Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'male'

English Word: male

Key Russian Translations:

• мужчина [muʐˈtɕinə] - [Formal, Noun, Used in general contexts for adult males]
• мужской [ˈmuʂskoj] - [Formal, Adjective, Used to describe gender-specific attributes or categories]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday Russian conversations, media, and official documents)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary level; straightforward for beginners but requires basic understanding of Russian noun and adjective forms)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мужчина: [muʐˈtɕinə]

Note on мужчина: The stress falls on the second syllable; the 'ж' is a voiced palatal fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

мужской: [ˈmuʂskoj]

Note on мужской: Stress on the first syllable; the 'ш' sound is a voiceless retroflex fricative. Ensure the 'ой' ending is pronounced as a diphthong.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a noun referring to an adult human male.

Translation(s) & Context:

• мужчина - Used in formal and informal settings to denote a grown male person, such as in introductions or descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Этот мужчина работает в офисе. (This man works in the office.)

  English Translation: This man works in the office.

• Мужчина в костюме выглядит профессионально. (The man in the suit looks professional.)

  English Translation: The man in the suit looks professional.

• В парке я увидел незнакомого мужчину. (In the park, I saw an unfamiliar man.)

  English Translation: In the park, I saw an unfamiliar man.

• Мужчина помог ей нести сумки. (The man helped her carry the bags.)

  English Translation: The man helped her carry the bags.

Meaning 2: As an adjective referring to something related to or characteristic of males.

Translation(s) & Context:

• мужской - Used to describe gender-specific items, roles, or qualities, often in formal or descriptive contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Это мужской костюм. (This is a men's suit.)

  English Translation: This is a men's suit.

• Мужской голос звучит в телефоне. (A male voice is heard on the phone.)

  English Translation: A male voice is heard on the phone.

• В школе есть мужской хор. (There is a men's choir at the school.)

  English Translation: There is a men's choir at the school.

• Мужской пол имеет определенные биологические особенности. (The male gender has certain biological characteristics.)

  English Translation: The male gender has certain biological characteristics.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For мужчина (noun, masculine, 1st declension):

For мужской (adjective, follows standard adjectival declension):

These words follow regular Russian inflection patterns, with no irregularities noted.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: мужчина - парень (guy, informal), мужчина - джентльмен (gentleman, more polite)
• Antonyms: мужчина - женщина (woman), мужской - женский (female)

Related Phrases:

• Мужчина в расцвете сил (A man in his prime) - Refers to a mature, capable male.
• Мужской взгляд на вещи (A male perspective on things) - Describes a viewpoint influenced by masculine traits.
• Типичный мужской характер (Typical male character) - Indicates stereotypical male personality traits in Russian culture.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "мужчина" directly corresponds to the English noun "male" when referring to an adult man, but it implies maturity, so for younger males, "мальчик" (boy) might be more appropriate. "Мужской" as an adjective aligns with "male" in contexts like gender specification, but always agree in case, number, and gender with the noun it modifies. Use "мужчина" in formal situations, such as official documents, and be cautious of cultural nuances where gender roles are emphasized.

• When choosing between translations, opt for "мужчина" for people and "мужской" for attributes.
• In informal speech, synonyms like "парень" can soften the tone.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse cases with "мужчина," for example, using the nominative form in all contexts: Incorrect - "Я видел мужчина" (should be "Я видел мужчину" in accusative). Correct usage: Always decline based on sentence role. Another error is confusing "мужской" with "мужчина," treating it as a noun: Incorrect - "Это мужской в офисе" (should be "Это мужчина в офисе"). Explanation: Adjectives must modify nouns properly.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "мужчина" carries connotations of strength, responsibility, and traditional gender roles, often linked to historical contexts like Soviet-era ideals of the "Soviet man." This can influence its use in literature and media, emphasizing masculinity in a way that may differ from Western norms.

Related Concepts:

• женщина (woman)
• мальчик (boy)
• пол (gender)