Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'newborn'

English Word: newborn

Key Russian Translations:

• новорожденный /nəvɐrɐˈʐdɛnnɨj/ - [Formal, Used for humans, often in medical or family contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in healthcare, family discussions, and media, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding Russian adjective inflections and vocabulary related to life stages)

Pronunciation (Russian):

новорожденный: /nəvɐrɐˈʐdɛnnɨj/

Note on новорожденный: The stress falls on the third syllable ("ʐdɛnnɨj"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rolled 'r' and soft 'zh' sound. Pronounce it slowly to master the flow.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A baby that has recently been born.

Translation(s) & Context:

• новорожденный - Used in formal and medical contexts to describe infants immediately after birth, such as in hospitals or parenting discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В роддоме заботятся о новорожденных детях, проверяя их здоровье и вес.

  In the maternity hospital, they take care of newborn babies, checking their health and weight.

• Моя сестра только что родила новорожденного мальчика, и вся семья в восторге.

  My sister just gave birth to a newborn boy, and the whole family is thrilled.

• Врачи советуют кормить новорожденных детей грудным молоком в первые месяцы жизни.

  Doctors recommend feeding newborn babies breast milk in the first months of life.

• Новорожденная девочка спит большую часть дня, что типично для младенцев.

  The newborn girl sleeps for most of the day, which is typical for infants.

• Во время пандемии меры безопасности в больницах были усилены для защиты новорожденных.

  During the pandemic, safety measures in hospitals were intensified to protect newborns.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Новорожденный" is an adjective in Russian, which means it changes based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard pattern for adjectives ending in -ый. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This adjective does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward once the basic patterns are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • младенец (mladenets) - More general term for an infant, often used interchangeably but implies a slightly broader age range.
  • попрыгун (poprygun) - Informal, poetic term for a very young child, with a connotation of liveliness.
• Antonyms:
  • взрослый (vzoslyy) - Adult, contrasting with the youth of a newborn.
  • подросток (podrostok) - Teenager, emphasizing later stages of development.

Related Phrases:

• новорожденный ребенок - A newborn child; Used in everyday conversations about family and health.
• уход за новорожденным - Care for a newborn; Common in parenting guides and medical advice.
• первые дни новорожденного - The first days of a newborn; Refers to early postnatal experiences, often with cultural rituals.

Usage Notes:

"Новорожденный" directly corresponds to the English "newborn" in meaning, but remember that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. For example, use the feminine form "новорожденная" for a female baby. It's primarily formal and neutral, making it suitable for medical, educational, or familial contexts, but avoid it in very casual slang. When choosing between translations like "младенец," opt for "новорожденный" if emphasizing the immediate post-birth period.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the masculine form "новорожденный" for a female baby, e.g., saying "новорожденный девочка" instead of "новорожденная девочка."

  Correct Usage: "Новорожденная девочка" – Russian adjectives must match the gender of the noun, so always adjust based on context to avoid grammatical errors.

• Error: Forgetting case changes, such as using nominative in a genitive context, e.g., "уход за новорожденный" instead of "уход за новорожденным."

  Correct Usage: "Уход за новорожденным" – Pay attention to the sentence structure to ensure proper case agreement, which is a common pitfall for English speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "новорожденный" is often associated with family traditions and celebrations, such as the "родительский день" (Parents' Day) or Orthodox Christian rituals like baptism shortly after birth. This term carries a sense of joy and new beginnings, reflecting the cultural emphasis on family and community support during early infancy.

Related Concepts:

• беременность (pregnancy)
• роды (childbirth)
• младенчество (infancy)