Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hour'

English Word: hour

Key Russian Translations:

• час (/t͡ɕas/) - [Formal, Singular, Used for standard time measurement]

Frequency: High (This word is extremely common in everyday Russian conversation, media, and formal contexts.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it is a basic noun with straightforward usage, making it accessible for new learners of Russian.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

час: /t͡ɕas/ (The "ч" sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to the "ch" in "cheese" but softer; stress is on the first syllable.)

Note on час: Be cautious with the "ч" sound, as it's a common challenge for English speakers who may confuse it with English "ch". In fast speech, it can soften slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A unit of time equal to 60 minutes.

Translation(s) & Context:

• час - Used in general contexts for telling time, scheduling, or describing durations (e.g., in formal writing, conversations, or everyday speech).

Usage Examples:

• Урок начинается через час. (The lesson starts in an hour.)

  Translation: The lesson starts in an hour. (This example shows the word in a future time context, common in daily planning.)

• Я жду тебя ровно час. (I'm waiting for you exactly one hour.)

  Translation: I'm waiting for you exactly one hour. (Illustrates use with adverbs like "ровно" for precision in informal conversations.)

• В этом фильме действие происходит в течение часа. (In this movie, the action takes place within an hour.)

  Translation: In this movie, the action takes place within an hour. (Demonstrates the word in a narrative or descriptive context, often in media discussions.)

• Сколько часов в твоём рабочем дне? (How many hours are in your workday?)

  Translation: How many hours are in your workday? (Shows plural usage in questions about routines, adapting to interrogative structures.)

• Мы гуляли по парку целый час. (We walked in the park for a whole hour.)

  Translation: We walked in the park for a whole hour. (Highlights the word with intensifiers like "целый" in recreational contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Час" is a masculine noun in the third declension. It follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns, which are regular but require attention to cases and numbers. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: The plural form "часы" is used for multiple hours and has its own inflections. This word does not change in gender but is invariant in some fixed expressions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: часок (a diminutive form, implying a short or endearing hour; used in informal or affectionate contexts)
• Antonyms: минута (minute; implies a shorter time unit, often used in contrast for precision)

Related Phrases:

• В течение часа (Within an hour; used to indicate a time frame in schedules or deadlines.)
• Полчаса (Half an hour; a common expression for shorter durations in everyday conversation.)
• Целый час (A whole hour; emphasizes completeness, often in narratives or complaints.)

Usage Notes:

The Russian word "час" directly corresponds to the English "hour" as a unit of time, but it must agree in case with other elements in the sentence, which is a key difference from English. For instance, use the genitive case (часа) after prepositions like "в" (in) or "после" (after). In formal contexts, it's interchangeable with digital time expressions, but in spoken Russian, it's often combined with numbers (e.g., "два часа" for "two hours"). When choosing between translations, stick with "час" for standard usage; opt for diminutives like "часок" in casual or emotional settings to convey nuance.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the nominative form "час" in all cases, e.g., saying "в час" instead of "в часу" for "in the hour." Correct: "В часу" – This mistakes Russian case requirements for English's lack of them, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing plural forms, e.g., saying "час" for multiple hours. Correct: Use "часы" for plurals and inflect accordingly, as in "три часа" (three hours), to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "час" often appears in expressions related to daily life, such as in the context of long winters or scheduled events like theater performances. Historically, the word ties into the Russian Orthodox tradition of dividing the day into canonical hours for prayer, adding a cultural depth that emphasizes time's role in spiritual and communal routines.

Related Concepts:

• минута (minute)
• секунда (second)
• день (day)