Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ninth'

English Word: ninth

Key Russian Translations:

• девятый [dʲɪˈvʲatɨj] - [Adjective, used for ordinal numbers, Masculine singular nominative]
• девятая [dʲɪˈvʲatəjə] - [Adjective, used for ordinal numbers, Feminine singular nominative]
• девятое [dʲɪˈvʲatəjə] - [Adjective, used for ordinal numbers, Neuter singular nominative]
• девятые [dʲɪˈvʲatɨjə] - [Adjective, used for ordinal numbers, Plural nominative]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like dates, lists, and numbering, but not as frequent as cardinal numbers)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as ordinal numbers are introduced early in language learning, though inflection patterns may vary slightly across translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

девятый: [dʲɪˈvʲatɨj]

девятая: [dʲɪˈvʲatəjə]

девятое: [dʲɪˈvʲatəjə]

девятые: [dʲɪˈvʲatɨjə]

Note on девятый: The soft sign (ь) in the pronunciation indicates palatalization, which can be tricky for beginners; practice the 't' sound as softened before the 'y' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: Ordinal number indicating the position of nine in a sequence (e.g., ninth in a list).

Translation(s) & Context:

• девятый - Used in formal and informal contexts for masculine nouns, such as in dates or rankings (e.g., "ninth place in a competition").
• девятая - Used for feminine nouns, common in everyday descriptions (e.g., "the ninth chapter of a book").
• девятое - Used for neuter nouns, often in abstract or general references (e.g., "the ninth item").
• девятые - Used for plural nouns, in contexts involving groups or collections (e.g., "the ninth items").

Usage Examples:

• Это девятый дом на улице.

  This is the ninth house on the street. (Demonstrates use with a masculine noun in a spatial context.)

• Она закончила девятую главу книги.

  She finished the ninth chapter of the book. (Shows feminine form in a literary context.)

• Девятое правило очень важно для успеха.

  The ninth rule is very important for success. (Illustrates neuter form in an advisory or rule-based context.)

• Девятые соревнования были самыми напряженными.

  The ninth competitions were the most intense. (Uses plural form in a series or event context.)

• В девятый раз он попытался объяснить идею.

  For the ninth time, he tried to explain the idea. (Highlights repetition in an informal, conversational structure.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

As an adjective, "девятый" follows the standard patterns of Russian ordinal adjectives, which inflect for gender, number, and case. It is derived from the cardinal number "девять" (nine) and changes accordingly. The forms are regular but require attention to case endings.

Note: These forms are consistent across the translations, but always agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • девятой (a variant form, essentially the same but used in specific cases like genitive)
  • Note: Synonyms are limited as this is a specific ordinal; no major alternatives exist, but related terms like "девятикратный" (ninefold) imply repetition.
• Antonyms:
  • первый (first) - Indicates the beginning of a sequence.
  • последний (last) - Refers to the final position.

Related Phrases:

• Девятый вал - A phrase meaning "the ninth wave" (in literature or metaphorically, referring to a massive wave, often symbolizing a climax); used in poetic or dramatic contexts.
• Девятый класс - Means "ninth grade" in the education system; common in school-related discussions.
• В девятый раз - Translates to "for the ninth time"; used to emphasize repetition in everyday conversations.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "девятый" and its forms directly correspond to the English "ninth" as an ordinal adjective, but always must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case—unlike English, where "ninth" remains unchanged. Use formal contexts for official documents (e.g., dates like "девятое января"), and informal settings for casual talk. When choosing among translations, select based on the noun's gender (e.g., use "девятый" for masculine nouns like "день" - day). Be cautious with prepositional phrases, as case changes can alter meaning subtly.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the cardinal "девять" instead of the ordinal "девятый" in sequences. For example, saying "девять дом" instead of "девятый дом".

  Correct: "девятый дом" (the ninth house). Explanation: Ordinal adjectives must be used for positions, not cardinals, to avoid confusion in numbering.

• Error: Failing to inflect for case, such as using "девятый" in the genitive case where "девятого" is needed (e.g., "к девятый" instead of "к девятому").

  Correct: "к девятому" (to the ninth). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the number nine doesn't carry as much mystical significance as in some other traditions (e.g., unlike the number three in folklore), but phrases like "девятый вал" from literature (inspired by works like Pushkin's) symbolize overwhelming forces or climaxes in stories, reflecting Russia's rich narrative heritage.

Related Concepts:

• восьмой (eighth)
• десятый (tenth)
• порядковый номер (ordinal number)