Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'little'

English Word: little

Key Russian Translations:

• маленький /mɐˈlʲenʲkʲɪj/ - [Informal, Adjective form for describing size]
• немного /ˈnʲemnəɡə/ - [Informal, Used for quantity or amount]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and written language, but not as frequent as basic words like "big").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp basic adjective forms, but mastering inflections requires practice. For 'немного', it's also B1 due to its adverbial use.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

маленький: /mɐˈlʲenʲkʲɪj/

немного: /ˈnʲemnəɡə/

Note on маленький: The soft sign (ь) in 'маленький' affects pronunciation, making the 'н' sound softer and palatalized. Stress is on the second syllable.

Note on немного: The 'о' at the end is often reduced in casual speech to a schwa sound (/ə/).

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Small in size (Adjective sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• маленький - Used in everyday descriptions of physical size, often in informal or neutral contexts, such as describing objects or children.

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть маленький дом в деревне.

  I have a little house in the village. (Shows use with possessive structures.)

• Этот маленький котенок очень игривый.

  This little kitten is very playful. (Demonstrates adjective agreement with nouns.)

• В маленьком городе жизнь спокойная.

  In the little town, life is peaceful. (Illustrates use in locative phrases.)

• Маленький ребенок нуждается в заботе.

  The little child needs care. (Emphasizes familial or emotional contexts.)

• Она надела маленькое платье на вечеринку.

  She wore a little dress to the party. (Shows use in fashion or descriptive settings.)

Small in quantity (Adverbial sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• немного - Used for indicating a small amount, often in informal speech, such as in recipes or casual requests.

Usage Examples:

• Я съем немного супа.

  I'll eat a little soup. (Demonstrates use with food quantities.)

• Немного дождя упало сегодня.

  A little rain fell today. (Shows use in weather descriptions.)

• Добавьте немного соли в блюдо.

  Add a little salt to the dish. (Illustrates imperative commands.)

• У него немного денег на расходы.

  He has a little money for expenses. (Emphasizes financial contexts.)

• Немного отдыха пойдет на пользу.

  A little rest will do good. (Shows use in advice or suggestions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'маленький' (an adjective), it follows the standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular but require agreement in gender, number, and case. It is not invariable.

For 'немного' (an adverb/indefinite pronoun), it is largely invariable and does not change forms based on case or gender, making it simpler for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • крошечный (kroʂeʂnɨj) - Smaller, more diminutive; often used for very tiny objects.
  • мелкий (mʲɛlʲkʲɪj) - Fine or small in a granular sense, e.g., for particles.
• Antonyms:
  • большой (bɐlʲʂoj) - Large; direct opposite for size.
  • много (mnoɡə) - Much; opposite for quantity.

Related Phrases:

• маленький ребенок - A little child; used in family or educational contexts to refer to young kids.
• немного времени - A little time; common in scheduling or daily conversations, implying brevity.
• маленький мир - A little world; an idiomatic expression for a cozy or isolated environment, often with positive connotations.

Usage Notes:

'маленький' directly corresponds to the adjective form of 'little' in English, but always agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case—unlike English. Use 'немного' for quantities to avoid confusion with size. In formal writing, opt for 'маленький' in descriptive passages, while 'немного' is versatile in spoken language. When choosing between translations, consider context: 'little' as size vs. amount.

• In questions or negations, 'немного' can soften requests, e.g., "Можно немного сахара?" (Can I have a little sugar?).
• Be cautious with diminutives; Russians often add suffixes for endearment, e.g., 'маленький' can become 'малыш' in affectionate speech.

Common Errors:

English learners often forget to decline 'маленький' properly, using it in its base form regardless of case. For example:

• Error: "Я иду в маленький парк" (incorrect if the sentence requires genitive, e.g., in some prepositional phrases).
• Correct: "Я иду в маленький парк" (but adjust to "маленького парка" in genitive contexts like "разговор о маленьком парке"). Explanation: Always check the noun's case and match the adjective accordingly to avoid grammatical errors.
• Another error: Confusing 'немного' with 'мало' (too little, implying insufficiency). Error example: Using 'немного' to mean 'not enough'; Correct: Use 'мало' for that sense.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'маленький' often carry affectionate connotations, especially with children or pets, reflecting the value placed on family and endearment. For instance, referring to a 'маленький дом' might evoke nostalgia for rural life or simplicity, as seen in Russian literature like Chekhov's stories.

Related Concepts:

• большой (large)
• крошечный (tiny)
• размер (size)