Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'equal'

English Word: equal

Key Russian Translations:

• равный [ˈrɑvnɨj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used in comparisons or mathematical contexts]
• одинаковый [ɐdʲɪˈnakəvɨj] - [Informal, Adjective, Used for everyday equality in quality or appearance]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in formal writing, education, and everyday conversation, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective inflections and contexts, with 'равный' being slightly more challenging due to its formal connotations).

Pronunciation (Russian):

равный: [ˈrɑvnɨj] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'ы' sound is a back vowel, similar to the 'i' in "bit" but more centralized.)

одинаковый: [ɐdʲɪˈnakəvɨj] (Stress on the third syllable; note the palatalized 'дʲ' which softens the sound.)

Note on равный: Be cautious with the vowel shifts in inflected forms; the 'ы' can vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Equal in value, status, or quantity (adjective, as in mathematics or social equality)

Translation(s) & Context:

• равный - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as legal documents or equations, to denote exact equivalence.
• одинаковый - Used in informal settings to describe things that are the same in a general sense, like sizes or qualities.

Usage Examples:

• В математике два числа являются равными, если они имеют одинаковое значение.

  In mathematics, two numbers are equal if they have the same value.

• Все люди рождаются равными в своих правах и достоинствах.

  All people are born equal in their rights and dignity.

• Эти два платья одинаковые по цвету, но разные по стилю.

  These two dresses are equal in color but different in style.

• В этой игре все участники равны, независимо от опыта.

  In this game, all participants are equal, regardless of experience.

Meaning 2: To make equal or to equate (verb form in English, often translated as a verb or phrase in Russian)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сделать равным - Used in actions where something is adjusted to match another, like in settings or adjustments.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны сделать условия равными для всех сотрудников.

  We must make the conditions equal for all employees.

• В редакторе текста можно сделать шрифты равными по размеру.

  In the text editor, you can make the fonts equal in size.

• Правительство стремится сделать возможности равными для городских и сельских жителей.

  The government aims to make opportunities equal for urban and rural residents.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'равный' and 'одинаковый' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow a standard pattern but can have irregularities in certain forms.

For 'равный' (irregular in some aspects due to its root):

For 'одинаковый' (more regular):

These adjectives do not change in verbs but must agree with the nouns they modify. If the word is used as an adverb (e.g., равным образом), it remains uninflected.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • равнозначный (exactly equivalent, often in formal contexts)
  • эквивалентный (equivalent, with a more scientific nuance)
  • одинаковый (as above, but more casual; subtle difference in implying similarity vs. exact equality)
• Antonyms:
  • неравный (unequal, opposite of равный)
  • разный (different, contrasting with одинаковый)

Related Phrases:

• Равные права (Equal rights) - Refers to the principle of fairness and non-discrimination in legal contexts.
• Сделать равным счет (To equalize the score) - Used in sports or games to describe tying the game.
• Одинаковые условия (Equal conditions) - Implies fairness in opportunities, often in work or education settings.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'equal' is best translated based on context: use 'равный' for precise, formal equality (e.g., in math or philosophy), and 'одинаковый' for informal, everyday sameness. Be mindful of adjective agreement with nouns in gender, number, and case. For verbs like 'to equalize,' phrases like 'сделать равным' are more natural than direct equivalents. English speakers often err by overusing 'равный' in casual speech, where 'одинаковый' might be more appropriate to sound natural.

• Grammar tip: Always ensure the adjective agrees with its noun; e.g., 'равный шанс' (equal chance, masculine) vs. 'равная возможность' (equal opportunity, feminine).
• Context guidance: In social discussions, 'равный' carries a stronger connotation of justice, while 'одинаковый' is neutral.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing 'равный' with 'одинаковый' and using 'равный' in informal contexts, which can sound overly formal. For example:

• Incorrect: "Мои друзья равные." (This implies a philosophical equality, which might not be intended.)
• Correct: "Мои друзья одинаковые по интересам." (My friends are equal in interests – more natural.)

Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's form, so forgetting inflections (e.g., using 'равный' with a feminine noun without changing to 'равная') leads to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like 'равные права' (equal rights) are deeply tied to historical events, such as the Soviet emphasis on equality in the 20th century. However, modern usage often reflects ongoing discussions about social inequality, influenced by global movements, making words like 'равный' not just linguistic but symbolic of social ideals.

Related Concepts:

• справедливость (justice)
• равенство (equality, as a noun)
• дискриминация (discrimination)