Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'momentous'

English Word: momentous

Key Russian Translations:

• значительный /znɐˈʧʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Adjective, Formal, used in written or official contexts]
• важный /ˈvaʐnɨj/ - [Adjective, Informal, commonly used in everyday speech]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are encountered regularly in Russian media, literature, and formal discussions, but not as frequently as basic adjectives.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it involves understanding nuanced adjectives and their contextual usage; for 'значительный', it may lean towards B2 due to its formal connotations, while 'важный' could be accessible at B1 for beginners.

Pronunciation (Russian):

значительный: /znɐˈʧʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/ (Stress on the third syllable; the 'ч' is a soft palatal fricative, similar to 'ch' in 'church').

Note on значительный: Be cautious with the soft consonants; in fast speech, it may sound like /znɐʧʲitʲɪlʲnɨj/, and regional variations in Russia might soften the vowels further.

Audio: []

важный: /ˈvaʐnɨj/ (Stress on the first syllable; the 'ж' is a voiced fricative, like 'zh' in 'measure').

Note on важный: The 'ж' sound is common in Russian and can be tricky for English speakers; it's often prolonged in emphatic speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Of great importance or significance, often implying historical or life-changing impact.

Translation(s) & Context:

• значительный - Used in formal contexts, such as historical events or academic discussions, to emphasize scale or weight.
• важный - Applied in everyday situations to denote something crucial or urgent, like decisions or meetings.

Usage Examples:

• Этот момент в истории был очень значительным для всей страны. (This moment in history was very momentous for the entire country.)

  English Translation: This moment in history was very significant for the entire country.

• Для меня это был важный день, когда я принял судьбоносное решение. (For me, it was a momentous day when I made a life-changing decision.)

  English Translation: For me, it was a momentous day when I made a life-changing decision.

• Значительный вклад учёных в эту область изменил наше понимание мира. (The momentous contribution of scientists in this field changed our understanding of the world.)

  English Translation: The significant contribution of scientists in this field changed our understanding of the world.

• Важен ли этот шаг для твоей карьеры? (Is this step momentous for your career?)

  English Translation: Is this step important for your career?

• Мы отмечаем значительный юбилей, который стал поворотным пунктом. (We are celebrating a momentous anniversary that became a turning point.)

  English Translation: We are celebrating a significant anniversary that became a turning point.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'значительный' and 'важный' are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives agree with the nouns they modify and follow regular patterns for most forms, though there are no irregularities here.

These adjectives do not have irregular inflections; they follow the standard first-declension pattern for hard-stem adjectives in Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • серьёзный (seryoznyy) - More neutral, often implying seriousness rather than grandeur.
  • крупный (krupnyy) - Emphasizes scale, suitable for large-scale events.
• Antonyms:
  • незначительный (neznachitel'nyy) - Lacking importance.
  • неважный (nevazhnyy) - Unimportant or trivial.

Related Phrases:

• значительный вклад (znachitel'nyy vklad) - A momentous contribution; used in contexts like historical achievements or professional work.
• важный момент (vazhnyy moment) - A crucial moment; common in personal narratives or storytelling.
• судьбоносный выбор (sud'bonosnyy vybor) - A fateful choice; implies a decision with momentous implications.

Usage Notes:

'Значительный' aligns closely with the formal, weighty connotations of 'momentous' in English, making it ideal for historical or academic contexts, whereas 'важный' is more versatile for everyday use but may not capture the same depth. Always consider the context: use 'значительный' for events with lasting impact and 'важный' for immediate importance. Grammatically, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key difference from English adjectives.

• When choosing between translations, opt for 'значительный' in written or professional settings to sound more precise.
• In spoken Russian, 'важный' is less formal and can be paired with verbs like 'стать' (to become) for dynamic usage.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the inflections, such as using the masculine form 'значительный' with a feminine noun (e.g., incorrectly saying 'значительный решение' instead of 'значительное решение' for a neuter noun). Correct usage: Always match the adjective to the noun's gender and case. Another error is overusing 'важный' in formal contexts, which can sound too casual; for example, saying 'Это важный исторический момент' when 'значительный' would be more appropriate for emphasis.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'значительный' often evoke historical events, such as the Russian Revolution or World War II, where 'momentous' decisions shaped national identity. This reflects a cultural emphasis on collective history, so using these terms can carry a sense of national pride or solemnity in discussions.

Related Concepts:

• исторический (istoricheskiy) - Historical
• судьбоносный (sud'bonosnyy) - Fateful
• крупный (krupnyy) - Major or large-scale