Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'honorarium'

English Word: honorarium

Key Russian Translations:

• гонорар [ɡɐˈno.rər] - [Formal, used in professional or academic contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in professional, academic, or literary discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and formal vocabulary, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of basic grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гонорар: [ɡɐˈno.rər]

Note on гонорар: The stress falls on the second syllable (no-), which is a common feature in Russian words ending in -ар. Be mindful of the soft 'р' sound, which can be challenging for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A voluntary payment given as a token of appreciation for professional services, such as speeches, lectures, or consultations, without being a fixed salary.

Translation(s) & Context:

• гонорар - Used in formal contexts like academia, publishing, or freelance work; implies a one-time or honor-based payment rather than regular wages.

Usage Examples:

• Он получил гонорар за свою лекцию в университете.

  He received an honorarium for his lecture at the university.

• Журнал выплатил гонорар автору статьи о современной литературе.

  The magazine paid an honorarium to the author of the article on modern literature.

• Консультант отказался от гонорара, считая свою помощь добровольной.

  The consultant declined the honorarium, considering his help voluntary.

• Для писателей гонорар часто является основным источником дохода от публикаций.

  For writers, an honorarium is often the primary source of income from publications.

• Организаторы конференции предложили гонорар спикеру за его выступление.

  The conference organizers offered an honorarium to the speaker for his presentation.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Гонорар" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the second declension. It follows regular patterns for most cases but has no plural form in common usage as it typically refers to a singular payment. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This word does not inflect for plural in standard usage, as honorariums are often treated as individual instances. If referring to multiple payments, context might require rephrasing with synonyms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вознаграждение (voznagrazhdeniye) - More general, implying any form of reward or compensation.
  • оплата (oplata) - Focuses on payment, but less formal and can imply regular fees.
• Antonyms:
  • штраф (shtraf) - A fine or penalty, contrasting with a reward.

Related Phrases:

• получить гонорар - To receive an honorarium; used in contexts of earning from professional services.
• выплатить гонорар - To pay an honorarium; common in organizational or contractual settings.
• гонорар за выступление - Honorarium for a performance; often in artistic or public speaking scenarios.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "гонорар" precisely corresponds to "honorarium" as a non-obligatory payment, often in creative or intellectual fields, unlike "зарплата" (salary), which is for regular employment. It is typically used in formal writing or speech, and learners should note its masculine gender for correct agreement in sentences (e.g., "этот гонорар" for "this honorarium"). When choosing between synonyms like "вознаграждение," opt for "гонорар" in contexts emphasizing honor over mere payment. Be aware of prepositional phrases, such as "за гонорар," to indicate the reason for payment.

Common Errors:

• Confusing "гонорар" with "зарплата": English learners might use "гонорар" for regular salaries. Incorrect: "Мой гонорар 50,000 рублей в месяц" (implying a monthly salary). Correct: "Моя зарплата 50,000 рублей в месяц." Explanation: "Гонорар" is for one-time payments, while "зарплата" is for ongoing wages.

• Incorrect declension: Forgetting to change the case, e.g., saying "Я получил гонорар" in a context requiring genitive, like "Я получил деньги за гонорара" (wrong). Correct: "Я получил деньги за гонорар." Explanation: Always adjust for case based on sentence structure to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "гонорар" often reflects the value placed on intellectual and creative contributions, stemming from historical contexts like the Soviet era when artists and writers were paid through state commissions. Today, it symbolizes freelance work in a society where personal honor and professional ethics play a significant role, sometimes leading to negotiations over what constitutes fair compensation in non-contractual settings.

Related Concepts:

• зарплата (salary)
• авторское право (copyright)
• вознаграждение (reward or compensation)