Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'his'

English Word: his

Key Russian Translations:

• Его [jɪˈvo] - [Formal/Informal, Used as a possessive pronoun for masculine or neuter nouns]

Frequency: High (Very common in everyday Russian speech and writing, especially in basic sentences.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it is a fundamental possessive pronoun with straightforward usage in simple contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Его: [jɪˈvo]

Note on Его: The pronunciation can vary slightly by region; the 'й' sound is a soft palatal approximant, which may be challenging for English speakers. Stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Possessive pronoun indicating ownership or relation to a male or neuter subject

Translation(s) & Context:

• Его - Used in contexts where something belongs to a male person, often in formal or informal settings. For example, in sentences describing possessions.

Usage Examples:

• Это его книга. (This is his book.)

  Translation: This is his book. (Simple declarative sentence showing possession of an object.)

• Я видел его машину вчера. (I saw his car yesterday.)

  Translation: I saw his car yesterday. (Used in a past tense narrative to indicate ownership in a real-life scenario.)

• Его мнение важно для нас. (His opinion is important to us.)

  Translation: His opinion is important to us. (Demonstrates use in abstract or opinion-based contexts.)

• Она взяла его зонтик. (She took his umbrella.)

  Translation: She took his umbrella. (Illustrates possession in a transactional or everyday situation.)

• В его глазах была грусть. (There was sadness in his eyes.)

  Translation: There was sadness in his eyes. (Shows metaphorical or emotional usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Его is the genitive form of the pronoun "он" (he), which inflects based on case, number, and gender in Russian. As a possessive pronoun, it primarily appears in the genitive case to indicate possession. Russian pronouns do not have the same regularity as nouns, but "его" is invariant in its standard possessive use.

Note: "Его" is uninflected in its possessive role and does not change for number or gender in this context, making it simpler than fully inflected nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Её (for feminine nouns, though not exact synonym)
  • Их (for plural nouns)
  Brief note: "Её" is used for feminine possession, differing slightly in gender application.
• Antonyms:
  • Моё (my)
  • Твоё (your, singular informal)

Related Phrases:

• Его друзья (His friends) - A common phrase indicating a group associated with him.
• В его отсутствие (In his absence) - Used to describe situations when he is not present; implies temporary unavailability.
• Его стиль жизни (His lifestyle) - Refers to personal habits or way of living, often in discussions about personality.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "его" directly corresponds to the English "his" as a possessive pronoun, but it must agree with the gender and case of the noun it modifies. Unlike English, Russian pronouns are more flexible in word order but always require proper case alignment. For English learners, remember to use "его" only for masculine or neuter nouns; choose alternatives like "её" for feminine. In formal writing, it's essential, while in informal speech, context often clarifies.

• Always place "его" before the noun it possesses for natural flow.
• When multiple translations exist, select based on the noun's gender to avoid errors.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "его" with "он" by using it as a subject pronoun instead of possessive. For example:

• Error: "Он книга" (Incorrect: Trying to say "His book" but using nominative form.)
• Correct: "Его книга" - Explanation: Use the genitive "его" for possession, not the nominative "он". This mistake arises from direct word-for-word translation.
• Another common error: Overusing "его" for feminine nouns, e.g., "Его машина" when referring to a female owner. Correct: Use "её" for feminine contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, possessive pronouns like "его" are frequently used in literature and daily conversation to emphasize personal relationships or belongings, reflecting the language's emphasis on context and social hierarchy. For instance, in Russian folklore, phrases involving "его" often highlight individual heroism or family ties, underscoring the collectivist aspects of Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• Её (her)
• Их (their)
• Моё (my)