Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'niece'

English Word: niece

Key Russian Translations:

• племянница /plʲɪmʲɪˈnʲnʲɪtsə/ - [Formal, used for female relatives]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations about family, but not as frequent as basic kinship terms like "mother" or "father").

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1 level; requires understanding of Russian noun genders and case inflections, which can be challenging for beginners).

Pronunciation (Russian):

племянница: /plʲɪmʲɪˈnʲnʲɪtsə/

Note on племянница: The pronunciation involves palatalized consonants (e.g., 'лʲ' and 'нʲ'), which are common in Russian but may be tricky for English speakers. Stress falls on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The sister of one's parent, or the daughter of one's sibling.

Translation(s) & Context:

• племянница - Used in family contexts, such as describing relatives in conversations or formal documents; typically formal but can be neutral in casual speech.

Usage Examples:

• Моя племянница учится в университете и мечтает стать врачом.

  My niece is studying at the university and dreams of becoming a doctor.

• Племянница моего брата приехала на каникулы из другого города.

  My brother's niece came for holidays from another city.

• Я горжусь своей племянницей за её успехи в спорте.

  I am proud of my niece for her achievements in sports.

• Племянница бабушки часто помогает по дому.

  Grandmother's niece often helps around the house.

• В нашей семье племянница всегда получает подарки на Новый год.

  In our family, the niece always gets gifts for New Year's.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

племянница is a feminine noun in the first declension (first conjugation for nouns). It follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns for gender, number, and case. As a feminine noun ending in -а, it has regular changes across cases. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: This noun does not have irregular forms, making it relatively straightforward once the basic declension rules are learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • родственница (rodstvennitsa) - A more general term for a female relative, often used in broader family contexts; less specific than племянница.
• Antonyms: Not directly applicable, as this is a kinship term without a clear opposite. However, for contrast, племянник (nephew) could be considered a gender counterpart.

Related Phrases:

• моя племянница - My niece; used to specify possession in everyday family discussions.
• племянница по матери - Niece on the mother's side; helpful for distinguishing family branches.
• любимая племянница - Favorite niece; an affectionate phrase in personal stories.

Usage Notes:

Russian kinship terms like племянница are highly gendered, so always use this for female nieces; for males, use племянник. It corresponds directly to the English "niece" but requires attention to case inflections in sentences (e.g., in the genitive case for possession). This word is neutral in most contexts but can be formal in written or official language. When choosing between translations, stick with племянница for standard usage; avoid overusing it in casual speech where broader terms like родственница might suffice.

Common Errors:

• Common Error: Using the masculine form "племянник" for a female niece. Incorrect: "Мой племянник учится" (when referring to a girl). Correct: "Моя племянница учится". Explanation: Russian nouns have grammatical gender, so matching the gender of the person is essential to avoid confusion in communication.

• Common Error: Forgetting case inflections, such as using the nominative "племянница" in all contexts. Incorrect: "Я думаю о племянница" (should be genitive). Correct: "Я думаю о племяннице". Explanation: Proper case usage ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, family ties are highly valued, and terms like племянница often appear in discussions about extended families during holidays like New Year's or birthdays. This reflects the importance of multi-generational households in Russia, where nieces and nephews frequently participate in family gatherings, symbolizing continuity and support.

Related Concepts:

• племянник (nephew)
• тётя (aunt)
• дядя (uncle)