Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fourteen'

English Word: fourteen

Key Russian Translations:

• четырнадцать [t͡ɕɪtɨrʲnət͡sʲ] - [Formal, used in standard counting and everyday contexts]

Frequency: High (commonly used in daily conversations, mathematics, and descriptions of quantities)

Difficulty: A1 (beginner level, as basic numbers are introduced early in language learning)

Pronunciation (Russian):

четырнадцать: [t͡ɕɪtɨrʲnət͡sʲ]

Note on четырнадцать: The initial sound 'ч' is a palatalized affricate, similar to 'ch' in 'church' in English, and the stress falls on the third syllable. Be mindful of the soft 'р' sound, which can be challenging for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The number fourteen

Translation(s) & Context:

• четырнадцать - Used as a cardinal number in contexts involving counting, ages, quantities, or measurements; adapts to noun cases in Russian sentences.

Usage Examples:

• У меня четырнадцать яблок в корзине.

  I have fourteen apples in the basket. (Demonstrates use with a plural noun in the genitive case.)

• Ей исполнилось четырнадцать лет на прошлой неделе.

  She turned fourteen last week. (Shows use in stating age, with agreement in case.)

• В четырнадцать часов начинается совещание.

  The meeting starts at fourteen o'clock. (Illustrates use in time expressions, equivalent to 2 PM.)

• Я купил четырнадцать книг в магазине.

  I bought fourteen books at the store. (Example in a transactional context, highlighting quantity.)

• Дом имеет четырнадцать комнат, включая гараж.

  The house has fourteen rooms, including the garage. (Used in descriptive contexts with complex structures.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The word "четырнадцать" is a cardinal number and does not inflect for gender, but it must agree with the noun it modifies in case, number, and animacy in Russian. As a numeral between 5 and 20, it follows specific declension patterns. Below is a table outlining its forms in the singular and plural contexts (though it's primarily used with plural nouns).

Note: For ordinal form (fourteenth), use "четырнадцатый", which has its own full declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: None direct, as it's a specific numeral. However, in poetic or archaic contexts, alternatives like "десять и четыре" (ten and four) might be used, though this is rare and informal.
• Antonyms: тринадцать (thirteen) - Refers to the number before; пятнадцать (fifteen) - Refers to the number after.

Related Phrases:

• В четырнадцать лет - At fourteen years old; often used in biographical contexts to discuss adolescence.
• Четырнадцать дней - Fourteen days; common in scheduling or historical references, e.g., a two-week period.
• Ровно четырнадцать - Exactly fourteen; emphasizes precision in measurements or counts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "четырнадцать" must agree with the noun it accompanies in case, which differs from English where numbers like "fourteen" do not change form. For example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "без" (without). English speakers should note that Russian numbers from 5 to 20 require the genitive plural for nouns, e.g., "четырнадцать книг" (fourteen books). When choosing translations, stick to "четырнадцать" for cardinal uses and "четырнадцатый" for ordinal ones to ensure accuracy.

Common Errors:

One common mistake for English learners is failing to adjust the case of the noun following "четырнадцать," such as saying "Я имею четырнадцать яблокoв" (incorrect genitive form). Correct usage is "У меня четырнадцать яблок" (with genitive plural). Another error is confusing it with the ordinal form; for instance, using "четырнадцать" instead of "четырнадцатый" in sequences like "the fourteenth day," which should be "четырнадцатый день." Always check noun agreement to avoid these pitfalls.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the number fourteen doesn't hold specific symbolic meaning like some other numbers (e.g., seven or thirteen). However, it may appear in historical contexts, such as the "Fourteen Points" of Woodrow Wilson, translated as "Четырнадцать пунктов," referencing World War I diplomacy, which highlights its use in educational and political discussions.

Related Concepts:

• пятнадцать (fifteen)
• тринадцать (thirteen)
• двадцать (twenty)