj) - Meaning 'artistic' or 'fiction-based', contrasting with factual content.
  • фиктивный (fiktivnyj) - Meaning 'fictitious' or 'made-up'.

Related Phrases:

• Документальный жанр - A documentary genre; used in film discussions to categorize non-fiction works.
• Снимать документальный фильм - To shoot a documentary film; common in creative or journalistic contexts.
• Документальный подход - A documentary approach; refers to methods based on evidence in research or reporting.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "документальный" directly corresponds to the English "documentary" as an adjective, emphasizing factual accuracy, while "документальный фильм" is the standard translation for the noun form. Be mindful of context: use the full phrase in media talks and the adjective in professional settings. It's more formal than everyday language, so in casual speech, Russians might shorten it to "док". When choosing between translations, opt for "документальный фильм" for visual media and "документальный" for general factual descriptions. Grammatically, ensure the adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "документальный" without proper inflection, e.g., saying "документальный женщина" instead of "документальная женщина" (if referring to a female subject).

  Correct: "Документальная книга" (A documentary book). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe; this mistake often stems from English word order and lack of declension practice.

• Error: Confusing it with "документ" (document), leading to misuse like "Я смотрел документ" meaning "I watched a document" instead of "documentary".

  Correct: "Я смотрел документальный фильм". Explanation: "Документ" refers to a written record, not media; learners should add "фильм" for clarity in video contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, documentaries like those produced by Soviet filmmakers (e.g., by directors like Dziga Vertov) hold historical significance, often blending education with propaganda. Terms like "документальный фильм" evoke a sense of realism and truth, reflecting Russia's emphasis on factual storytelling in media, which can differ from Western entertainment-focused documentaries.

Related Concepts:

• кинематография (kinematografiya)
• журналистика (zhurnalistika)
• фактический материал (faktichyeskij material)