Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'kilogram'

English Word: kilogram

Key Russian Translations:

• килограмм [kʲɪləˈɡram] - [Neutral, Masculine noun, Used in formal and informal contexts for measurements]

Frequency: High (This word is commonly used in everyday conversations, scientific contexts, and commerce in Russian-speaking regions.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it is a basic borrowed term from international standards and requires minimal grammatical knowledge to use.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

килограмм: [kʲɪləˈɡram]

Note on килограмм: The stress falls on the second syllable ("грамм"). Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects, but the standard is as above. Pay attention to the palatalized 'к' sound at the beginning.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: A unit of mass equal to 1,000 grams, used in the metric system for measuring weight.

Translation(s) & Context:

• килограмм - Used in everyday measurements, scientific contexts, and commerce. This is the standard translation and applies to both formal (e.g., official documents) and informal (e.g., shopping) scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фрукт весит ровно один килограмм.

  This fruit weighs exactly one kilogram.

• В рецепте указано полкилограмма муки.

  The recipe calls for half a kilogram of flour.

• Она купила два килограмма яблок на рынке.

  She bought two kilograms of apples at the market.

• Килограмм мяса стоит дороже, чем килограмм овощей.

  A kilogram of meat costs more than a kilogram of vegetables.

• В спортивном зале он поднимает штангу в 50 килограммов.

  At the gym, he lifts a barbell weighing 50 kilograms.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Килограмм" is a masculine noun (despite ending in -мм, it follows masculine patterns in Russian). It is borrowed from French/Greek and has regular declensions for a second-declension noun. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The plural form is used for quantities greater than one, and inflections follow standard patterns with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: килограмм is the standard term; no exact synonyms, but related terms include "килограмм-сила" (kilogram-force, in physics contexts) – used specifically for force measurements.
• Antonyms: Not applicable, as this is a unit of measurement without direct opposites. However, smaller units like "грамм" (gram) could be considered counterparts in scale.

Related Phrases:

• килограмм фруктов – A kilogram of fruits (Used in shopping or dietary contexts to specify quantities.)
• полкилограмма сахара – Half a kilogram of sugar (Common in recipes or grocery lists.)
• килограмм в день – A kilogram per day (Often used in weight loss or production contexts.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "килограмм" directly corresponds to the English "kilogram" as part of the SI system, making it a straightforward borrowing. It is used across all registers (formal and informal) but is especially prevalent in scientific, commercial, and everyday scenarios. Always ensure correct case agreement with accompanying words; for example, use the genitive case after numerals (e.g., "два килограмма" for "two kilograms"). When choosing between translations, "килограмм" is the only accurate one, but be aware that in poetic or archaic contexts, older weight units like "пуд" might appear, though they are obsolete.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я купил килограмм" instead of "Я купил килограмм" (actually correct here, but commonly mismatched in prepositional phrases like "говорить о килограмме" where genitive is needed).

  Correct: "Я думаю о килограмме" (I am thinking about a kilogram). Explanation: Russian requires precise case endings; beginners often forget to adjust for context, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing with English pronunciation, e.g., pronouncing it as [ˈkɪləɡræm] instead of the Russian [kʲɪləˈɡram].

  Correct: Practice the palatalized 'к' and stress on the second syllable. Explanation: This can make the word sound unnatural to native speakers and hinder comprehension.

Cultural Notes:

"Килограмм" is a metric unit widely used in Russia due to the country's adoption of the International System of Units (SI) in the 20th century. It reflects Russia's alignment with global scientific standards post-Soviet era, but historically, traditional units like "пуд" (a Russian pound, about 16 kg) were common in pre-metric times. Today, it's a neutral, everyday term without strong cultural connotations, emphasizing practicality in measurement.

Related Concepts:

• грамм (gram)
• тонна (tonne)
• метр (meter)
• литр (liter)