Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hers'

English Word: hers

Key Russian Translations:

• её [jɪˈjo] - [Possessive pronoun, Feminine, Informal/Neutral]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday Russian speech and writing, especially in possessive contexts).

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as basic possessive pronouns are introduced early in Russian language learning).

Pronunciation (Russian):

её: [jɪˈjo]

Note on её: The pronunciation can vary slightly by region; in standard Russian, the "й" sound is a soft palatal approximant, similar to "y" in "yes". Be careful with the vowel stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Possessive pronoun indicating ownership or relation to a female subject.

Translation(s) & Context:

• её - Used in contexts where something belongs to a female person, such as in sentences about possessions or relationships (e.g., in informal or neutral everyday conversations).

Usage Examples:

• Это её книга. (This is her book.)

  English Translation: This is her book. (Context: Simple possessive statement in a neutral setting.)

• Я видел её машину вчера. (I saw her car yesterday.)

  English Translation: I saw her car yesterday. (Context: Describing an object owned by a female in a past event.)

• Её идея была очень творческой. (Her idea was very creative.)

  English Translation: Her idea was very creative. (Context: Attributing an abstract concept to a female in a professional or casual discussion.)

• Он подарил ей её любимый цветок. (He gave her her favorite flower.)

  English Translation: He gave her her favorite flower. (Context: Emphasizing possession in a romantic or gift-giving scenario.)

• В её комнате всегда порядок. (In her room, there's always order.)

  English Translation: In her room, there's always order. (Context: Describing a personal space belonging to a female.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The Russian translation "её" is a possessive pronoun that does not inflect for case, number, or gender in the same way as nouns or adjectives. It remains unchanged in most contexts, making it invariant. However, it functions within the broader Russian case system:

• As a possessive, it typically appears in the genitive case implicitly when used with nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • её (No direct synonyms, but can be replaced with descriptive phrases like "принадлежащая ей" [prinadlezhashchaya ey] in formal contexts, meaning "belonging to her").
• Antonyms:
  • N/A (As a possessive pronoun, it doesn't have direct antonyms, but opposites in context might involve negation, e.g., "не её" [ne ye-yo], meaning "not hers").

Related Phrases:

• Это её дом. (This is her house.) - A common phrase for indicating possession of a home or property.
• Её слова вдохновляют. (Her words inspire.) - Used in motivational or interpersonal contexts.
• В её мире всё по-другому. (In her world, everything is different.) - An idiomatic expression for describing someone's personal perspective.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "её" directly corresponds to the English "hers" as a possessive pronoun for feminine subjects. It is gender-specific, so ensure the context involves a female owner. Use it in neutral or informal settings; in very formal writing, consider rephrasing for clarity. Grammatically, it doesn't require agreement with the noun it modifies, unlike English adjectives. When choosing between translations, "её" is the most straightforward for "hers," but always check the sentence's gender and case for accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "её" with "его" (his). Incorrect: "Это его книга" when meaning "hers". Correct: "Это её книга". Explanation: Russian pronouns are gender-specific, so learners must pay attention to the subject's gender to avoid mix-ups in possessive contexts.

• Error: Omitting the pronoun entirely. Incorrect: "Это книга" (This book) without specifying ownership. Correct: "Это её книга". Explanation: In Russian, pronouns like "её" are often necessary for clarity in possessive sentences, unlike in English where context might suffice.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, possessive pronouns like "её" reflect the language's emphasis on gender and relationships, which stems from Slavic linguistic traditions. This can highlight social dynamics, such as in family or romantic contexts, where ownership and belonging are deeply tied to personal identity.

Related Concepts:

• его (his)
• их (theirs)
• наш (our)