Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'loan'

English Word: loan

Key Russian Translations:

• заём [zɐˈjɵm] - [Formal, Financial context]
• кредит [krʲɪˈdʲit] - [Formal, Common in banking and everyday financial discussions]

Frequency: Medium (Frequently used in financial and business contexts, but less common in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for learners; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and financial terminology)

Pronunciation (Russian):

заём: [zɐˈjɵm]

Note on заём: The stress is on the second syllable; the "ё" sound is a distinct mid-back rounded vowel, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft "y" glide before the vowel.

кредит: [krʲɪˈdʲit]

Note on кредит: The initial "krʲ" has a palatalized "r" sound, common in Russian; avoid hardening it as in English "credit."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A sum of money that is borrowed and expected to be paid back with interest (financial context).

Translation(s) & Context:

• заём - Used in formal legal or banking scenarios, often implying a more traditional loan agreement.
• кредит - Applied in modern contexts like bank loans, credit cards, or installment plans; more versatile in everyday use.

Usage Examples:

• Я взял заём в банке на покупку квартиры.

  I took out a loan from the bank to buy an apartment.

• Банк одобрил мне кредит на автомобиль.

  The bank approved a loan for me to buy a car.

• Из-за высокого процента за заём, я решил искать альтернативные варианты.

  Due to the high interest on the loan, I decided to look for alternative options.

• Она оформила кредит в интернете, не выходя из дома.

  She applied for a loan online without leaving home.

• Заём от друзей иногда бывает проще, чем банковский кредит.

  A loan from friends can sometimes be easier than a bank loan.

The act of lending something temporarily (non-financial, e.g., borrowing an item).

Translation(s) & Context:

• заём - Less common; used metaphorically or in formal contexts for lending items, but "одолжить" is more precise for everyday borrowing.

Usage Examples:

• Он сделал заём книги из библиотеки на месяц.

  He took out a loan of a book from the library for a month.

• Заём инструментов от соседа сэкономил мне время.

  Borrowing tools from the neighbor saved me time.

• В музее заём экспонатов из других стран редкость.

  Loaning exhibits from other countries is rare in the museum.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "заём" and "кредит" are masculine nouns in Russian. They follow standard declension patterns for Russian nouns, with "заём" being less common and potentially irregular in some uses due to its historical roots.

Note: "Кредит" is more regularly inflected and commonly used in plural forms in financial discussions. "Заём" is invariant in some dialects but follows the above in standard Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: ссуда (ssuda) - More informal, often for short-term loans; займ (zaym) - Similar to заём, used in online lending contexts.
• Antonyms: депозит (depozit) - Refers to a deposit or savings; возврат (vozvrat) - Implies repayment, contrasting with the act of borrowing.

Related Phrases:

• Банковский заём - Bank loan; Commonly used for mortgages or large purchases.
• Кредит на жильё - Housing loan; Refers to loans specifically for real estate.
• Быстрый кредит - Quick loan; Often implies online or instant approval processes.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "заём" is a more formal and traditional term, closely aligning with the English "loan" in legal contexts, while "кредит" is broader and often interchangeable in modern usage, especially in banking. Choose "заём" for historical or contractual discussions, but "кредит" for everyday scenarios. Be mindful of grammatical gender and declensions when using these words in sentences. For non-financial meanings, "одолжить" (to lend) is a better fit than "заём."

• Contextual tip: In formal writing or official documents, "заём" may carry a sense of obligation, whereas "кредит" emphasizes the financial transaction.
• Grammar note: Always decline these nouns based on case, as shown in the inflections table, to ensure correct sentence structure.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse "заём" by treating it as unchanging, leading to errors in declension. For example, incorrectly saying "Я плачу за заём" instead of "Я плачу за заёмом" (I am paying for the loan) in the instrumental case. Another common mistake is confusing it with "кредит," using "заём" in banking contexts where "кредит" is more appropriate, such as "Я взял кредит" instead of "Я взял заём" for a bank loan. Correct usage: Always check the context and decline properly to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, loans and credits are integral to daily life, especially with high costs for housing and education. However, there's a historical wariness due to economic instability in the past, where defaulting on loans (e.g., during the Soviet era) could lead to social stigma. Today, "кредит" is popularized through advertising, reflecting a shift towards consumerism.

Related Concepts:

• инвестиция (investment)
• процент (interest rate)
• долг (debt)