Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'elementary'

English Word: elementary

Key Russian Translations:

• элементарный [ɛlʲɪmʲɪnˈtarɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in educational or scientific contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Commonly used in academic, scientific, and everyday discussions about basics or fundamentals)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; Requires understanding of adjective declensions and contextual usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

элементарный: [ɛlʲɪmʲɪnˈtarɨj]

Note on элементарный: The stress is on the third syllable ("tar"). Pronunciation may vary slightly by regional dialect, such as in Moscow vs. St. Petersburg accents, with the 'л' sound being softer in standard Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Basic or fundamental, especially in education (e.g., referring to elementary school or simple concepts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• элементарный - Used in formal educational settings to describe beginner-level material or concepts.

Usage Examples:

• Эта книга предназначена для элементарного уровня обучения.

  This book is intended for elementary level education.

• Элементарные правила математики должны быть освоены всеми учениками.

  Elementary rules of mathematics should be mastered by all students.

• В элементарной школе дети учатся основам чтения и письма.

  In elementary school, children learn the basics of reading and writing.

• Элементарный подход к проблеме помог решить её быстро.

  An elementary approach to the problem helped solve it quickly.

Meaning 2: Simple or straightforward, not complex (e.g., in everyday or scientific contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• элементарный - Applied in informal or technical discussions to indicate something basic or uncomplicated.

Usage Examples:

• Элементарный эксперимент показал, что гипотеза верна.

  The elementary experiment showed that the hypothesis is correct.

• Это элементарная задача, которую можно решить за минуты.

  This is an elementary task that can be solved in minutes.

• В элементарном объяснении физики нет места сложным формулам.

  In an elementary explanation of physics, there is no room for complex formulas.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

элементарный is an adjective in Russian, which means it undergoes declension based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard first-declension pattern for adjectives ending in -ый. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • простой (prostoy) - More informal, often used for everyday simplicity.
  • основной (osnovnoy) - Emphasizes foundational aspects, suitable for core concepts.
• Antonyms:
  • сложный (slozhnyy) - Indicates complexity or difficulty.
  • продвинутый (prodvinutyy) - Refers to advanced or higher-level concepts.

Related Phrases:

• Элементарные частицы (elementarnye chastitsy) - Refers to basic particles in physics, like subatomic particles.
• Элементарное образование (elementarnoe obrazovanie) - Means basic or primary education.
• Элементарный курс (elementarnyy kurs) - A beginner-level course, often in language or skills training.

Usage Notes:

элементарный directly corresponds to "elementary" in English when describing foundational knowledge, but it's more commonly used in formal contexts like education or science. Be mindful of its declension to match the noun it modifies—e.g., use элементарная with feminine nouns. In informal speech, Russians might prefer simpler synonyms like простой to avoid sounding overly academic. When choosing between translations, opt for элементарный if the context emphasizes educational basics, but verify the gender and case for grammatical accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Failing to decline the adjective correctly, e.g., saying "элементарный школа" instead of "элементарная школа" (for feminine noun).

  Correct: элементарная школа. Explanation: In Russian, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe. This mistake often stems from direct word-for-word translation from English.

• Error: Overusing элементарный in informal contexts, which can sound pretentious.

  Correct: Use простой in casual conversation, e.g., "Это простой вопрос" instead of "Это элементарный вопрос." Explanation: элементарный is better suited for formal or educational settings to maintain naturalness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "elementary" education ties closely to the Soviet-era system, where элементарное образование referred to primary schooling up to age 10-11. This reflects a historical emphasis on universal basic education, influencing modern usage in discussions about accessibility and foundational learning.

Related Concepts:

• прогрессивный (progressivnyy)
• основы (osnovy)
• уровень (uroven')