Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'evening'

English Word: evening

Key Russian Translations:

• вечер [ˈvʲet͡ɕɪr] - Noun, [Common usage, Singular]
• вечернее время [vʲɪˈt͡ɕɪrnəje ˈvrʲemʲə] - Noun phrase, [Formal, used in descriptive contexts]

Frequency: High (The word "вечер" is commonly used in everyday Russian conversations, appearing frequently in media, literature, and speech.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level; basic vocabulary that is straightforward for new learners, though inflection rules may require some practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вечер: [ˈvʲet͡ɕɪr]

вечернее время: [vʲɪˈt͡ɕɪrnəje ˈvrʲemʲə]

Note on вечер: The initial "в" is pronounced as a voiced labiodental fricative [v], and the "ч" is a palatalized affricate [t͡ɕ]. Be mindful of the stress on the first syllable, which is common in Russian nouns.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The period of the day between afternoon and night.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вечер - Used in casual daily conversations to refer to the evening hours, often in informal settings like family discussions or social plans.
• вечернее время - Employed in more formal or descriptive contexts, such as in writing, schedules, or when emphasizing the time of day in official communications.

Usage Examples:

• Я люблю гулять по парку вечером, когда становится прохладно.

  I love walking in the park in the evening when it gets cooler.

• Вечернее время — идеальный момент для чтения книг у камина.

  Evening time is the perfect moment for reading books by the fireplace.

• После работы мы всегда встречаемся с друзьями вечером в кафе.

  After work, we always meet with friends in the evening at the cafe.

• Вечер в Москве полон света и шума от уличных фестивалей.

  The evening in Moscow is full of lights and noise from street festivals.

• Не забудьте, что вечернее время может быть холодным, так что возьмите куртку.

  Don't forget that evening time can be cold, so take a jacket.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translation "вечер" is a masculine noun of the second declension. It follows regular patterns for Russian nouns, with changes based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its inflections:

For "вечернее время", it is a noun phrase where "вечернее" is an adjective that agrees with "время" (neuter noun). It inflects regularly as an adjective: e.g., Nominative Singular: вечернее время; Genitive Singular: вечернего времени.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вечерний час (evening hour) - Similar to "вечер", but emphasizes a specific hour rather than the general period.
  • сумерки (twilight) - Used when referring to the transitional evening light, with a poetic connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • утро (morning)
  • день (day)

Related Phrases:

• Добрый вечер - A standard evening greeting, equivalent to "Good evening" in English, used in formal and informal settings.
• Вечерний променад - Refers to an evening stroll, often in urban areas, highlighting leisure activities during evening hours.
• Вечерний чай - Means "evening tea", a common phrase for the tradition of having tea in the evening with family or friends.

Usage Notes:

"Вечер" directly corresponds to the English "evening" as a time of day and is versatile in both formal and informal contexts. It is commonly used in greetings like "Добрый вечер" when answering the phone or meeting someone. Be aware of case inflections; for example, use the instrumental case "вечером" when indicating "in the evening". When choosing between "вечер" and "вечернее время", opt for the latter in more descriptive or official writing to add formality. English learners should note that Russian evenings often extend later into the night compared to some cultures, influencing social activities.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using the nominative form "вечер" in all contexts, e.g., saying "Я иду вечером" incorrectly as "Я иду вечер" (which is wrong).
  Correct: "Я иду вечером" (instrumental case for "in the evening"). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so learners must adjust based on prepositions like "в" (in).
• Mistake: Confusing it with "вечерний" (adjective form), e.g., using "вечерний" as a noun.
  Correct: Use "вечер" as the noun and "вечерний" only as an adjective, like in "вечерний воздух" (evening air). Explanation: This error stems from not distinguishing parts of speech, leading to grammatical inaccuracies.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "вечер" often evokes a sense of relaxation and social gathering, as seen in traditions like evening tea (вечерний чай) or family dinners. Historically, evenings were times for storytelling or community events in rural areas, reflecting the importance of this period in daily life and literature, such as in works by Chekhov where evenings symbolize introspection and connection.

Related Concepts:

• утро (morning)
• ночь (night)
• день (day)