Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'heirloom'

English Word: heirloom

Key Russian Translations:

• семейная реликвия [sʲɪˈmʲeɪnəjə rʲɪˈlʲikvʲɪjə] - [Formal, used for family heirlooms or historical items]
• наследственный предмет [nəˈslʲedstvʲenʲnɨj prʲeˈdʲɛkt] - [Neutral, often in legal or general contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions of family history, antiques, or cultural heritage, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of noun phrases and basic declensions; for "наследственный предмет," it may be B2 due to more abstract usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

семейная реликвия: [sʲɪˈmʲeɪnəjə rʲɪˈlʲikvʲɪjə]

наследственный предмет: [nəˈslʲedstvʲenʲnɨj prʲeˈdʲɛkt]

Note on семейная реликвия: The stress on "реликвия" can vary slightly in fast speech, emphasizing the second syllable; be mindful of the soft consonants for accurate pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The primary meaning: A valuable object that has been passed down through generations in a family, often with sentimental or historical significance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• семейная реликвия - Used in formal or cultural contexts, such as describing antiques or family traditions in literature or museums.
• наследственный предмет - Applied in more legal or property-related scenarios, like wills or inventories, where the emphasis is on inheritance rights.

Usage Examples:

• Эта семейная реликвия, старинный портрет, висит в гостиной уже сто лет.

  This heirloom, an old portrait, has been hanging in the living room for a hundred years.

• Мы бережно храним наследственный предмет — кольцо моей прабабушки.

  We carefully preserve the heirloom item — my great-grandmother's ring.

• В музее выставлена семейная реликвия известного художника, которая передавалась из поколения в поколение.

  In the museum, there's a family heirloom from a famous artist, passed down through generations.

• Этот наследственный предмет, серебряный сервиз, символизирует богатство нашей семьи.

  This heirloom item, a silver tea set, symbolizes our family's wealth.

• Семейная реликвия, такая как старая книга, часто несет эмоциональную ценность, а не только материальную.

  A family heirloom, like an old book, often carries emotional value, not just material worth.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Семейная реликвия" is a noun phrase where "семейная" is a feminine adjective agreeing with "реликвия," a first-declension feminine noun. It follows standard Russian declension patterns. "Наследственный предмет" involves "наследственный" as an adjective and "предмет" as a masculine noun.

For "реликвия" (feminine, first declension):

The adjective "семейная" changes accordingly: e.g., Genitive Singular: семейной реликвии. "Предмет" (masculine) has regular declensions and remains unchanged in most forms when used in this context.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • семейный антиквариат (family antique; more focused on age and rarity)
  • памятная вещь (memorable item; emphasizes sentimental value)
• Antonyms:
  • современный предмет (modern item; implies something new and not inherited)
  • временная вещь (temporary item; suggests lack of permanence)

Related Phrases:

• Семейная реликвия из прошлого - A family heirloom from the past; refers to items linking to historical family events.
• Наследственный предмет в завещании - Heirloom item in a will; used in legal contexts for inheritance.
• Передавать семейную реликвию по наследству - To pass down a family heirloom through inheritance; a common expression in family discussions.

Usage Notes:

Use "семейная реликвия" for emotional or cultural contexts, as it best captures the sentimental aspect of an heirloom in English. "Наследственный предмет" is more appropriate for legal or formal situations, like property transfer, but may not convey the same emotional depth. Be aware of gender agreement in Russian sentences; for example, adjectives must match the noun's gender, number, and case. When choosing between translations, opt for "семейная реликвия" in everyday English-to-Russian conversion for accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "наследство" (inheritance in a broad sense, e.g., money or property) with "heirloom," leading to incorrect usage like "Мое наследство — это картина" (wrongly implying the painting is just financial inheritance). Correct: "Моя семейная реликвия — это картина" (This emphasizes it's a family heirloom). Explanation: "Наследство" is too general and doesn't specify a physical, sentimental item.

• Forgetting declension, e.g., saying "Я вижу семейная реликвия" instead of "Я вижу семейную реликвию" in the accusative case. Correct: Always decline adjectives and nouns appropriately for case and gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, heirlooms like "семейная реликвия" often symbolize family continuity and national history, especially in contexts involving icons, jewelry, or wartime artifacts. For instance, during festivals or family gatherings, these items are cherished as links to ancestors, reflecting the deep value placed on heritage in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• традиция (tradition)
• история семьи (family history)
• антиквариат (antique)