Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'February'

English Word: February

Key Russian Translations:

• февраль [ˈfʲev.rəlʲ] - [Formal, Singular, Used for the second month of the Gregorian calendar]

Frequency: High (This word is commonly used in everyday contexts, such as dates, weather discussions, and calendars.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it is a basic vocabulary item for time and seasons, easily learned through simple repetition.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

февраль: [ˈfʲev.rəlʲ]

Note on февраль: The initial 'ф' is a voiceless labiodental fricative, similar to 'f' in English "fun". The 'ев' combination features a palatalized 'в', which can be challenging for beginners; practice with native audio to master the soft consonant sounds. Variations in regional accents may slightly alter the stress or vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The second month of the year in the Gregorian calendar

Translation(s) & Context:

• февраль - Used in formal and informal contexts to refer to the month, especially in dates, weather forecasts, or historical events (e.g., in everyday conversation or official documents).

Usage Examples:

• В феврале всегда холодно в Москве.

  In February, it's always cold in Moscow. (This example shows the word in a seasonal context, highlighting weather discussions.)

• Мой день рождения приходится на февраль.

  My birthday falls in February. (Demonstrates use in personal timelines or biographical contexts.)

• Февраль - это месяц зимних праздников в России.

  February is the month of winter holidays in Russia. (Illustrates cultural and calendar usage.)

• В феврале мы планируем поездку в Санкт-Петербург.

  In February, we plan to travel to Saint Petersburg. (Shows the word in future planning or travel contexts.)

• Февраль обычно короче, чем другие месяцы.

  February is usually shorter than other months. (Highlights factual or educational usage regarding calendar facts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Февраль" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the second declension. It follows regular patterns for most cases but has some variations based on grammatical context. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: As a month, "февраль" is invariantly used in singular form in most contexts. It does not change for gender agreements but must align with adjectives or verbs in case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: No direct synonyms, as "февраль" is the standard term. However, in poetic or archaic contexts, it might be referred to as "месяц февраля" (month of February) for emphasis.
• Antonyms: Not applicable, as months do not have antonyms. Conceptually, one might contrast it with "август" (August) for seasonal opposites.

Related Phrases:

• в феврале - In February (Used for temporal expressions, e.g., in weather reports or event planning).
• февральский - February-like or of February (An adjective form, e.g., "февральский холод" meaning "February cold," referring to typical winter weather).
• Масленица в феврале - Maslenitsa in February (A cultural phrase linking to a traditional Russian holiday, often falling in this month).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "февраль" directly corresponds to the English "February" as the second month. It is used across all registers, from formal documents to casual speech, but always in the context of the Gregorian calendar. When discussing dates, pair it with numbers (e.g., "2 февраля" for February 2nd). Be mindful of case changes in sentences; for instance, use the genitive "февраля" after prepositions like "в" (in). If multiple translations exist for English months, choose based on context, but "февраль" is universally standard. Learners should note that Russian dates often follow day-month-year format.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing as "февруар" (influenced by French or English spelling). Correct: Use [ˈfʲev.rəlʲ] and avoid adding extra syllables. Explanation: Russian spelling is phonetic, so stick to the written form for accuracy.

• Error: Incorrect case usage, e.g., saying "в февраль" instead of "в феврале." Correct: "в феврале" (prepositional case). Explanation: Prepositions in Russian require specific cases, and beginners often overlook this, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Treating it as feminine, e.g., using feminine adjectives like "красивая февраль." Correct: Use masculine forms, e.g., "красивый февраль." Explanation: "Февраль" is masculine, so adjectives must agree in gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, February is associated with the end of winter and features holidays like Maslenitsa (a pre-Lenten festival with pancakes and folk traditions) and Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23rd, which honors the military. This month often evokes themes of harsh weather and transition to spring, influencing literature and art, such as in works by Pushkin, where it symbolizes resilience against cold.

Related Concepts:

• январь (January)
• март (March)
• зима (Winter)
• календарь (Calendar)