Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'individual'

English Word: individual

Key Russian Translations:

• Индивид (/ɪnˈdʲivʲɪt/) - [Formal; Noun, used in scientific or philosophical contexts]
• Индивидуум (/ɪnˈdʲivʊdʊm/) - [Formal; Noun, synonymous but slightly more literary]
• Индивидуальный (/ɪnˈdʲivʲɪdʊalʲnɨj/) - [Formal; Adjective, describing something unique or personal]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations are commonly encountered in academic, professional, and everyday discussions, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level; requires understanding of noun and adjective forms, as per CEFR standards. For "индивидуальный" (adjective), it may be slightly easier at B1 due to regular adjective patterns, while "индивид" (noun) is B2 due to its abstract usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Индивид: /ɪnˈdʲivʲɪt/

Индивидуум: /ɪnˈdʲivʊdʊm/ - Note on Индивидуум: The stress on the second syllable can vary slightly in fast speech, potentially sounding like /ɪnˈdʲivʊdʊmʲ/ in some dialects.

Индивидуальный: /ɪnˈdʲivʲɪdʊalʲnɨj/ - Note on Индивидуальный: Pay attention to the soft sign (ь) affecting the 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a noun, referring to a single human being or entity, often in a distinct or unique sense.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Индивид - Used in formal, scientific, or psychological contexts to denote a person as an independent unit, e.g., in discussions of behavior or society.
• Индивидуум - Similar to "индивид" but with a more philosophical connotation, often in literary or academic writing about human uniqueness.

Usage Examples:

• Каждый индивид имеет уникальные черты характера. (Kajdɨj ɪnˈdʲivʲɪt ɪmʲɪt ʊnʲɪˈkʲalʲnɨj tɕʲɪrˈtakʲɪ xarakˈtʲɪra.)

  Each individual has unique character traits. (This example shows the noun in a general descriptive context.)

• В психологии изучают поведение отдельного индивида. (V psixoloˈgʲi izʊˈtʃajʊt povaˈʒɛnʲɪje oˈtdʲɛlnava ɪnˈdʲivʲɪda.)

  In psychology, they study the behavior of an individual. (Illustrates use in an academic setting.)

• Индивидуум в обществе должен развиваться самостоятельно. (ɪnˈdʲivʊdʊm v ɐbˈʃɛstvʲɪ dɔlˈʒɛn razvʲivaˈtsa samɐstɐˈtelʲna.)

  An individual in society must develop independently. (Demonstrates a philosophical context with adverbial modification.)

• Этот индивид отличается от других своей креативностью. (ɛˈtot ɪnˈdʲivʲɪt ɐtˈlʲiʧaet͡sə ɐt ˈdrʊgʲix svɐˈjɛj krʲeativnɐsˈtʲju.)

  This individual stands out from others with their creativity. (Shows comparative structure in everyday description.)

• Каждый индивид несёт ответственность за свои действия. (Kajdɨj ɪnˈdʲivʲɪt nʲɛˈsʲot ɐtvetstvennɐsˈtʲju za svɐˈjɪ dʲeˈjstvʲɪja.)

  Every individual bears responsibility for their actions. (Emphasizes moral or legal contexts.)

Meaning 2: As an adjective, referring to something unique, personal, or distinct.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Индивидуальный - Used to describe personalized or customized items, plans, or characteristics, often in professional or educational contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Этот курс предлагает индивидуальный подход к обучению. (ɛˈtot kurs prʲiˈnosɪt ɪnˈdʲivʲɪdʊalʲnɨj pʲiˈpɐt k ɐbˈʊʧenʲiju.)

  This course offers an individual approach to learning. (Example in an educational context.)

• Индивидуальный стиль одежды подчёркивает уникальность. (ɪnˈdʲivʲɪdʊalʲnɨj stʲil ɐdʲɛʒdɨ pʊt͡ɕʲɛˈrkʲɪvaʲɛt ʊnʲɪˈkʲalʲnɨsˈtʲj.)

  An individual style of clothing emphasizes uniqueness. (Demonstrates use with nouns in fashion or personal expression.)

• Врач разработал индивидуальный план лечения. (vrɑʧ razrabɐˈtɑl ɪnˈdʲivʲɪdʊalʲnɨj plan lʲeʧenʲija.)

  The doctor developed an individual treatment plan. (Shows application in medical contexts.)

• Индивидуальный дизайн интерьера делает дом особенным. (ɪnˈdʲivʲɪdʊalʲnɨj dʲiˈzajn ɪnʲtʲeˈrʲi dʲɛlaʲɛt dom ɐsɐˈbʲɛnnɨm.)

  An individual interior design makes the home special. (Illustrates creative or decorative usage.)

• Индивидуальный подход необходим в работе с детьми. (ɪnˈdʲivʲɪdʊalʲnɨj pʲiˈpɐt nʲeˈobxodʲɪm v rɐˈbotʲɛ s dʲetʲmʲi.)

  An individual approach is necessary when working with children. (Emphasizes necessity in interpersonal contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Индивид" and "Индивидуум" (nouns, masculine):

For "Индивидуальный" (adjective): It follows regular adjective patterns with full agreement in gender, number, and case. Example: Masculine singular nominative - Индивидуальный; Feminine singular nominative - Индивидуальная; Neuter singular nominative - Индивидуальное; Plural nominative - Индивидуальные. No irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Личность (/lʲɪʧʲnɐsˈtʲj/) - More focused on personality; Человек (/tɕʲɪlɐˈvʲɛk/) - General term for a person, but less formal.
• Индивидуум: Synonym - Субъект (/sʊbˈjʲɛkt/) - In philosophical contexts.
• Antonyms: Группа (/ˈɡrʊpə/) - Group; Коллектив (/kəlʲlʲɛkˈtʲɪf/) - Collective, emphasizing the opposite of individual.

Related Phrases:

• Индивидуальный подход - An individualized approach; used in education or therapy to mean tailored methods.
• Индивид в обществе - The individual in society; a common phrase in sociological discussions referring to personal roles within a community.
• Развитие индивидуальности - Development of individuality; an idiomatic expression for personal growth and uniqueness.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "индивид" and "индивидуум" are more formal and abstract than everyday terms like "человек," so they are best used in academic or professional settings rather than casual conversation. For the adjective "индивидуальный," it directly corresponds to English "individual" in contexts like personalized services, but be cautious with word order—Russian adjectives precede the noun. When choosing between translations, opt for "индивид" for scientific precision and "индивидуальный" for descriptive attributes. Grammatical agreement is key: ensure adjectives match the noun's gender, number, and case.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "индивид" in casual speech as a direct synonym for "person," e.g., saying "Этот индивид мой друг" instead of "Этот человек мой друг." Correct: Reserve "индивид" for formal contexts to avoid sounding overly academic. Explanation: This can make speech seem pretentious; use "человек" for everyday interactions.
• Error: Incorrect adjective agreement, e.g., saying "индивидуальный план" for a feminine noun when it should be "индивидуальная программа." Correct: "Индивидуальная программа." Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender, so always check the noun's form.
• Error: Confusing with English loanwords; learners might overuse "индивидуальный" thinking it's identical, leading to awkward phrasing. Correct: Integrate it naturally, as in native sentences. Explanation: This stems from direct translation habits; practice with examples to build intuition.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "индивид" often tie into historical philosophical debates, such as those influenced by Soviet-era collectivism versus individualism. The word reflects a tension between personal identity and communal roles, evident in literature like Dostoevsky's works, where individual struggles are central themes.

Related Concepts:

• Личность (Personality)
• Субъект (Subject, in a philosophical sense)
• Общество (Society)