Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gender'

English Word: gender

Key Russian Translations:

• пол /pol/ - [Formal, Used in general contexts such as biology, sociology, or official forms]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations, academic discussions, and official documents, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, according to CEFR; learners should be familiar with basic noun declensions and everyday topics to use it effectively).

Pronunciation (Russian):

пол: /pol/ (The "o" is pronounced as in "pot," and the "l" is a clear, non-palatalized sound; stress is on the first syllable).

Note on пол: Be cautious with the final "л" sound, as it can sometimes be devoiced in fast speech, sounding closer to /pɔɫ̪/ in some dialects, but standard pronunciation is straightforward.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Biological or social classification of sex (e.g., male, female, or non-binary).

Translation(s) & Context:

• пол - Used in formal and informal contexts to refer to biological gender, such as in medical, legal, or everyday discussions. Context: Often appears in questions about identity or demographics.

Usage Examples:

• Какой у тебя пол? (Kakoj u tebja pol?)

  What is your gender? (This example shows basic inquiry in a formal setting, like a survey or medical form.)

• В анкете нужно указать пол. (V ankete nuzhno ukazat' pol.)

  In the questionnaire, you need to indicate your gender. (Demonstrates use in administrative or bureaucratic contexts.)

• Пол человека определяет некоторые социальные роли. (Pol cheloveka opredelyaet nekotorye sotsial'nye roli.)

  A person's gender determines some social roles. (Illustrates discussion in sociological or cultural contexts.)

• В современном обществе пол не всегда бинарный. (V sovremennom obshchestve pol ne vsegda binarnij.)

  In modern society, gender is not always binary. (Shows evolving usage in contemporary debates on gender identity.)

• При заполнении паспорта укажите свой пол. (Pri zapolnenii pasporta uкажите svoj pol.)

  When filling out your passport, indicate your gender. (Example in official documentation, highlighting practical application.)

Meaning 2: Gender as a grammatical category in languages (e.g., masculine, feminine, neuter).

Translation(s) & Context:

• пол - Less common in this sense; instead, related terms like род (rod) are used for grammatical gender, but пол can appear in meta-linguistic discussions. Context: Academic or linguistic contexts.

Usage Examples:

• В русском языке пол существительных влияет на согласование. (V russkom yazyke pol sushchestvitel'nyh vliyaet na soglasheniye.)

  In the Russian language, the gender of nouns affects agreement. (This shows the word in a linguistic context, linking to grammar.)

• Обсуждая пол слов, мы говорим о грамматике. (Obsuzhdaya pol slov, my govorim o grammatike.)

  When discussing the gender of words, we are talking about grammar. (Illustrates crossover between biological and grammatical meanings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The word "пол" is a masculine noun in Russian. It follows the standard declension pattern for third-declension masculine nouns, which means it has regular changes based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The plural form is less commonly used for "gender" in the biological sense, as it often refers to multiple genders in abstract discussions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • род (rod) - More specific to family lineage or grammatical gender; differs from пол by emphasizing heritage or linguistic categories.
  • гендер (gender) - A direct borrowing, used in modern, academic contexts for gender identity.
• Antonyms:
  • непринадлежность (neprinadlezhnost') - Meaning "non-affiliation," used in discussions of gender neutrality.

Related Phrases:

• Пол мужской (Pol muzhskoj) - Meaning: Male gender; used in contexts like biology or identity forms.
• Пол женский (Pol zhenskij) - Meaning: Female gender; common in demographic surveys or social discussions.
• Определение пола (Opredeleniye pola) - Meaning: Gender determination; often in medical or legal contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "пол" directly corresponds to the English "gender" in its biological sense but is less flexible for social or non-binary concepts, where borrowed terms like "гендер" might be preferred. Use "пол" in formal or neutral settings, such as official documents, to avoid ambiguity. Grammatically, always ensure agreement with adjectives and verbs based on its masculine gender. When choosing between translations, opt for "пол" for everyday use and "гендер" for discussions on identity to align with contemporary Russian language trends.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "пол" with "род" and using it interchangeably in grammatical contexts. Correct: Use "род" for linguistic gender (e.g., "род существительных" instead of "пол существительных"). Explanation: "Пол" refers to biological gender, while "род" is for grammatical categories, leading to misunderstandings in language learning.

• Error: Failing to decline "пол" correctly in sentences, such as using the nominative form in all cases. Correct Example: "Я указал свой пол" (I indicated my gender) vs. Incorrect: "Я указал пол" (which sounds incomplete). Explanation: Russian requires proper case endings for fluency and accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "пол" traditionally emphasizes biological aspects tied to societal roles, influenced by historical and Orthodox Christian values. However, with globalization, discussions around gender identity are evolving, and terms like "гендер" reflect Western influences, highlighting a shift in modern Russian society toward more inclusive language.

Related Concepts:

• гендерный
• родство
• идентификация