Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'earn'

English Word: earn

Key Russian Translations:

• заработать [zərɐˈbotʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, Perfective; Used in contexts involving completing an action, e.g., earning money after work]
• зарабатывать [zərɐˈbatɨvətʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective; Used for ongoing or repeated actions, such as a job that provides steady income]
• получить [pɐlʊˈtʲitʲ] - [Formal; Used when emphasizing receipt or acquisition, e.g., earning a reward or title]

Frequency: High - These verbs are commonly used in everyday Russian conversations, especially in professional and financial contexts.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for 'заработать' and 'зарабатывать'; A2 (Beginner) for 'получить', as it involves basic verb conjugation and aspect differences in Russian.

Pronunciation (Russian):

заработать: [zərɐˈbotʲɪtʲ]

зарабатывать: [zərɐˈbatɨvətʲ]

получить: [pɐlʊˈtʲitʲ]

Note on заработать: The stress falls on the third syllable ('bo-'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'tʲ' sound; pronounce it with a light, palatalized 't'. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To gain money or income through work or effort

Translation(s) & Context:

• заработать - Used in informal contexts for a completed action, such as finishing a task and receiving payment.
• зарабатывать - Applied in ongoing scenarios, like a career that provides regular earnings.

Usage Examples:

• Я смог заработать достаточно денег, чтобы поехать в отпуск. (I was able to earn enough money to go on vacation.)

  Translation: I managed to earn enough money for a vacation, highlighting a one-time achievement.

• Она зарабатывает на жизнь, работая в офисе. (She earns a living by working in an office.)

  Translation: She earns her living through office work, showing an ongoing process.

• Молодой предприниматель заработал миллион за год. (The young entrepreneur earned a million in a year.)

  Translation: The young entrepreneur earned a million in a year, emphasizing success in business.

• Чтобы зарабатывать больше, ему нужно сменить работу. (To earn more, he needs to change jobs.)

  Translation: To earn more, he needs to change jobs, illustrating future-oriented earning strategies.

• Они зарабатывают дополнительные деньги, фрилансом. (They earn extra money through freelancing.)

  Translation: They earn additional money via freelancing, demonstrating supplementary income sources.

Meaning 2: To deserve or merit something through actions

Translation(s) & Context:

• получить - Used in formal contexts for earning respect, rewards, or recognition.
• заработать - Informally for earning trust or a reputation.

Usage Examples:

• Он заработал уважение коллег своей честностью. (He earned the respect of his colleagues through his honesty.)

  Translation: He earned his colleagues' respect with his honesty, in a non-financial context.

• Студентка получила стипендию, заработав высокие баллы. (The student earned a scholarship by achieving high grades.)

  Translation: The student earned a scholarship through high grades, linking effort to reward.

• Эта награда была заработана годами тяжелой работы. (This award was earned through years of hard work.)

  Translation: This award was earned via years of hard work, emphasizing long-term merit.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For verbs like 'заработать' (perfective) and 'зарабатывать' (imperfective), Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Заработать' is irregular in some conjugations due to its perfective aspect, while 'зарабатывать' follows standard imperfective patterns. 'Получить' is a perfective verb with regular conjugations.

'Получить' does not change in gender for past tense but agrees with the subject in number and case where applicable. These verbs are invariable in terms of voice but must align with aspect for correct usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • выручить - Similar to 'earn' in contexts of gaining through effort, but often implies rescuing or helping financially.
  • приобрести - Means to acquire or earn through purchase or effort, with a nuance of ownership.
• Antonyms:
  • потратить (to spend)
  • утратить (to lose)

Related Phrases:

• заработать деньги - Earn money; A common phrase for financial gain in work contexts.
• зарабатывать на жизнь - Earn a living; Refers to sustaining oneself through income.
• получить вознаграждение - Earn a reward; Used for formal recognition or bonuses.

Usage Notes:

Russian translations of 'earn' often require attention to verbal aspect: use 'зарабатывать' for ongoing actions and 'заработать' for completed ones, unlike English which doesn't distinguish this. In formal settings, 'получить' may be preferred for earning rewards or titles. English speakers should note that Russian verbs conjugate based on subject gender in the past tense, so 'заработал' is for masculine subjects and 'заработала' for feminine. When choosing between translations, opt for 'заработать' in everyday financial discussions and 'получить' in professional or official contexts to ensure natural flow.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'зарабатывать' when a completed action is intended, e.g., saying "Я зарабатываю деньги вчера" instead of "Я заработал деньги вчера".

  Correct: "Я заработал деньги вчера" - Explanation: 'Зарабатывать' is imperfective and implies ongoing action, so switch to perfective 'заработать' for past completed events to avoid confusion in tense.

• Error: Forgetting gender agreement in past tense, e.g., a female speaker saying "Я заработал" instead of "Я заработала".

  Correct: "Я заработала" - Explanation: Russian past tense verbs agree with the subject's gender, which is a common pitfall for English learners from gender-neutral languages.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'заработать' often carry connotations of hard work and perseverance, influenced by historical contexts such as the Soviet era's emphasis on labor. Earning money or respect is frequently tied to collective effort, so phrases involving 'earn' might reflect communal values rather than individual achievement, as in Western contexts.

Related Concepts:

• работа (work)
• доход (income)
• награда (reward)