Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hindmost'

English Word: hindmost

Key Russian Translations:

• самый задний /sɑˈmɨj zɑdˈnʲij/ - [Formal, used in descriptive or narrative contexts]
• крайний сзади /ˈkrajnɨj sˈzadʲi/ - [Informal, often in everyday speech or casual descriptions]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in daily conversation but may appear in literature, descriptions, or technical contexts.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1, according to CEFR; involves understanding superlatives and positional adjectives. For "самый задний", it's B1; for "крайний сзади", it's A2 due to simpler structure.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

самый задний: /sɑˈmɨj zɑdˈnʲij/

крайний сзади: /ˈkrajnɨj sˈzadʲi/

Note on самый задний: The stress on "самый" (sɑˈmɨj) can vary slightly in fast speech, potentially shifting to emphasize "задний" in poetic contexts; pay attention to the soft 'нʲ' sound in "задний".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: The farthest back or rear position, often used as a superlative adjective to describe something at the very end of a line or sequence.

Translation(s) & Context:

• самый задний - Used in formal writing, narratives, or descriptions of physical arrangements, such as in processions or queues.
• крайний сзади - Applied in informal spoken language for everyday situations, like describing positions in a group or race.

Usage Examples:

• В процессии он был самым задним участником, стараясь не отставать от группы.

  In the procession, he was the hindmost participant, trying not to fall behind the group.

• Книга на полке стояла крайним сзади, скрытая от глаз другими томами.

  The book on the shelf was the hindmost one, hidden from view by the other volumes.

• В забеге лошадь финишировала самой задней, но с огромным упорством.

  In the race, the horse finished hindmost, but with tremendous determination.

• Дети выстроились в ряд, и самый задний ребенок ждал своей очереди с нетерпением.

  The children lined up in a row, and the hindmost child waited for their turn impatiently.

• На фотографии крайний сзади — это мой дедушка, всегда скромный и в тени.

  In the photo, the hindmost person is my grandfather, always modest and in the background.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Самый задний" is a phrase where "самый" is an invariable superlative particle, and "задний" is an adjective that follows standard Russian adjective inflections. "Крайний сзади" involves "крайний," another adjective with inflections, while "сзади" is an adverb and remains uninflected.

For adjectives like "задний" and "крайний," they change based on gender, number, and case. Below is a table for "задний" (as in "самый задний"):

For "крайний," it follows similar patterns but is irregular in some cases due to its root. "Самый" and "сзади" do not inflect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • крайний (krayniy) - Similar but often implies "extreme" or "outermost."
  • последний (posledniy) - Means "last" in sequence, with a nuance of finality in time or order.
• Antonyms:
  • передний (peradniy) - Directly opposite, meaning "foremost" or "front."
  • первый (pervyi) - Means "first," contrasting in sequential contexts.

Related Phrases:

• в самом хвосте (v samom hvoste) - In the very tail/end; used for describing the rear of a group or line.
• крайний в очереди (krayniy v ocheredi) - The last in line; a common phrase for queues or waiting situations.
• самый конец ряда (samyy konets ryada) - The very end of the row; emphasizes positional extremes.

Usage Notes:

When translating "hindmost" to Russian, choose "самый задний" for formal or literary contexts where precision is needed, as it directly conveys the superlative sense. "Крайний сзади" is better for informal speech. Be mindful of gender and case agreements in sentences; for example, if the noun is feminine, adjust the adjective accordingly (e.g., "самая задняя дверь"). This word often pairs with nouns in spatial descriptions, and it's not commonly used in abstract or metaphorical senses in Russian.

• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; integrate it into natural Russian sentence structures.
• In comparative contexts, Russian may prefer other expressions if "hindmost" implies a sequence rather than pure position.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "hindmost" with "last," leading to incorrect use of "последний" (which implies sequence in time). For example:

• Error: Using "он был последним" to mean "he was hindmost in position," but this might imply he was the final one in a timed event.
• Correct: "Он был самым задним в ряду" – This accurately conveys physical position. Explanation: "Последний" focuses on order, while "самый задний" emphasizes spatial location, so choose based on context to avoid ambiguity.
• Another error: Forgetting adjective inflections, e.g., saying "самый задний дом" for a feminine noun like "дверь" (door), which should be "самая задняя дверь." Always check the noun's gender and case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "самый задний" can subtly reflect themes of humility or marginalization in literature, such as in folk tales where the "hindmost" character (e.g., the youngest sibling) often triumphs despite being overlooked. This echoes motifs in stories like those by Pushkin, where positional metaphors symbolize social dynamics.

Related Concepts:

• передний (peradniy)
• средний (sredniy)
• последний (posledniy)