Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'firstborn'

English Word: firstborn

Key Russian Translations:

• первенец [pɪrˈvʲenʲɪts] - [Formal, Noun, Singular]
• первый ребёнок [ˈpʲɛrvɨj rʲɪˈbʲok] - [Informal, Noun Phrase, Used in everyday conversation]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary, familial, or historical contexts, but not everyday speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic vocabulary, with "первенец" being slightly more advanced due to its formal connotations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

первенец: [pɪrˈvʲenʲɪts]

первый ребёнок: [ˈpʲɛrvɨj rʲɪˈbʲok]

Note on первенец: The stress falls on the second syllable ("vʲenʲ"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The first child born to a parent, often implying seniority or special status.

Translation(s) & Context:

• первенец - Used in formal, literary, or biblical contexts, especially for a son, emphasizing primogeniture or family hierarchy.
• первый ребёнок - A more neutral, everyday phrase suitable for informal discussions about family.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Мой первенец уже окончил университет и помогает в семье.

  English: My firstborn has already graduated from university and is helping the family.

• Русский: В русской культуре первенец часто несёт ответственность за младших братьев и сестёр.

  English: In Russian culture, the firstborn often bears responsibility for younger siblings.

• Русский: Она гордо говорила о своём первом ребёнке, который стал врачом.

  English: She proudly spoke about her firstborn child, who became a doctor.

• Русский: Первые дети в семьях, как первенцы, обычно более зрелые.

  English: Firstborn children in families are usually more mature.

• Русский: В Библии первенец Иакова имел особые права наследования.

  English: In the Bible, Jacob's firstborn had special inheritance rights.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"первенец" is a masculine noun in the third declension, which means it follows standard patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. It is inflected based on case and number. "первый ребёнок" is a phrase where "первый" (an adjective) agrees with "ребёнок" (a noun).

For "первый ребёнок", "первый" inflects as a regular adjective: e.g., Genitive: первого ребёнка; Plural: первые дети. This phrase does not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • старший ребёнок (staryi rebenok) - Emphasizes age order, less formal than первенец.
  • наследник (naslednik) - Focuses on inheritance rights, often in legal contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • младший ребёнок (mladshy rebenok) - Refers to the youngest child.
  • последний ребёнок (posledniy rebenok) - Means the last or youngest in the family.

Related Phrases:

• Первенец в семье - The firstborn in the family; often implies leadership or responsibility in family dynamics.
• Права первенца - Rights of the firstborn; refers to historical or legal privileges.
• Первый ребёнок в роду - The first child in the lineage; used in genealogical or cultural discussions.

Usage Notes:

"первенец" directly corresponds to "firstborn" in English, particularly in contexts with biblical, literary, or formal undertones, such as family histories or traditions. It is more common in written Russian than spoken, and should be used when emphasizing primogeniture. In contrast, "первый ребёнок" is versatile for everyday conversations and avoids gender-specific implications. Be cautious with gender: "первенец" typically refers to a son, so for daughters, consider "первенчиха" in some dialects, though it's rare. Grammatically, always ensure adjectives like "первый" agree in case, number, and gender with the noun they modify.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "первый" alone without "ребёнок", e.g., saying "первый" to mean "firstborn". Correct: "первенец" or "первый ребёнок". Explanation: "первый" means "first" in a general sense, not specifically the eldest child, which can lead to confusion in familial contexts.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., using "первенец" in the wrong case, like "о первенек" instead of "о первенце". Correct: Always decline properly based on sentence structure. Explanation: Russian nouns must agree with prepositions and verbs, so learners often overlook case endings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of the "firstborn" (первенец) carries historical significance from Orthodox Christianity and folklore, where the eldest child, especially a son, often inherits family responsibilities, property, or even a symbolic role in traditions. This echoes biblical stories and is evident in literature like Tolstoy's works, highlighting family hierarchies and societal expectations.

Related Concepts:

• наследник (heir)
• старший брат (elder brother)
• семейная иерархия (family hierarchy)