Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'midnight'

English Word: midnight

Key Russian Translations:

• полночь [pɐlˈnot͡ɕ] - [Formal, used in literary or precise time contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in time-related discussions, literature, and daily conversations about schedules, but not as frequent as basic time words like "day" or "night")

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; it's a straightforward vocabulary item for basic time expressions, suitable for early learners of Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

полночь: [pɐlˈnot͡ɕ]

Note on полночь: The stress falls on the second syllable ("no-"), and the "ч" sound is a voiceless palatal fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft, hissing quality similar to the "ch" in "loch" in Scottish English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The middle of the night (12:00 AM)

Translation(s) & Context:

• полночь - Used in formal, literary, or everyday contexts to denote exactly midnight, often in narratives, schedules, or poetic descriptions. It carries a sense of mystery or transition in Russian culture.

Usage Examples:

• В полночь часы пробили двенадцать раз.

  At midnight, the clocks struck twelve times.

• Мы встретим Новый год в полночь под салют.

  We'll celebrate the New Year at midnight under the fireworks.

• В полночь город становится тихим и загадочным.

  At midnight, the city becomes quiet and mysterious.

• Она всегда просыпается ровно в полночь из-за бессонницы.

  She always wakes up exactly at midnight because of insomnia.

• В полночь начинается волшебство, как в сказках.

  At midnight, the magic begins, as in fairy tales.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Полночь" is a feminine noun (3rd declension in Russian). It follows standard feminine noun patterns with inflections for case and number. As a singular noun, it does not have a plural form in common usage, but it changes according to grammatical case. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: This word is invariant in number (always singular) and does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • середина ночи (serevina nochi) - Literally "middle of the night"; used more descriptively in informal contexts, with a slight nuance of generality rather than exact timing.
  • глубокая ночь (glubokaya noch') - "Deep night"; implies a late hour, often with a poetic connotation, but less precise than полночь.
• Antonyms:
  • полдень (poluden') - Noon; the opposite time of day.
  • рассвет (rassvet) - Dawn; the beginning of the day.

Related Phrases:

• В полночь (V polnoch') - At midnight; used for scheduling or describing events, e.g., in contexts like New Year's Eve celebrations.
• Под полночь (Pod polnoch') - Towards midnight; implies approaching the hour, often in narratives about waiting or anticipation.
• Ровно в полночь (Rovno v polnoch') - Exactly at midnight; emphasizes precision, common in formal or scientific contexts.
• Полночная тишина (Polnochmaya tishina) - Midnight silence; a phrase evoking a quiet, serene atmosphere, often in literature.

Usage Notes:

"Полночь" directly corresponds to the English "midnight" as the exact midpoint of the night (12:00 AM). It is typically used in formal or literary contexts rather than casual speech, where phrases like "середина ночи" might be preferred for informality. Be mindful of case changes when using it in sentences; for example, in prepositional phrases, it becomes "в полночь" or "о полуночи". English learners should note that Russian time expressions often integrate with verbs and adjectives to convey mood, such as in festive or mysterious scenarios. If multiple translations are available, choose "полночь" for precision in time-related contexts.

Common Errors:

• Confusing case endings: English speakers might incorrectly use "полночь" in all contexts without changing for case, e.g., saying "в полночь" as "в полноч" (wrong) instead of the correct "в полночь". Correct usage: Always adjust for the required case, as in "Я проснулся в полночь" (I woke up at midnight).

• Overusing in informal speech: Learners might use "полночь" where a simpler phrase like "поздно ночью" (late at night) is more natural, making speech sound overly formal. Explanation: Reserve "полночь" for exact timings to avoid sounding stilted.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "полночь" often symbolizes magic, transition, or mystery, as seen in folklore and literature like fairy tales by Pushkin. It's prominently featured in New Year's traditions, where midnight marks the stroke of midnight for toasts and fireworks, reflecting a collective sense of renewal and hope.

Related Concepts:

• ночь (noch') - Night
• день (den') - Day
• утро (utro) - Morning
• вечер (vecher) - Evening