Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'fraction'

English Word: fraction

Key Russian Translations:

• дробь [ˈdrobʲ] - [Formal, commonly used in mathematical or scientific contexts]
• фрагмент [frɐɡˈmʲɛnt] - [Informal, used for a general piece or part, not specifically mathematical]
• доля [ˈdolʲə] - [Neutral, often for a share or portion in non-mathematical contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in educational, scientific, and everyday contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and contexts. For 'дробь', it's straightforward; for 'фрагмент', slightly harder due to loanword pronunciation.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дробь: [ˈdrobʲ] (stressed on the first syllable; the 'бь' is a soft consonant, similar to 'by' in 'baby')

фрагмент: [frɐɡˈmʲɛnt] (stressed on the second syllable; note the soft 'г' and palatalized 'н')

доля: [ˈdolʲə] (stressed on the first syllable; the 'лʲ' is palatalized, making it sound softer)

Note on дробь: Be cautious with the soft 'бь' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers; it doesn't exist in English and is closer to a quick 'b-y' blend.

Note on фрагмент: As a loanword from French/German, pronunciation may vary slightly in casual speech, but the standard is as above.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A numerical quantity that is not a whole number (e.g., in mathematics)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дробь - Used in formal mathematical or educational settings, such as in fractions like 1/2.

Usage Examples:

• Эта дробь равна половине. (This fraction equals one half.)

  This example shows 'дробь' in a basic mathematical equation, emphasizing its use in arithmetic.

• В уравнении есть простая дробь. (In the equation, there is a simple fraction.)

  Here, 'дробь' is used in a scientific context, demonstrating its role in problem-solving.

• Дети учат работать с дробями в школе. (Children learn to work with fractions in school.)

  This illustrates 'дробь' in an educational setting, showing plural usage and everyday application.

• Смешанная дробь состоит из целого числа и дроби. (A mixed fraction consists of a whole number and a fraction.)

  This example highlights compound forms, useful for advanced math contexts.

Meaning 2: A small part or amount of something (e.g., a fragment or portion)

Translation(s) & Context:

• фрагмент - Informal, for a piece of text, media, or object.
• доля - Neutral, for a share in abstract or proportional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фрагмент текста очень интересный. (This fraction [fragment] of text is very interesting.)

  Demonstrates 'фрагмент' in literary or digital contexts, showing its use for parts of larger wholes.

• Его доля в проекте была мала. (His fraction [share] in the project was small.)

  This uses 'доля' to indicate a portion in business or collaborative scenarios.

• Фрагмент фильма вызвал споры. (The fraction [fragment] of the film caused controversy.)

  Illustrates 'фрагмент' in media contexts, emphasizing cultural or emotional fragments.

• Доля истины в его словах была очевидна. (There was a fraction [portion] of truth in his words.)

  Shows 'доля' in metaphorical or philosophical usage, common in discussions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Дробь' is a feminine noun (3rd declension). It follows standard Russian noun inflections for cases and numbers. Below is a table for its declensions:

'Фрагмент' is a masculine noun with regular inflections, similar to other loanwords:

'Доля' is a feminine noun with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • часть (chast') - A general part, often interchangeable with 'доля' in non-mathematical contexts.
  • фрагмент (as above, but more specific to pieces).
• Antonyms:
  • целое (tseloye) - Whole, as opposed to a fraction.
  • большинство (bol'shinstvo) - Majority, contrasting with a small portion.

Related Phrases:

• Смешанная дробь (smeshannaya drob') - Mixed fraction; refers to a fraction with a whole number and a proper fraction.
• Доля рынка (dolya rynka) - Market share; used in business to indicate a portion of the market.
• Фрагмент кода (fragment koda) - Code snippet; common in programming contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'дробь' directly corresponds to the mathematical sense of 'fraction' and is preferred in formal education. For general 'portions', 'доля' or 'фрагмент' might be more appropriate, depending on context—use 'доля' for abstract shares and 'фрагмент' for physical or textual pieces. Always consider the grammatical case; for example, in prepositional phrases, it changes to match the sentence structure. When choosing between translations, opt for 'дробь' in scientific writing to maintain precision.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'дробь' in non-mathematical contexts, e.g., saying "Эта дробь истории" instead of "Этот фрагмент истории" (This fraction of history).

  Correct: "Этот фрагмент истории". Explanation: 'Дробь' is specific to numbers, leading to confusion; 'фрагмент' fits better for historical pieces.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., using nominative 'дробь' in genitive contexts like "Я имею дробь" instead of "Я имею дроби".

  Correct: "Я имею дроби". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement; learners often forget to adjust for possession or description.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'доля' often carry a philosophical connotation, as in folk tales or literature, where one's 'доля' (fate or share) implies destiny. This adds a layer of depth beyond the English 'fraction', reflecting Russia's emphasis on collective and existential themes in storytelling.

Related Concepts:

• процент (protsent) - Percentage
• целое число (tseloye chislo) - Whole number
• доля судьбы (dolya sud'by) - Share of fate