Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'likelihood'

English Word: likelihood

Key Russian Translations:

• вероятность [vʲɪrɐˈjatnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, used in scientific, statistical, or general contexts]
• шанс [ʂans] - [Informal, Plural possible, used in everyday or casual discussions]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in formal writing, news, and scientific discussions, but not in basic everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and abstract concepts; for "шанс," also B1 due to borrowed word simplicity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вероятность: [vʲɪrɐˈjatnəsʲtʲ]

шанс: [ʂans]

Note on вероятность: The stress falls on the third syllable ("yat"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 't' sound; it may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The chance that something will happen (primary meaning of "likelihood")

Translation(s) & Context:

• вероятность - Used in formal or academic contexts, such as statistics or risk assessment, to denote probability based on evidence.
• шанс - Applied in informal settings, like personal decisions or games, to imply a more opportunistic chance.

Usage Examples:

• Вероятность дождя сегодня составляет 80%.

  The likelihood of rain today is 80%.

• Учитывая текущие данные, вероятность успеха проекта высока.

  Given the current data, the likelihood of the project's success is high.

• Шанс на победу в лотерее очень мал, но некоторые люди продолжают играть.

  The likelihood of winning the lottery is very low, but some people keep playing.

• В науке вероятность события расчитывается на основе статистических моделей.

  In science, the likelihood of an event is calculated based on statistical models.

• Несмотря на малый шанс, мы не должны игнорировать вероятность неожиданных изменений.

  Despite the low likelihood, we shouldn't ignore the chance of unexpected changes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Вероятность" is a feminine noun (3rd declension) and follows standard Russian noun patterns with inflections for case and number. It is not irregular but requires attention to vowel reductions. "Шанс" is a masculine noun (borrowed from English/French) and is less inflected.

Note: "Шанс" is invariant in some contexts due to its borrowed nature, making it easier for beginners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • возможность [vɐzˈmɔʐnəsʲtʲ] - More general, implying feasibility rather than probability.
  • шанс - Often interchangeable with вероятность in informal speech, but with a nuance of opportunity.
• Antonyms:
  • невозможность [nʲɪˈvɐzʲmɔʐnəsʲtʲ] - Directly opposite, meaning impossibility.
  • нулевая вероятность [ˈnulɛvaja vʲɪrɐˈjatnəsʲtʲ] - Literal phrase for zero likelihood.

Related Phrases:

• С большой вероятностью - With high likelihood; used to express strong possibility in predictions.
• Вероятность ошибки - The likelihood of error; common in technical or quality control contexts.
• Шанс на успех - Chance of success; informal phrase for motivational or gambling scenarios.

Usage Notes:

Use "вероятность" for precise, evidence-based scenarios (e.g., in science or statistics), as it directly mirrors the formal English "likelihood." "Шанс" is better for casual contexts where opportunity is implied, similar to "chance" in English. Be mindful of declensions when using in sentences; for example, always adjust for case in prepositional phrases. When multiple translations are available, choose based on register: formal for academic writing, informal for daily conversation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "вероятность" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я думаю о вероятность" instead of "Я думаю о вероятности" (Genitive case required after prepositions like "о").

  Correct: Я думаю о вероятности. Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so learners often forget this, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing "шанс" with "вероятность" in formal contexts, e.g., using "шанс" in a scientific report where "вероятность" is more appropriate.

  Correct: Use "вероятность" for statistical precision. Explanation: "Шанс" feels more casual and may undermine the formality of the text.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and language, "вероятность" is heavily influenced by scientific and mathematical traditions, stemming from Russia's emphasis on engineering and space exploration (e.g., in contexts like cosmonautics). It often carries a pragmatic connotation, reflecting a cultural value on logical analysis over intuition in decision-making.

Related Concepts:

• риск [risk] - Risk
• статистика [statistika] - Statistics
• предсказание [predskazaniye] - Prediction