Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'homework'

English Word: homework

Key Russian Translations:

• Домашнее задание (/dɐˈmaʂnʲɪjə zəˈdanʲɪjə/) - [Formal, commonly used in educational contexts]
• Домашка (/dɐˈmaʂkə/) - [Informal, colloquial, used in casual conversations among students]

Frequency: High (This term is frequently encountered in everyday Russian, especially in school, university, and family discussions about education.)

Difficulty: A2 (Basic intermediate level according to CEFR; straightforward for beginners but requires understanding of noun phrases. For "Домашка", it remains A2, while "Домашнее задание" might feel slightly easier due to its formal structure.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Домашнее задание: /dɐˈmaʂnʲɪjə zəˈdanʲɪjə/

Домашка: /dɐˈmaʂkə/

Note on Домашнее задание: The stress falls on the third syllable of "домашнее" and the second syllable of "задание". Be mindful of the soft 'ш' sound in "домашнее", which can be challenging for English speakers due to its palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Work or assignments given by a teacher to be completed outside of class, typically at home.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Домашнее задание - Used in formal settings like schools or official communications; implies structured educational tasks.
• Домашка - Applied in informal, everyday contexts, such as student chats or casual family talks; often shortened for brevity.

Usage Examples:

• Я сделал домашнее задание по математике вчера вечером. (Ya sdelal domashneye zadaniye po matematike vchera vecherom.)

  I did my homework in math last night. (This example shows the phrase in a simple past tense context, emphasizing completion of a specific task.)

• Учитель дал нам домашку на выходные. (Uchitel' dal nam domashku na vykhodnyye.)

  The teacher gave us homework for the weekend. (Here, the informal "домашку" is used in a casual sentence about assignment distribution.)

• Не забудь сделать домашнее задание, иначе получишь плохую оценку. (Ne zabud' sdelat' domashneye zadaniye, inache poluchish' plokhuyu otsenku.)

  Don't forget to do your homework, or you'll get a bad grade. (This illustrates a warning context with conditional structure.)

• Моя сестра помогает мне с домашкой по английскому. (Moya sestra pomogayet mne s domashkoy po angliyskomu.)

  My sister is helping me with my English homework. (Demonstrates informal usage in a family or peer support scenario.)

• В школе много домашнего задания, но я стараюсь выполнять всё вовремя. (V shkole mnogo domashnego zadaniya, no ya starayus' vypolnyat' vsyo vovremya.)

  There's a lot of homework in school, but I try to complete everything on time. (This shows the phrase in a general, reflective context with plural implications.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Домашнее задание" is a noun phrase where "домашнее" is an adjective and "задание" is a neuter noun. It follows standard Russian inflection rules. "Задание" inflects by case, number, and gender, while "домашнее" agrees with it.

For "задание" (neuter noun, 2nd declension):

"Домашка" is an informal diminutive and does not inflect regularly; it remains mostly unchanged in casual use.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Домашняя работа (/dɐˈmaʂnəjə rəˈbotə/) - Similar to "домашнее задание" but slightly more general; used interchangeably in formal contexts.
  • Урок дома (/uˈrok dɐˈma/) - Literally "lesson at home"; implies a broader educational activity, often in informal settings.
• Antonyms:
  • Классная работа (/ˈklasnəjə rəˈbotə/) - In-class work; contrasts by being done during school hours.

Related Phrases:

• Сделать домашнее задание (/sdʲɪˈlatʲ dɐˈmaʂnʲɪjə zəˈdanʲɪjə/) - To do homework; used for completing tasks, often with a sense of obligation.
• Забыть о домашке (/zɐˈbɨtʲ ɐ dɐˈmaʂkʲə/) - To forget about homework; common in informal complaints about school.
• Проверить домашнее задание (/prɐˈvjɛrʲɪtʲ dɐˈmaʂnʲɪjə zəˈdanʲɪjə/) - To check homework; refers to teacher review, highlighting accountability.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "homework" is not a single word but a phrase like "домашнее задание", which directly mirrors the English concept but emphasizes the educational structure. Use "домашка" for informal conversations to sound more natural among peers. Be aware of gender agreement: "домашнее" must agree with the noun it modifies. When choosing between translations, opt for "домашнее задание" in formal writing or with adults, and "домашка" in spoken language to convey familiarity.

Common Errors:

• English speakers often misuse the phrase by translating it word-for-word as "дом работа", which is incorrect. Wrong: "Дом работа" (This is not a valid Russian phrase). Correct: "Домашнее задание". Explanation: Russian requires the adjective "домашнее" to specify the type of assignment.

• Confusing inflections, e.g., using "задания" in the wrong case. Wrong: "Я имею заданий" (incorrect genitive use). Correct: "Я имею задание" (in nominative). Explanation: Pay attention to case endings based on sentence structure to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, homework like "домашнее задание" is a cornerstone of the rigorous education system, often linked to historical emphasis on academic excellence from the Soviet era. It symbolizes discipline and parental involvement, with phrases like this frequently appearing in family discussions or popular media, reflecting the high value placed on education and personal responsibility.

Related Concepts:

• Урок (/uˈrok/)
• Школа (/ˈʂkolə/)
• Экзамен (/jɪkˈzamʲɪn/)