Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'house'

English Word: house

Key Russian Translations:

• дом [dom] - [Formal, Common noun for a building or home]
• жилье [ˈʐɨlʲjə] - [Informal, Often used in contexts of accommodation or living space]

Frequency: High (This word and its translations are commonly used in everyday Russian conversation and writing.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level; basic vocabulary that is essential for new learners, with straightforward grammar.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

дом: [dom]

жилье: [ˈʐɨlʲjə]

Note on дом: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the soft "o" sound, which is pronounced as a short "o" in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A physical building or structure for living

Translation(s) & Context:

• дом - Used in general contexts for a family home or residential building.
• жилье - Applied in more practical or rental contexts, such as apartments or temporary housing.

Usage Examples:

• Мой дом находится в центре города.

  My house is located in the city center.

• Они строят новый дом на окраине.

  They are building a new house on the outskirts.

• Это жилье идеально для молодой семьи.

  This housing is perfect for a young family.

• В старом доме есть много воспоминаний.

  In the old house, there are many memories.

Meaning 2: A metaphorical or extended sense, such as a family or household

Translation(s) & Context:

• дом - Often used metaphorically for family or home life, especially in literary or emotional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Дом — это не только стены, но и люди.

  A house is not just walls, but also the people.

• В нашем доме всегда тепло и уютно.

  In our house, it's always warm and cozy.

• Он вернулся в свой дом после долгой поездки.

  He returned to his home after a long trip.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translation "дом" is a masculine noun in Russian, which undergoes declension based on case, number, and gender. It follows the standard pattern for third-declension masculine nouns. "жилье" is a neuter noun and has its own inflections.

Note: "жилье" is less inflected and remains relatively stable, but it still changes in cases like genitive and instrumental.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • квартира [kvartira] - Apartment; often used for urban housing.
  • обитель [ɐˈbʲitʲelʲ] - Dwelling; more poetic or formal.
• Antonyms:
  • улица [uˈlʲit͡sə] - Street; refers to outdoor or public spaces.
  • офис [ɐˈfis] - Office; contrasts with residential spaces.

Related Phrases:

• Домашний адрес [Domashniy adres] - Home address; used for providing location details.
• Свой дом [Svoy dom] - One's own house; implies personal ownership or belonging.
• Купить жилье [Kupit' zhil'e] - To buy housing; common in real estate contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "дом" directly corresponds to the English "house" in most literal senses, but it can also carry emotional connotations of family and security. Use "жилье" when discussing practical aspects like renting or accommodations to sound more natural. Be mindful of context: in formal writing or speech, stick to "дом" for a home, while in everyday conversation, it might be interchangeable. Grammar-wise, always decline the noun according to its case in a sentence for correctness.

• When choosing between translations, opt for "дом" if emphasizing permanence, and "жилье" for temporary or functional housing.
• In phrases, "дом" often pairs with adjectives like "большой" (big) to describe size.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget to decline "дом" in sentences, leading to incorrect usage. For example:

• Error: "Я иду в дом" (incorrect because it should be declined for the prepositional case).
• Correct: "Я иду в дом" should be "Я иду в дом" wait, actually in this case it's correct, but a common mistake is: Error: "У меня есть дом новый" (word order and adjective agreement wrong).
• Correct: "У меня есть новый дом" - Remember to place adjectives before the noun and ensure agreement in gender and case.

Another error is confusing "дом" with "домик" (a small house or cottage), which is diminutive and not always appropriate.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "дом" symbolizes not just a physical structure but a center of family life and tradition. Historically, the Russian "дом" has roots in communal living, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where it represents stability amidst social changes. This cultural depth makes it more than a mere building, often evoking warmth and nostalgia in expressions.

Related Concepts:

• семья [sem'ya] - Family
• квартира [kvartira] - Apartment
• жилище [ʐɨˈlʲiʂə] - Dwelling