Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'minute'

English Word: minute

Key Russian Translations:

• минута [mʲɪˈnutə] - [Common noun, used for a unit of time]

Frequency: High (The word is very commonly used in everyday Russian conversations related to time.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it is a basic vocabulary item in Russian language learning, per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

минута: [mʲɪˈnutə]

Note on минута: The stress is on the second syllable. The 'мʲ' represents a palatalized 'm', which is a common feature in Russian phonetics and may be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A unit of time (60 seconds)

Translation(s) & Context:

• минута - Used in general contexts for measuring short durations, such as in schedules or timers (e.g., [Informal or Formal]).

Usage Examples:

• Подождите одну минуту, пожалуйста. (Podozhdite odnu minutu, pozhaluysta.)

  Wait one minute, please. (This example shows the word in a polite request, common in everyday interactions.)

• У меня есть всего пять минут на обед. (U menya yest' vsyo go pyat' minut na obyed.)

  I only have five minutes for lunch. (Illustrates use in time management contexts, with a plural form.)

• Фильм начинается через десять минут. (Film nachinaetsya cherez desyat' minut.)

  The movie starts in ten minutes. (Demonstrates future time reference in scheduling.)

• Я опоздал на пару минут. (Ya opozdal na paru minut.)

  I was a couple of minutes late. (Shows use in expressions of delay, informal speech.)

Meaning 2: Very small or insignificant (adjective form, less common for this word)

Translation(s) & Context:

• минутный - Used in formal or literary contexts to mean brief or momentary (e.g., [Formal, rare in spoken language]).

Usage Examples:

• Это была минутная слабость. (Eto byla minutnaya slabost'.)

  It was a momentary weakness. (This example highlights the word in emotional or psychological contexts.)

• Минутные детали не важны. (Minutnye detali ne vazhny.)

  The minute details are not important. (Illustrates use in discussions of precision or triviality.)

• Ветер принес минутный холод. (Veter prines minutnyy kholod.)

  The wind brought a brief chill. (Shows the word in descriptive, poetic language.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Минута" is a feminine noun in Russian, which means it follows the standard first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -a. It inflects based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

For "минутный" (adjective), it follows regular adjective declension patterns, changing based on gender, number, and case (e.g., минутная for feminine singular). It is not irregular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • секунда (sekunda) - More precise for very short times, but not exact synonym.
  • момент (moment) - Used for a brief period, with a connotation of immediacy.
• Antonyms:
  • час (chas) - Hour, implying a longer duration.
  • день (den') - Day, for even longer periods.

Related Phrases:

• В эту минуту (V etu minutu) - At this very moment; used for emphasizing current time.
• Каждую минуту (Kazhduyu minutu) - Every minute; common in schedules or routines.
• Подождать минуту (Podozhdat' minutu) - To wait a minute; a polite expression in conversations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "минута" directly corresponds to the English "minute" as a time unit and is used similarly in contexts like timing events or daily routines. However, be aware of the genitive case in phrases like "в течение минуты" (within a minute), which requires "минуты". For the adjective form "минутный", it's more literary and less common in spoken language; prefer alternatives like "краткий" for everyday use. When choosing between translations, opt for "минута" in time-related contexts to match the exact English meaning.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "минута" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я жду минута" instead of "Я жду минуту" (I wait minute).

  Correct: "Я жду минуту" – Explanation: Russian requires the accusative case after verbs like "ждать" (to wait), so always check the case based on the sentence structure.

• Error: Confusing with English pronunciation, leading to mispronouncing [mʲɪˈnutə] as something like "mee-noo-ta" without the palatalization.

  Correct: Practice the palatalized 'm' sound; listen to native audio to avoid this common phonetic mistake for English learners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, time is often perceived more flexibly in social contexts, so phrases involving "минута" (e.g., being a few minutes late) are common and not always seen as rude, unlike in more punctual cultures. Historically, the word derives from Latin via French, reflecting Russia's adoption of Western time measurement systems.

Related Concepts:

• секунда (second)
• час (hour)
• день (day)