Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'eight'

English Word: eight

Key Russian Translations:

• восемь (/ˈvo.sʲimʲ/) - [Informal, Used in everyday counting and general contexts]

Frequency: High (The word is commonly used in daily conversations, mathematics, and formal writing.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as basic numerals are among the first elements learned in Russian.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

восемь: /ˈvo.sʲimʲ/ (The stress is on the first syllable; the 's' sound is palatalized, which is common in Russian.)

Note on восемь: Pay attention to the palatalized 's' sound (/sʲ/), which can be challenging for English speakers. It sounds softer, like a mix of 's' and 'sh'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The cardinal number 8

Translation(s) & Context:

• восемь - Used in numerical contexts, such as counting, ages, quantities, or dates (e.g., in informal and formal speech).

Usage Examples:

• У меня восемь яблок. (U menya vosem' yablok.)

  I have eight apples. (This example shows the word in a simple possessive context, demonstrating basic subject-verb-object structure.)

• Ему восемь лет. (Yemu vosem' let.)

  He is eight years old. (Here, it illustrates usage with age, which is common in biographical or everyday descriptions.)

• Восемь человек пришли на встречу. (Vosem' chelovek prishli na vstrechu.)

  Eight people came to the meeting. (This demonstrates the word in a plural noun phrase, often in social or professional settings.)

• Дом номер восемь. (Dom nomer vosem'.)

  House number eight. (Used in addressing locations, like addresses, showing integration with other numerals.)

• Я купил восемь книг. (Ya kupil vosem' knig.)

  I bought eight books. (This example varies the context to shopping or transactions, highlighting everyday transactional language.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Восемь" is a cardinal numeral in Russian and follows the typical inflection patterns for numbers. It is invariable in some cases but changes based on grammatical case, gender, and number agreement. Unlike English, Russian numerals must agree with nouns in case and can affect the noun's form.

Note: For numbers like "eight," when followed by a noun, the noun often takes the genitive plural form, as shown. This is a regular pattern for numerals from 5 to 20 in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • восемь (No direct synonyms, but can be expressed as "восемерка" in specific contexts like cards or groups, implying a set of eight.)
• Antonyms:
  • семь (seven) - Used for the number before eight.
  • девять (nine) - Used for the number after eight.

Related Phrases:

• Восемь марта - International Women's Day (A major cultural holiday in Russia, celebrated on March 8th.)
• Восемь часов вечера - Eight o'clock in the evening (Common phrase for time-telling in daily schedules.)
• Восьмой этаж - The eighth floor (Used in building or navigation contexts, with a brief explanation of building layouts in Russian cities.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "восемь" directly corresponds to the English "eight" as a cardinal number and must agree with the noun it modifies in case. For example, it's often followed by a noun in the genitive plural. Be mindful of its inflections in different sentences to ensure grammatical accuracy. In formal writing or speech, numbers like this are used straightforwardly, but in casual contexts, they integrate seamlessly into phrases. If multiple translations exist (though rare for numerals), choose based on context, such as ordinal forms like "восьмой" for "eighth."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the nominative form "восемь" in all cases without inflection. For example, saying "без восемь книг" instead of "без восьми книг."

  Correct Usage: "Без восьми книг" (Without eight books). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement; the genitive form "восеми" is needed here to indicate absence.

• Error: Mispronouncing the palatalized 's' sound, making it sound like a standard English 's'.

  Correct Usage: Practice /ˈvo.sʲimʲ/ to soften the sound. Explanation: This is a common phonetic error for English speakers, leading to misunderstandings in spoken Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the number eight is notably associated with "Восемь Марта" (International Women's Day), a public holiday celebrated with great enthusiasm. It symbolizes femininity and spring, often involving gifts and celebrations, reflecting broader Slavic traditions where numbers can carry festive or historical significance.

Related Concepts:

• девять (nine)
• семь (seven)
• число (number, as a general concept)