Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'household'

English Word: household

Key Russian Translations:

• семья [ˈsʲemʲjə] - [Informal, Commonly used in everyday contexts]
• домашнее хозяйство [dɐˈmaʂnʲje xɐˈzajstvə] - [Formal, Used in administrative or economic discussions]

Frequency: Medium (The term is encountered regularly in both casual conversations and formal writing, but not as ubiquitous as basic daily words.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and contextual usage. For 'семья', it's slightly easier at A2; for 'домашнее хозяйство', it's B1 due to more complex phrasing.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

семья: [ˈsʲemʲjə]

Note on семья: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'ь' indicates a soft 'm' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, palatalized 'm' as in "measure".

домашнее хозяйство: [dɐˈmaʂnʲje xɐˈzajstvə]

Note on домашнее хозяйство: This phrase has multiple syllables with stress on the second syllable of 'домашнее' and the third of 'хозяйство'. The 'ш' sound is like the 'sh' in "sheep", and 'щ' (in variants) is softer.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A family or group of people living together

Translation(s) & Context:

• семья - Typically used for immediate family or cohabitants in informal, personal contexts, such as daily life or social discussions.
• домашнее хозяйство - Applied in more formal settings, like demographics or economics, to refer to a household as a unit.

Usage Examples:

• Моя семья собирается вместе каждое воскресенье.

  My household gathers together every Sunday.

• В нашей семье есть три поколения, живущих под одной крышей.

  In our household, there are three generations living under one roof.

• Домашнее хозяйство в России часто включает расширенную семью.

  The household in Russia often includes an extended family.

• Я управляю домашним хозяйством, включая бюджет и обязанности.

  I manage the household, including the budget and duties.

The home and its daily affairs or management

Translation(s) & Context:

• домашнее хозяйство - Used when discussing household chores, finances, or management in a structured way.

Usage Examples:

• Домашнее хозяйство требует ежедневного внимания, от уборки до готовки.

  Household management requires daily attention, from cleaning to cooking.

• В современном домашнем хозяйстве технологии играют ключевую роль.

  In a modern household, technology plays a key role.

• Семья тратит много времени на поддержание домашнего хозяйства.

  The family spends a lot of time maintaining the household.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'семья' (a feminine noun, 1st declension):

This noun follows standard Russian declension patterns for feminine nouns ending in -я. It changes based on case and number:

For 'домашнее хозяйство' (a neuter noun phrase):

This is a compound phrase where 'хозяйство' (neuter) follows standard neuter declension, but the full phrase is often used in its base form. 'Хозяйство' inflects as follows:

Note: The phrase is invariable in plural forms and is less commonly inflected as a whole.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • родные [rɐdˈnɨje] - Relatives, often used interchangeably with семья in informal contexts, but emphasizes blood ties.
  • дом [dom] - Home, more focused on the physical space rather than the people.
• Antonyms:
  • одиночество [ɐdʲɪnɐˈt͡ɕestvə] - Loneliness, contrasting the communal aspect of a household.
  • общество [ɐpˈɕʲestvə] - Society, implying a larger group outside the home.

Related Phrases:

• Домашний бюджет [dɐˈmaʂnʲij bʲʊd͡ʐɛt] - Household budget; Refers to the financial management of a home.
• Семейные традиции [sʲemʲjɪnɨje trɐdʲɪˈt͡sɨi] - Family traditions; Common phrases involving household customs.
• Расширенное домашнее хозяйство [rɐʂɨˈrʲenʲnəje dɐˈmaʂnʲje xɐˈzajstvə] - Extended household; Used for families with multiple generations.

Usage Notes:

'Семья' is the most direct and versatile translation for 'household' in everyday English contexts, but it leans towards emotional or relational aspects. Use 'домашнее хозяйство' for more formal or economic discussions, as it aligns with administrative language. Be mindful of context: in Russian, household terms often imply a collective unit, so they may not perfectly match individualistic English usages. Grammatically, always decline nouns according to case, and choose based on formality—'семья' for casual speech and 'домашнее хозяйство' for written reports.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'семья' to mean only a nuclear family, leading to confusion with extended households. Correct: In Russian, 'семья' can include extended members; for example, instead of saying "My household includes cousins" incorrectly as "Моя семья включает кузин" (which is fine), learners might forget to decline properly. Right example: "Моя семья включает кузин" (correctly inflected). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so ensure the object follows the sentence structure.

• Error: Confusing 'домашнее хозяйство' with 'дом' (house), thinking they are synonyms. Correct: 'Дом' refers to the physical building, while 'домашнее хозяйство' is about management. Wrong: "Мой дом управляет финансами" (incorrect usage). Right: "Мое домашнее хозяйство управляет финансами". Explanation: This mix-up stems from literal translations; focus on contextual appropriateness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of 'семья' or household often extends beyond the nuclear family to include grandparents and relatives, reflecting a strong emphasis on collectivism and intergenerational support. This stems from historical influences like Soviet communal living, where households were seen as social units, adding a layer of communal responsibility not always present in Western interpretations of 'household'.

Related Concepts:

• родители [rɐdʲɪˈtʲelʲɪ]
• домашние дела [dɐˈmaʂnʲje ˈdʲelə]
• семейный бюджет [sʲemʲjɪnɨj bʲʊd͡ʐɛt]