Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'grandparents'

English Word: grandparents

Key Russian Translations:

• дедушка и бабушка [ˈdʲedʊʂkə i bɐˈbuʂkə] - [Informal, Family context; used to refer to one's grandfather and grandmother collectively]
• предки [ˈprʲedkʲi] - [Formal, General; less specific, often implying ancestors rather than immediate grandparents]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday family discussions but not as frequent as basic kinship terms like "мама" or "папа").

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary level; straightforward for beginners, but understanding nuances requires basic knowledge of Russian noun genders and phrases).

Pronunciation (Russian):

дедушка и бабушка: [ˈdʲedʊʂkə i bɐˈbuʂkə]

Note on дедушка и бабушка: The stress is on the first syllable for "дедушка" and the second for "бабушка." Be mindful of the soft 'д' in "дедушка," which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalized sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: Refers to the parents of one's parent, typically a grandfather and grandmother.

Translation(s) & Context:

• дедушка и бабушка - Used in informal family settings to denote both grandparents together; common in spoken Russian for personal narratives.
• предки - Applied in more formal or historical contexts, such as genealogy, but less direct for immediate family.

Usage Examples:

• Мои дедушка и бабушка часто рассказывают истории из прошлого.

  My grandparents often tell stories from the past.

• Дети любят проводить лето у дедушки и бабушки в деревне.

  Children love spending the summer at their grandparents' in the village.

• В нашей семье предки играют важную роль в традициях.

  In our family, ancestors play an important role in traditions.

• Каждый год мы посещаем могилы дедушки и бабушки.

  Every year, we visit the graves of our grandparents.

• Молодое поколение учится у предков о культурном наследии.

  The younger generation learns about cultural heritage from their ancestors.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"дедушка" and "бабушка" are masculine and feminine nouns, respectively, and follow standard Russian declension patterns for first-declension nouns. "предки" is a plural noun with its own inflections.

Note: These words do not have irregular inflections, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • бабка и дед (more colloquial, implying older or rural variants)
  • старики (general term for elderly people, but less specific to grandparents)
• Antonyms:
  • внуки (grandchildren; refers to the opposite generation)
  • родители (parents; immediate predecessors)

Related Phrases:

• моя бабушка и дедушка - My grandparents; often used in personal introductions or family stories.
• дедушкины сказки - Grandfather's tales; a common phrase for stories told by grandparents.
• предки по отцовской линии - Ancestors on the father's side; used in genealogical contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "grandparents" is not a single word but a phrase like "дедушка и бабушка," which directly mirrors the English concept. Use this in informal contexts; for formal writing, "предки" might be appropriate but could imply a broader ancestral line. Pay attention to gender agreement, as Russian nouns have specific cases. When choosing between translations, opt for "дедушка и бабушка" for immediate family and "предки" for historical or extended references.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "дедушка" alone to mean both grandparents. Correct: Say "дедушка и бабушка" to include both. Explanation: Russian requires specifying both if referring to the pair, as it's not a compound word like in English.

• Error: Incorrect inflection, e.g., saying "у дедушка" instead of "у дедушки." Correct: "у дедушки" (Genitive case). Explanation: Forgetting case endings is common for beginners, leading to grammatical errors in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, grandparents like "дедушка и бабушка" often embody family traditions, folklore, and moral guidance. They are central to extended family structures, frequently living with or near their descendants, reflecting values of respect for elders and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

Related Concepts:

• семья (family)
• родственники (relatives)
• внуки (grandchildren)