Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fifty'

English Word: fifty

Key Russian Translations:

• пятьдесят [ˈpʲætʲ.dʲesʲ.tʲ] - [Neutral; used for general counting and everyday contexts]

Frequency: High (Common in daily conversations, mathematical contexts, and formal writing, as numbers are fundamental in language use).

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level; straightforward for English speakers learning basic Russian numbers, with no complex grammar involved).

Pronunciation (Russian):

пятьдесят: [ˈpʲætʲ.dʲesʲ.tʲ]

Note on пятьдесят: The pronunciation involves soft consonants (e.g., 'пʲ' as in 'p' with palatalization), which can be challenging for beginners. Stress is on the first syllable. Regional variations may occur, but this is the standard Moscow dialect.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The number 50 (Cardinal number used for counting, age, quantities, etc.)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пятьдесят - Used in neutral, everyday contexts for exact quantities, such as age, scores, or measurements. Common in both formal and informal speech.

Usage Examples:

• Мне пятьдесят лет. (Mne pyat'desyat let.)

  I am fifty years old. (This example shows the word in a personal context, discussing age in a biographical or conversational setting.)

• Эта книга стоит пятьдесят рублей. (Eta kniga stoit pyat'desyat rubeley.)

  This book costs fifty rubles. (Illustrates usage in commercial or shopping contexts, with the word integrated into a simple declarative sentence.)

• В команде было пятьдесят игроков. (V komande bylo pyat'desyat igrokov.)

  There were fifty players on the team. (Demonstrates the word in a plural, group-counting scenario, often in sports or organizational discussions.)

• Пятьдесят процентов населения голосуют. (Pyat'desyat procentov naseleniya golosuyut.)

  Fifty percent of the population votes. (Shows the word in a fractional context, common in statistics, politics, or surveys.)

• Он пробежал пятьдесят метров за десять секунд. (On probezhal pyat'desyat metrov za desyat' sekund.)

  He ran fifty meters in ten seconds. (Highlights usage in measurements, such as distance in athletic or scientific contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

In Russian, "пятьдесят" is a cardinal number and does not inflect for gender, case, or number like nouns or adjectives. It remains unchanged in most contexts, which makes it simple for learners. However, it can be used in combination with other words that do inflect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: There are no direct synonyms for "пятьдесят" as it is a specific number. However, approximate terms like "полсотни" (pol-sotni) can be used informally to mean "about fifty," implying a rough estimate in casual speech.
• Antonyms: Numbers don't have traditional antonyms, but conceptually, the opposite could be considered as "zero" or other numbers; e.g., "ноль" (nol) for zero.

Related Phrases:

• Пятьдесят процентов (Pyat'desyat procentov) - Fifty percent; used in statistical or proportional contexts, such as economics or surveys.
• Пятьдесят оттенков (Pyat'desyat ottenkov) - Fifty shades; a reference to the book title, often in cultural or literary discussions.
• Пятьдесят на пятьдесят (Pyat'desyat na pyat'desyat) - Fifty-fifty; means an equal split, commonly in decisions or risks.

Usage Notes:

"Пятьдесят" directly corresponds to the English "fifty" as a cardinal number and is used universally in Russian for counting. It has no restrictions on formality and appears in both spoken and written language. When used with nouns, remember that the noun must agree in case and number (e.g., "пятьдесят лет" for "fifty years"). For English learners, choose "пятьдесят" over informal approximations like "полсотни" in standard contexts to maintain accuracy. In mathematical expressions, it integrates seamlessly, but always ensure the surrounding grammar is correct.

Common Errors:

• Common Error: Mispronouncing the word as "pyat desyat" without the soft consonants. Correct Usage: Use [ˈpʲætʲ.dʲesʲ.tʲ] to reflect proper palatalization. Explanation: This error often stems from English phonetic influences, leading to a harder sound; practice with native audio to avoid it.

• Common Error: Incorrectly inflecting the number itself (e.g., treating it like an adjective). Correct Usage: "Пятьдесят книг" (not "пятьдесятой книг"). Explanation: Unlike English, Russian numbers like this are invariant, so learners should not add endings; focus on the noun's inflection instead.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, numbers like "fifty" don't carry inherent symbolic meaning, but they appear in historical contexts, such as the "Golden Jubilee" (пятидесятилетие), which celebrates 50 years and is often linked to anniversaries or milestones in personal or national history.

Related Concepts:

• сорок (sorok) - Forty
• шестьдесят (shest'desyat) - Sixty
• сто (sto) - One hundred