Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'four'

English Word: four

Key Russian Translations:

• четыре [IPA: ˈtʃɛtɨrʲɪ] - [Formal/Informal; Used as a cardinal number in everyday contexts]

Frequency: High (Numbers like 'four' are extremely common in daily communication, mathematics, and time-telling in Russian.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level; Basic numbers are among the first elements learned in Russian, making it straightforward for English speakers with no prior knowledge.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

четыре: [IPA: ˈtʃɛtɨrʲɪ]

Note on четыре: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'ы' sound (like a short 'i' in English 'bit') can be challenging for beginners. Pronounce it with a soft 'r' sound typical in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Basic numerical meaning (as the cardinal number 4)

Translation(s) & Context:

• четыре - Used in counting, quantities, or general references to the number 4 in everyday, formal, or informal settings (e.g., in math, shopping, or descriptions).

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть четыре яблока. (I have four apples. This example shows the word in a simple possessive context with a plural noun.)

  Translation: I have four apples.

• Четыре человека пришли на встречу. (Four people came to the meeting. Here, it demonstrates use with a countable noun in a narrative sentence.)

  Translation: Four people came to the meeting.

• Время сейчас четыре часа. (The time is now four o'clock. This illustrates its use in telling time, a common daily scenario.)

  Translation: The time is now four o'clock.

• Эта книга стоит четыре доллара. (This book costs four dollars. Example in a commercial or transactional context.)

  Translation: This book costs four dollars.

• Четыре раза в неделю я хожу в спортзал. (Four times a week, I go to the gym. Shows frequency in habitual actions.)

  Translation: Four times a week, I go to the gym.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

As a cardinal number, 'четыре' is an adjective-like numeral in Russian and inflects based on case, gender, and number. It has irregular forms in the nominative and other cases. Below is a table of its declensions for masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns (since it agrees with the noun it modifies):

Note: 'Четыре' does not change for gender in the nominative but inflects irregularly in other cases. For ordinal form (fourth), it becomes 'четвёртый', which has its own full declension paradigm.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • четверка (informal for a group of four, e.g., in card games; slight contextual difference)
  • четвёртый (ordinal form, meaning 'fourth', used in sequences)
• Antonyms:
  • пять (five; directly opposite in numerical value)
  • три (three; preceding number)

Related Phrases:

• Четыре сезона (Four seasons; Refers to the annual cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, often in cultural or literary contexts.)
• Четыре элемента (Four elements; Alludes to the classical elements in philosophy or science, like earth, water, fire, and air.)
• В четыре руки (In four hands; Means working together or collaboratively, as in music or tasks.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'четыре' directly corresponds to the English 'four' as a cardinal number and must agree in case with the noun it modifies, unlike English where numbers remain unchanged. It is versatile across formal and informal settings but watch for case changes in sentences (e.g., use genitive for quantities in negative contexts). When choosing between 'четыре' and its ordinal form 'четвёртый', opt for the latter for positions in a sequence. English speakers often overlook gender agreement, so always pair it with the correct noun form for natural speech.

• Tip: In time-telling, 'четыре часа' means 'four o'clock', but it can vary in formal writing.
• Contextual advice: Use 'четыре' in math or counts, but for dates, it might shift to ordinal forms like 'четвертого' (the fourth).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'четыре' without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "без четыре книги" instead of "без четырёх книг".

  Correct: без четырёх книг (without four books). Explanation: Russian requires genitive case for negation, so the form changes to 'четырёх' to agree with the noun.

• Error: Confusing cardinal and ordinal forms, e.g., using 'четыре' when 'четвёртый' is needed, like "четыре день" for "the fourth day".

  Correct: четвёртый день (the fourth day). Explanation: 'Четыре' is for counting, while 'четвёртый' indicates order or position.

• Error: Pronouncing it as [tʃeˈtɪr] instead of [ˈtʃɛtɨrʲɪ], making it sound unnatural.

  Correct Pronunciation: [ˈtʃɛtɨrʲɪ]. Explanation: The stress and vowel sounds are key; practice with native audio to avoid flattening the pronunciation.

Cultural Notes:

The number 'four' in Russian culture, as 'четыре', often appears in folklore and traditions, such as the 'four elements' in Slavic mythology or the 'four seasons' in poetry. In Russian Orthodox Christianity, it symbolizes completeness or the four Evangelists, adding a layer of cultural depth beyond its numerical value.

Related Concepts:

• пять (five)
• три (three)
• десяток (ten; as a related quantity concept)
• числа (numbers; general term)