Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'free'

English Word: free

Key Russian Translations:

• свободный [svɐˈbodnɨj] - [Formal, used for abstract freedom or availability]
• бесплатный [bʲɪsˈplatnɨj] - [Informal, commonly used in everyday contexts like services or goods]
• освободить [ɐsvɐˈbodʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, verb form, used in contexts of releasing or liberating]

Frequency: High (especially 'свободный' and 'бесплатный' are commonly encountered in Russian media, conversations, and literature).

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1 for 'свободный' and 'бесплатный'; B2 for 'освободить' due to verb conjugation complexities).

Pronunciation (Russian):

свободный: [svɐˈbodnɨj]

бесплатный: [bʲɪsˈplatnɨj]

освободить: [ɐsvɐˈbodʲɪtʲ]

Note on свободный: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft 'б' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Note on бесплатный: Pronounce the 'б' softly; variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not under control or restriction (e.g., liberty, independence)

Translation(s) & Context:

• свободный - Used in formal discussions about rights, such as in political or philosophical contexts.
• освободить - Used as a verb in narratives involving release from captivity.

Usage Examples:

• В этой стране каждый человек имеет право на свободную речь.

  In this country, every person has the right to free speech.

• Он освободил птицу из клетки, чтобы она могла летать свободно.

  He freed the bird from the cage so it could fly freely.

• Свободные люди всегда борются за свои права.

  Free people always fight for their rights.

• После революции страна стала более свободной.

  After the revolution, the country became more free.

Meaning 2: Without cost or charge

Translation(s) & Context:

• бесплатный - Commonly used in commercial or everyday situations, such as offers or services.

Usage Examples:

• Этот музей предлагает бесплатный вход для детей.

  This museum offers free entry for children.

• В интернете можно найти бесплатные приложения для обучения русскому языку.

  On the internet, you can find free apps for learning Russian.

• Бесплатный Wi-Fi доступен в кафе.

  Free Wi-Fi is available in the cafe.

• Концерт был бесплатным, но очень популярным.

  The concert was free but very popular.

• Бесплатные образцы продуктов раздают на ярмарке.

  Free samples of products are given out at the fair.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'свободный' (adjective): It follows standard Russian adjective declension. It changes by case, number, and gender.

For 'бесплатный' (adjective): Similar to 'свободный', it is a regular adjective and inflects by case, number, and gender (as shown in the table above for adjectives).

For 'освободить' (verb): It is a first-conjugation verb with imperfective aspect. Inflections vary by tense, person, and number. Example in present tense:

Note: 'Бесплатный' and similar adjectives do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • свободный: независимый (nezavisimyj) - More emphasis on independence.
  • бесплатный: дармовой (darmovoj) - Informal, implies something given without effort.
  • освободить: освободить (osvobodit') - Exact synonym, but can vary by context.
• Antonyms:
  • свободный: несвободный (nesvobodnyj)
  • бесплатный: платный (platnyj)
  • освободить: захватить (zakhvatit')

Related Phrases:

• свободная воля - Free will; used in philosophical discussions to denote personal choice without external constraints.
• бесплатный доступ - Free access; common in contexts like online resources or public services.
• освободить место - To free up space; often used in everyday situations like organizing a room.

Usage Notes:

'Свободный' best corresponds to the English 'free' in abstract senses like liberty, while 'бесплатный' aligns with financial contexts. Choose based on context: use 'освободить' for actions involving release. Note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. In formal writing, 'свободный' is preferred over informal alternatives.

• Always consider the aspect for verbs like 'освободить' (perfective); pair with imperfective 'освобождать' for ongoing actions.
• In spoken Russian, 'бесплатный' is ubiquitous in advertising, but it may imply hidden costs in some cultural contexts.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse 'свободный' by treating it as invariant, forgetting to decline it. For example:

• Error: *Я имею свободный речь (incorrect, as it doesn't decline properly).
• Correct: Я имею свободную речь (with feminine agreement).

Explanation: Russian requires adjective-noun agreement; always check the noun's gender and case.

• Error: Using 'бесплатный' interchangeably with 'свободный', e.g., *свободный билет meaning a free ticket (wrong context).
• Correct: бесплатный билет.

Explanation: This confuses the meanings, leading to misunderstandings in practical situations.

Cultural Notes:

'Свободный' carries deep historical connotations in Russia, often linked to the country's struggles for independence, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works or during the Soviet era's emphasis on 'freeing' the proletariat. It symbolizes national identity and is frequently used in patriotic contexts, evoking emotions tied to freedom from oppression.

Related Concepts:

• независимость (independence)
• свобода (freedom)
• освобождение (liberation)