Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'godmother'

English Word: godmother

Key Russian Translations:

• крёстная (/ˈkrʲɵstnəjə/) - [Informal, Feminine, Used in family or religious contexts]
• крёстная мать (/ˈkrʲɵstnəjə ˈmatʲ/) - [Formal, Full form, Used in official or ceremonial contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of family, religion, or traditions, but not everyday vocabulary)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1 level; Involves understanding noun inflections and cultural nuances; the full form "крёстная мать" may be slightly easier for beginners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

крёстная: /ˈkrʲɵstnəjə/

крёстная мать: /ˈkrʲɵstnəjə ˈmatʲ/

Note on крёстная: The initial "кр" sound is a palatalized "k" (like in "key" but softer), which can be challenging for English speakers; regional variations may soften the "ё" vowel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A female sponsor in a baptism or confirmation ceremony, often with a familial role.

Translation(s) & Context:

• крёстная - Used in informal family settings, such as casual conversations about relatives.
• крёстная мать - Employed in formal or religious contexts, emphasizing the full title for clarity in official documents.

Usage Examples:

• Моя крёстная всегда дарит мне подарки на день рождения.

  My godmother always gives me gifts on my birthday.

• В церкви крёстная мать ребёнка читает молитву во время крещения.

  In the church, the godmother of the child reads a prayer during the baptism.

• Крёстная приехала из другого города, чтобы отпраздновать нашу семейную церемонию.

  The godmother came from another city to celebrate our family ceremony.

• Для моей дочери крёстная мать — это не просто тётя, а настоящая наставница.

  For my daughter, the godmother is not just an aunt, but a true mentor.

• В русской традиции крёстная часто участвует в важных жизненных событиях ребёнка.

  In Russian tradition, the godmother often participates in the child's important life events.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "крёстная" and "крёстная мать" are feminine nouns. "Крёстная" is a first-declension noun with regular inflections, while "крёстная мать" functions as a compound and inflects based on its components. Below is a table for "крёстная" inflections:

For "крёстная мать", the word "мать" inflects regularly as a feminine noun, e.g., Genitive: крёстной матери. These are standard first-declension patterns with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • крёстная мама (a more affectionate variant, used in informal family talk)
  • духовная мать (emphasizes the spiritual aspect, with subtle religious connotations)
• Antonyms:
  • крёстный (godfather; opposite in gender)

Related Phrases:

• крёстная семья - A phrase referring to the godparent family; used in contexts discussing extended family ties.
• крёстная церемония - Refers to the godparent ceremony, often in baptismal events; highlights ritualistic usage.
• принять крёстную - To accept or take on the role of a godmother; common in religious commitments.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "крёстная" directly corresponds to "godmother" in English, but it's deeply tied to Orthodox Christian traditions. Use "крёстная мать" for more formal or precise contexts to avoid ambiguity. Be mindful of gender-specific forms; English speakers might mistakenly use masculine forms. When choosing between translations, opt for "крёстная" in everyday speech and "крёстная мать" in written or official scenarios. Grammatically, always ensure agreement in case, number, and gender with surrounding words.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the masculine form "крёстный" for a female godparent. Correct: "крёстная". Explanation: Russian nouns are gendered, so mixing them can confuse the meaning; for example, "Мой крёстный" (incorrect for godmother) vs. "Моя крёстная" (correct).

• Error: Forgetting inflections, e.g., saying "о крёстная" instead of "о крёстной" in the prepositional case. Correct: Use the proper case as shown in the inflections table. Explanation: This is a common mistake for beginners, leading to grammatical errors in sentences like "Я думаю о крёстной" (correct) vs. "Я думаю о крёстная" (incorrect).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, particularly within the Orthodox Church, a godmother (крёстная) plays a significant spiritual role, often guiding the child morally and religiously. This tradition stems from historical Byzantine influences and remains prominent in family ceremonies, symbolizing lifelong bonds beyond biological relations.

Related Concepts:

• крёстный
• семья
• крещение