Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'marry'

English Word: marry

Key Russian Translations:

• жениться [ʐɨˈnʲit͡sə] - [Formal, Informal, for males; reflexive verb]
• выходить замуж [vɨˈxodʲitʲ zɐˈmuʂ] - [Formal, Informal, for females; phrasal verb]
• бракосочетаться [brɐkəsət͡ɕɪˈtat͡sə] - [Formal, legal or official contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and media related to relationships and events)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; involves understanding gender-specific conjugations and reflexive forms, which can be challenging for beginners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жениться: [ʐɨˈnʲit͡sə]

Note on жениться: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure'. It is a reflexive verb, so stress shifts in conjugations; pay attention to the 'и' vowel for proper emphasis.

выходить замуж: [vɨˈxodʲitʲ zɐˈmuʂ]

Note on выходить замуж: The 'ш' in 'замуж' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, like 'sh' in 'shoe'. This phrase often has a rising intonation in spoken Russian to convey excitement.

бракосочетаться: [brɐkəsət͡ɕɪˈtat͡sə]

Note on бракосочетаться: The 'ч' is a voiceless palatal affricate, similar to 'ch' in 'church'. This formal word may vary slightly in regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To enter into marriage with someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• жениться - Used for males in personal, narrative, or formal contexts, e.g., when describing a wedding plan.
• выходить замуж - Used for females in everyday or ceremonial contexts, emphasizing the act from a woman's perspective.
• бракосочетаться - Applied in official or legal settings, such as registry office ceremonies, for both genders.

Usage Examples:

• Мой брат женится на своей подруге через месяц; это будет красивая церемония.

  My brother is marrying his girlfriend next month; it will be a beautiful ceremony.

• Она выходит замуж за иностранца, и их свадьба объединит две культуры.

  She is marrying a foreigner, and their wedding will blend two cultures.

• Молодые люди решили бракосочетаться в ЗАГСе, чтобы избежать больших расходов.

  The young couple decided to marry at the registry office to avoid big expenses.

• После долгих лет встреч, он наконец женится и строит семью.

  After years of dating, he is finally marrying and starting a family.

• В этом году многие пары выходят замуж или женятся из-за новых законов о браке.

  This year, many couples are marrying due to the new marriage laws.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "жениться" (a reflexive verb, imperfective aspect): It conjugates based on tense, person, and number. The base form is irregular in some aspects due to its reflexive ending "-ся".

For "выходить замуж": This is a phrasal verb and does not inflect as a single word; "выходить" conjugates, while "замуж" remains invariant as an adverbial form.

For "бракосочетаться": Similar to "жениться", it is reflexive and follows standard verb conjugation patterns without major irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: вступать в брак (to enter into marriage, more formal); обвенчаться (to wed in a church ceremony, religious context)
• Antonyms: разводиться (to divorce, emphasizing separation after marriage); расходиться (to separate informally)

Related Phrases:

• Свадебное торжество - A wedding celebration; used for describing the event and its cultural elements.
• Вступить в брак - To enter into marriage; often in legal or official documents.
• Обменяться кольцами - To exchange rings; a key ritual in many weddings.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "marry" translations are gender-specific, so always match the subject: use "жениться" for males and "выходить замуж" for females to avoid awkwardness. "Бракосочетаться" is neutral and preferred in formal or bureaucratic contexts. Be mindful of the imperfective aspect for ongoing actions. English speakers often err by using a single word universally, but Russian requires context for accuracy. For plural or group scenarios, phrases like "вступать в брак" work better.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "жениться" for a female subject, e.g., saying "Она женится" instead of "Она выходит замуж".
  Correct: "Она выходит замуж" – This maintains gender agreement and avoids confusion in social contexts.
• Error: Overusing "бракосочетаться" in casual talk, which sounds overly formal.
  Correct: In everyday conversation, opt for "жениться" or "выходить замуж" for natural flow, as "бракосочетаться" is reserved for official events.
• Error: Neglecting reflexive endings, e.g., saying "женить" without "-ся".
  Correct: Always include "-ся" for "жениться" to convey the reflexive meaning; otherwise, it implies causing someone else to marry.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, marriage often involves elaborate traditions like the "vykup nevesty" (bride ransom), where the groom's party negotiates with the bride's family in a playful manner. Weddings are significant social events, frequently celebrated with toasts using vodka and folk dances, reflecting historical influences from Orthodox Christianity and Slavic customs. Words like "выходить замуж" carry romantic and familial connotations, emphasizing community involvement.

Related Concepts:

• Свадьба (wedding)
• Брак (marriage)
• Невеста (bride)
• Жених (groom)