Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'livelihood'

English Word: livelihood

Key Russian Translations:

• Средство к существованию [sʲrʲɪdstvə k sʊʂʲɛstvəvanʲju] - [Formal, often used in legal or economic contexts]
• Промысел [prəmɨsʲɛl] - [Informal, general usage, particularly in everyday or regional discussions]
• Источник дохода [ɪstɐtʲɔk dəxɔda] - [Semi-formal, emphasizing financial aspects]

Frequency: Medium - This term appears regularly in discussions about employment, economics, and personal life, but it's not as common in casual conversation as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Requires understanding of noun phrases and formal structures; for "Средство к существованию," it's B2 due to its idiomatic nature, while "Промысел" is B1.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Средство к существованию: [sʲrʲɪdstvə k sʊʂʲɛstvəvanʲju]

Note on Средство к существованию: The stress falls on the first syllable of "средство" (SRE-dstvo). Be mindful of the soft consonants, which can be challenging for English speakers.

Промысел: [prəmɨsʲɛl]

Note on Промысел: The "ы" sound is a distinct Russian vowel, similar to a tense "i" in English, and the word is stressed on the second syllable.

Источник дохода: [ɪstɐtʲɔk dəxɔda]

Note on Источник дохода: Pay attention to the palatalized "тʲ" in "источник," which softens the pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A means of earning one's living, often referring to a job, trade, or source of income.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Средство к существованию - Used in formal contexts like legal documents or economic reports, emphasizing sustainability and necessity.
• Промысел - Applied in informal or narrative settings, such as stories about traditional occupations or daily life.
• Источник дохода - Common in financial or business discussions, focusing on revenue streams.

Usage Examples:

• Его средство к существованию всегда было связано с сельским хозяйством.

  His livelihood has always been connected to agriculture.

• В этом регионе промысел рыбалки стал основным для местных жителей.

  In this region, fishing as a livelihood has become the main activity for local residents.

• Для неё источник дохода — это не только работа, но и творчество.

  For her, the source of income as a livelihood is not just a job but also creativity.

• Потеря средства к существованию из-за кризиса вынудила многих переезжать в города.

  The loss of livelihood due to the crisis forced many to move to cities.

• Её промысел как ремесленника поддерживает всю семью.

  Her livelihood as a craftsman supports the entire family.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Средство к существованию" is a noun phrase where "средство" is a neuter noun that declines, while "к существованию" is a prepositional phrase that remains relatively stable. "Промысел" is a masculine noun with standard declension. "Источник" is also masculine and follows regular patterns.

For "средство" (neuter, second declension):

For "промысел" (masculine, second declension):

"Источник" follows similar masculine patterns. These words do not have irregular inflections, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Источник существования - Similar to "источник дохода" but broader.
  • Занятие - More general, often used in informal contexts with slight differences in connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • Безработица (unemployment) - Directly opposes the idea of a stable livelihood.
  • Нищета (poverty) - Implies the absence of means for sustenance.

Related Phrases:

• Зарабатывать на жизнь - Means "to earn a living"; used in contexts of daily survival and work.
• Средства к существованию потерять - Means "to lose one's livelihood"; common in crisis discussions.
• Промысел рук - Refers to "a trade or craft as a livelihood"; highlights manual skills.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "средство к существованию" is the most precise equivalent to "livelihood" in formal English contexts, such as legal or economic texts, due to its emphasis on necessity. Choose "промысел" for more narrative or cultural discussions, like traditional occupations. Be aware of grammatical agreement: as a noun phrase, it must align with case and number in sentences. For English learners, remember that Russian often requires more explicit context for such abstract concepts, so pair it with verbs like "заниматься" (to engage in) for natural usage.

• Limit "источник дохода" to financial topics to avoid overlap with broader livelihood meanings.
• In spoken Russian, these phrases may vary by region, so adapt based on dialect.

Common Errors:

English learners often mistake "средство к существованию" for a single word and forget to decline "средство" properly. For example:

• Error: "Я потерял средство к существованию" (incorrect if not declined in context, e.g., genitive should be "средства").
• Correct: "Я потерял средства к существованию" - Here, use genitive for loss. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always check the sentence structure to avoid this.
• Another error: Confusing with "работа" (job), leading to oversimplification. Correct usage involves the full phrase for nuance.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "промысел" often carry historical connotations, such as traditional rural livelihoods (e.g., fishing or farming in remote areas). This reflects Russia's vast geography and the importance of self-sustaining activities, which can evoke themes of resilience and community in literature and folklore.

Related Concepts:

• Работа (work)
• Доход (income)
• Занятие (occupation)
• Экономика (economy)