Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'kindred'

English Word: kindred

Key Russian Translations:

• родственники [rɐdʲˈstʲvʲɪnʲɪkʲi] - [Plural, Informal; commonly used in everyday family discussions]
• род [rot] - [Formal, Singular; used in historical or clan contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations appear regularly in conversations about family and relationships, but not as frequently as basic everyday terms.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun inflections. For 'родственники', it's Intermediate due to plural forms; for 'род', it's also B1 as it involves nominative and genitive cases.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

родственники: [rɐdʲˈstʲvʲɪnʲɪkʲi] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'щ' sound is soft and palatalized.)

род: [rot] (A simple, one-syllable word with a hard 'r' sound; no major pronunciation challenges for intermediates.)

Note on родственники: Be cautious with the soft 'т' and 'н' sounds, which can be tricky for English speakers; it often sounds like "raud-stveen-nee-kee". Variations in regional accents may soften the consonants further in informal speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Relatives or family members (Primary meaning; refers to blood relations or close kin)

Translation(s) & Context:

• родственники - Used in informal or neutral contexts when discussing immediate or extended family members, such as in daily conversations or family gatherings.
• род - Applied in more formal or historical contexts, like describing a clan or lineage in literature or genealogy.

Usage Examples:

• Мои родственники часто собираются на праздники.

  My kindred often gather for holidays. (This example shows the word in a plural, nominative context, emphasizing family traditions.)

• В нашей семье родственники живут в разных городах.

  In our family, kindred live in different cities. (Illustrates the word with a genitive structure, highlighting geographical separation.)

• Он гордится своим родом и предками.

  He is proud of his kindred and ancestors. (Here, 'род' is used in a possessive context, focusing on heritage and formality.)

• Родственники помогли нам в трудную минуту.

  Kindred helped us in a difficult moment. (Demonstrates the word in an accusative case, showing support in emotional scenarios.)

• Изучать род своих предков — это интересное хобби.

  Studying the kindred of one's ancestors is an interesting hobby. (Uses 'род' in a more abstract, formal sense, common in educational or historical discussions.)

Figurative or extended meaning (e.g., people with similar interests or bonds, though less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• родственники - Rarely used figuratively, but can imply close allies in informal speech.

Usage Examples:

• Эти друзья как родственники для меня.

  These friends are like kindred to me. (This shows a metaphorical use, extending beyond blood relations.)

• В компании единомышленников чувствуешь себя среди родных.

  Among like-minded people, you feel like you're with kindred. (Emphasizes emotional bonds, using 'родных' as a variant.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Родственники' is a plural noun (from 'родственник', meaning relative). It follows standard first-declension patterns for masculine nouns. Here's a table for its inflections:

'Род' is an indeclinable noun in most contexts (neuter gender) and does not change in the plural form; it remains 'род' across cases, making it simpler for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • семья (sem'ya) - More general, often implies the nuclear family; differs from 'родственники' by focusing on household rather than extended kin.
  • близкие (blizkie) - Informal, emphasizes emotional closeness over blood ties.
• Antonyms:
  • чужие (chuzhie) - Strangers or outsiders, highlighting lack of familial bonds.
  • незнакомцы (neznakomtsy) - Unfamiliar people, used in social contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Близкие родственники (blizkie rodstvenniki) - Close kindred; refers to immediate family members, often used in legal or emotional contexts.
• Расширенный род (raschirennui rod) - Extended kindred; implies a larger family network, common in discussions about genealogy.
• Семья и род (sem'ya i rod) - Family and kindred; a phrase for broader family structures in cultural conversations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'родственники' directly corresponds to the English 'kindred' when referring to relatives, but it's more commonly used in plural forms. Choose 'род' for formal or historical contexts to avoid sounding overly casual. Be mindful of the genitive case in phrases like "моего рода" (of my kindred). English speakers often confuse this with 'семья', which is narrower; use 'родственники' for extended family to capture the full nuance.

• Grammar tip: Always check the case when using these words in sentences, as Russian requires agreement with other elements.
• Context guidance: In informal settings, 'родственники' is preferred; for official documents, opt for 'род'.

Common Errors:

• Using 'родственники' in singular form incorrectly: Error - "Мой родственники" (wrong, as it's plural). Correct: "Мой родственник" for singular. Explanation: Russian nouns have specific genders and numbers; always match the context to avoid grammatical errors.
• Confusing with synonyms: Error - Using 'семья' when meaning extended kindred, e.g., "Моя семья включает далеких родственников" (implies only immediate family). Correct: "Мои родственники включают далеких родных." Explanation: 'Семья' is for core family, while 'родственники' covers broader relations; this misuse can lead to misunderstandings in conversations.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'kindred' like 'родственники' holds significant importance, often tied to traditions such as family reunions during holidays like New Year's or Orthodox Easter. The concept of 'род' reflects historical clan systems in Russian history, emphasizing loyalty and heritage, which can influence modern social interactions and is evident in literature like Tolstoy's works.

Related Concepts:

• семья (sem'ya)
• родители (roditeli)
• предки (predki)