Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'late'

English Word: late

Key Russian Translations:

• поздний [ˈpoznʲij] - [Adjective, Formal, Singular]
• опоздать [ɐpɐzˈdatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily conversations and written Russian, but not as frequent as basic verbs like "идти").

Difficulty: A2 for 'поздний' (basic adjective usage); B1 for 'опоздать' (requires understanding of verb conjugation) - Reference: CEFR standards.

Pronunciation (Russian):

поздний: [ˈpoznʲij] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'знʲ' sound is palatalized, which may be challenging for beginners.)

Note on поздний: The 'й' at the end softens the preceding consonant, making it sound more fluid in spoken Russian. Avoid over-emphasizing the 'н'.

опоздать: [ɐpɐzˈdatʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'тʲ' is palatalized, common in verbs.)

Note on опоздать: This verb often involves aspectual pairs; be aware of perfective/imperfective forms like опозда́ть (perfective).

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Not on time or delayed (Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• поздний - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as describing events or times that occur after the expected moment (e.g., in schedules or narratives).

Usage Examples:

• Поздний поезд прибыл на станцию с опозданием. (Pozdniy poezd pribyl na stantsiyu s opozdaniyem.)

  The late train arrived at the station with a delay. (This example shows 'поздний' describing something occurring after the scheduled time.)

• Из-за позднего начала, мероприятие закончилось поздно. (Iz-za pozdnogo nachala, meropriyatiye zakonchilos' pozdno.)

  Due to the late start, the event ended late. (Illustrates 'поздний' in a causal sentence structure.)

• В поздний час мы решили погулять по городу. (V pozdniy chas my reshili pogulyat' po gorodu.)

  At a late hour, we decided to walk around the city. (Demonstrates 'поздний' in temporal contexts.)

• Поздний ужин вреден для здоровья. (Pozdniy uzhin vredyen dlya zdorov'ya.)

  A late dinner is harmful to health. (Shows 'поздний' with everyday advice.)

Meaning 2: To arrive after the expected time (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• опоздать - Used in informal or practical situations, such as personal anecdotes or instructions (e.g., missing a bus).

Usage Examples:

• Я опоздал на встречу из-за пробок. (Ya opozdal na vstrechu iz-za probok.)

  I was late for the meeting because of traffic. (This highlights 'опоздать' in a common urban scenario.)

• Не опоздай на самолет, иначе потеряешь рейс. (Ne opozday na samolyot, inache poterayesh' reys.)

  Don't be late for the plane, or you'll miss the flight. (Shows imperative form for advice.)

• Она часто опаздывает на уроки. (Ona chasto opazdyvayet na uroki.)

  She is often late for classes. (Illustrates habitual action with imperfective aspect.)

• Мы опоздали, и дверь уже была закрыта. (My opozdali, i dver' uzhe byla zakryta.)

  We were late, and the door was already closed. (Demonstrates consequences in narrative.)

• Извини, я опоздал из-за дождя. (Izvini, ya opozdal iz-za dozhdya.)

  Sorry, I was late because of the rain. (Used in polite apologies.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'поздний' (adjective), it follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns. It changes based on gender, number, and case.

For 'опоздать' (verb, imperfective: опаздывать), it is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns. Perfective form: опоздать.

Note: These verbs are regular, so no irregular forms to worry about.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Поздний - позднеющий (pozdneyushchiy; similar but implies gradual lateness)
  • Опоздать - запоздать (zapozdat'; used for being delayed in a more formal context)
• Antonyms:
  • Поздний - ранний (ranniy; meaning early)
  • Опоздать - прийти вовремя (priyti vovremya; to arrive on time, though not a single word)

Related Phrases:

• Поздний вечер (Pozdniy vecher) - Late evening; a common phrase for times after sunset.
• Опоздать на работу (Opozdat' na rabotu) - To be late for work; used in professional contexts to express tardiness.
• С опозданием (S opozdaniyem) - With delay; often in formal announcements, e.g., for public transport.

Usage Notes:

'Поздний' directly corresponds to the English adjective 'late' in temporal contexts but is less flexible for abstract uses (e.g., 'late bloomer' might not translate directly). 'Опоздать' is ideal for actions involving delay and pairs with aspectual verbs in Russian grammar. Use 'поздний' in formal writing and 'опоздать' in spoken language; choose based on context to avoid redundancy. For example, in polite conversations, always pair with apologies like 'извините'.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'поздний' with 'поздний' in plural forms, e.g., using 'поздние' incorrectly in singular contexts. Correct: Use 'поздний' for masculine singular. Error Example: *Поздние поезд (instead of Поздний поезд). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case.
• Mistake: Forgetting aspect in verbs, e.g., using 'опаздывать' when 'опоздать' is needed for a completed action. Correct: Опоздал (I was late). Error Example: *Опаздываю весь день (if meaning a single instance). Explanation: Aspect is crucial in Russian; imperfective for ongoing, perfective for completed events.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being 'late' (опоздать) is often linked to the concept of 'Russian time' or a more relaxed attitude toward punctuality in social settings, though it's frowned upon in professional environments. Historically, this stems from vast geographical distances and weather challenges, influencing phrases like 'с опозданием' in literature by authors like Chekhov.

Related Concepts:

• Ранний (Ranniy) - Early
• Вовремя (Vovremya) - On time
• Задержка (Zaderzhka) - Delay