Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nowadays'

English Word: nowadays

Key Russian Translations:

• в настоящее время /v nɐʂɨstnəjə vrʲemʲenʲi/ - [Formal, used in written or professional contexts]
• сейчас /sʲeˈʂas/ - [Informal, everyday spoken language]
• в наше время /v naˈʂɨ vrʲeˈmʲenʲi/ - [Neutral, often in narrative or reflective contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in both spoken and written Russian, but not as ubiquitous as basic time expressions like "now").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "в настоящее время" and "сейчас"; A2 (Elementary) for "в наше время" due to simpler structure.

Pronunciation (Russian):

в настоящее время: /v nɐʂɨstnəjə vrʲemʲenʲi/

Note on в настоящее время: Stress falls on the second syllable of "настоящее" (/nɐˈʂɨstnəjə/); be cautious with the soft 'ш' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. This phrase is often pronounced more fluidly in casual speech.

сейчас: /sʲeˈʂas/

Note on сейчас: The initial 'с' is palatalized, sounding like a soft 's' followed by 'ye'; common variations in fast speech may soften the 'щ' to a quicker 'sh' sound.

в наше время: /v naˈʂɨ vrʲeˈmʲenʲi/

Note on в наше время: The word "наше" has stress on the first syllable; this phrase is relatively straightforward but can vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Referring to the present time or current era, often implying a contrast with the past.

Translation(s) & Context:

• "в настоящее время" - Used in formal writing, news, or academic contexts to discuss contemporary issues.
• "сейчас" - Informal spoken language for immediate present situations, like in daily conversations.
• "в наше время" - Neutral context for reflective or storytelling, emphasizing modern times versus historical periods.

Usage Examples:

• В настоящее время технологии развиваются очень быстро.

  Nowadays, technology is developing very quickly.

• Сейчас люди больше времени проводят в интернете.

  Nowadays, people spend more time on the internet.

• В наше время образование доступно для всех.

  Nowadays, education is accessible to everyone.

• В настоящее время, несмотря на пандемию, бизнес продолжает расти.

  Nowadays, despite the pandemic, business continues to grow.

• Сейчас, в наше время, социальные сети изменили общение людей.

  Nowadays, social networks have changed how people communicate.

Meaning 2: Expressing a general sense of modern trends or societal changes.

Translation(s) & Context:

• "в настоящее время" - In analytical or journalistic contexts, to highlight current trends.
• "в наше время" - In casual or opinion-based discussions, often with a nostalgic tone.

Usage Examples:

• В настоящее время молодежь предпочитает онлайн-шопинг.

  Nowadays, young people prefer online shopping.

• В наше время экологические проблемы стали приоритетом.

  Nowadays, environmental issues have become a priority.

• Сейчас, в настоящее время, искусственный интеллект революционизирует индустрию.

  Nowadays, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the industry.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"в настоящее время" is a fixed adverbial phrase and does not inflect; it remains unchanged in all contexts, making it invariable.

"сейчас" is an adverb and is also invariable, with no changes based on gender, number, or case.

"в наше время" includes the noun "время" (time), which is a neuter noun that follows standard Russian declension patterns. Below is a table for the inflections of "время" in this phrase:

For example, in phrases like "в эти времена" (in these times), "время" changes to plural genitive "времен".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: ныне (/ˈnɨnʲe/) - More literary or archaic; в эпоху (/v ɪˈpɔxʊ/) - Emphasizing an era; на данный момент (/na ˈdanɨj məˈmʲent/) - Very precise, formal.
• With subtle differences: "ныне" is less common in modern speech and has a historical connotation, while "на данный момент" is used for exact timing.
• Antonyms: в прошлом (/v ˈprostmʊ/) - In the past; в давние времена (/v ˈdavnʲije vrʲeˈmʲenʲa/) - In ancient times.

Related Phrases:

• В современном мире - In the modern world; used to discuss current global contexts.
• В эпоху цифровизации - In the era of digitalization; highlights technological changes.
• Наше время требует изменений - Our time demands changes; a reflective phrase for societal evolution.

Usage Notes:

"Nowadays" directly corresponds to phrases like "в настоящее время" in formal Russian, which is preferred in writing or professional settings to maintain a neutral tone. In informal speech, "сейчас" is more natural and concise, similar to English "now," but it can imply immediacy rather than a broader era. Choose "в наше время" for nostalgic or comparative contexts, as it evokes a sense of reflection on contemporary life. Be mindful of word order in sentences; Russian often places these phrases at the beginning for emphasis. Grammatically, these are adverbial expressions and do not affect verb conjugation.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сейчас" in formal writing when "в настоящее время" is more appropriate. Correct: Instead of "Сейчас технологии развиваются," use "В настоящее время технологии развиваются" for a professional report. Explanation: "Сейчас" sounds too casual and may undermine formality.
• Error: Confusing "в наше время" with "в прошлом," leading to incorrect timeline references. Correct: "В наше время люди путешествуют больше" (not "В прошлом"). Explanation: This mix-up can alter the meaning entirely, making the sentence refer to historical events instead.
• Error: Overusing these phrases without context, making sentences repetitive. Correct: Vary with synonyms like "ныне" for diversity. Explanation: In Russian, repetition can make writing feel redundant, so integrate with other temporal indicators for better flow.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "в наше время" often carry a subtle undertone of reflection on rapid societal changes, such as those brought by technology or globalization. This mirrors a common theme in Russian literature and media, where contrasting the present with the Soviet era evokes nostalgia or critique, helping users appreciate the emotional depth in everyday language.

Related Concepts:

• эпоха
• современность
• изменения