Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'musician'

English Word: musician

Key Russian Translations:

• Музыкант /muˈzɨkənt/ - [Common, Neutral]

Frequency: Medium (This word is commonly used in everyday conversations about arts, music, and professions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "человек" (person).)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary level; suitable for beginners as it involves straightforward noun usage, though understanding cases may require intermediate practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Музыкант: /muˈzɨkənt/

Note on Музыкант: The stress is on the second syllable ("zy"), and the "ы" sound is a distinct Russian vowel, similar to a tense "i" in English. Be careful with the soft sign "т" at the end, which doesn't affect pronunciation but indicates grammatical features.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who plays a musical instrument, composes music, or performs as a professional in the music industry.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Музыкант - Used in general contexts for musicians, such as in concerts or daily life; neutral and formal/informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Этот музыкант играет на скрипке в оркестре. (This musician plays the violin in the orchestra.)

  Translation: This musician plays the violin in the orchestra. (Context: Describing a professional setting.)

• Моя сестра - талантливый музыкант, она сочиняет песни. (My sister is a talented musician; she composes songs.)

  Translation: My sister is a talented musician; she composes songs. (Context: Family or personal introduction.)

• В парке выступает уличный музыкант с гитарой. (In the park, a street musician is performing with a guitar.)

  Translation: In the park, a street musician is performing with a guitar. (Context: Informal, everyday observation.)

• Известный музыкант дал концерт в Москве. (The famous musician gave a concert in Moscow.)

  Translation: The famous musician gave a concert in Moscow. (Context: News or event description.)

• Музыкант из джаз-бэнда импровизирует на сцене. (The musician from the jazz band is improvising on stage.)

  Translation: The musician from the jazz band is improvising on stage. (Context: Performance in a specific genre.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Музыкант" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the second declension. It follows regular patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The word is invariant in terms of gender but changes with number and case as shown. For feminine equivalents, use "музыкантка" in informal contexts, which has similar inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Исполнитель (ispolnitel) - More general, often used for performers; subtle difference in emphasizing performance over creation.
  • Музыкальный артист (muzykalnyy artist) - Formal, highlights artistic aspects; used in professional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Слушатель (slushatel) - Listener; implies the opposite role in music consumption.

Related Phrases:

• Профессиональный музыкант - Professional musician; used in career discussions. (Context: Referring to trained experts in the field.)
• Уличный музыкант - Street musician; common in urban settings. (Context: Informal performances for tips or entertainment.)
• Классический музыкант - Classical musician; specific to genres like symphony or opera. (Context: High-culture events.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "музыкант" directly corresponds to the English "musician" but is more commonly used for instrumentalists or performers rather than singers (who might be called "певец" or "певица"). It is gender-neutral in plural forms but can be feminized as "музыкантка" for women in informal speech. Pay attention to case usage; for example, in prepositional phrases like "о музыканте" (about the musician). When choosing between synonyms, use "исполнитель" if the focus is on public performance.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "музыкант" without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "Я говорю о музыкант" instead of "Я говорю о музыканте".

  Correct: "Я говорю о музыканте" (I am talking about the musician). Explanation: Russian requires the prepositional case, so the ending changes to "-е".

• Error: Confusing with "музыка" (music), leading to misuse like "Он музыкант" when meaning "He is music" (incorrect).

  Correct: "Он музыкант" is fine, but ensure context clarifies; if meaning "He is into music," say "Он любит музыку". Explanation: "Музыкант" specifically means a person, not the art form itself.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, musicians hold a revered place, especially in traditions like folk music (e.g., balalaika players) and classical composers like Tchaikovsky. The word "музыкант" often evokes images of enduring artistic heritage, such as in Soviet-era ensembles or modern pop scenes, reflecting Russia's rich musical history and its role in national identity.

Related Concepts:

• Композитор (kompositor) - Composer
• Дирижер (dirizher) - Conductor
• Певец (pevets) - Singer