Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'odds'

English Word: odds

Key Russian Translations:

• шансы [ˈʃansɨ] - [Informal, used in contexts like gambling or betting]
• вероятность [vʲɪrɐˈjatnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, general probability or likelihood]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in sports betting, statistics, and everyday discussions of uncertainty)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of context-specific usage, with "шансы" being slightly easier for beginners and "вероятность" more advanced due to its abstract nature)

Pronunciation (Russian):

шансы: [ˈʃansɨ]

вероятность: [vʲɪrɐˈjatnəsʲtʲ]

Note on шансы: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. A common variant in rapid speech might soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: The ratio of probability of an event happening to it not happening (e.g., in betting)

Translation(s) & Context:

• шансы - Used in informal contexts like sports or games, implying a chance or bet ratio.
• вероятность - Used in formal or scientific contexts, emphasizing statistical likelihood.

Usage Examples:

• В футболе коэффициент шансов на победу команды составляет 3:1.

  In football, the odds of the team winning are 3:1.

• Эти шансы выглядят привлекательными для игроков.

  These odds look attractive to players.

• Вероятность выигрыша в лотерее очень низкая, несмотря на хорошие шансы в рекламе.

  The probability of winning the lottery is very low, despite the good odds advertised.

• Я всегда проверяю шансы перед ставкой на лошадей.

  I always check the odds before betting on horses.

Meaning 2: Something that is unusual or unexpected (informal usage)

Translation(s) & Context:

• шансы - Informal, metaphorical use for unlikely events.

Usage Examples:

• Это странные шансы, что мы встретились в таком месте.

  It's odd that we met in such a place.

• Его шансы в жизни полны неожиданностей.

  His odds in life are full of surprises.

• В этой ситуации шансы на успех минимальны.

  In this situation, the odds of success are minimal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "шансы" and "вероятность" are nouns. "Шансы" is a plural noun and follows the standard masculine plural declension pattern in Russian. "Вероятность" is a feminine singular noun with regular declension.

Note: "Шансы" is invariant in plural form and does not have a singular counterpart in common usage for this meaning.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • шансы: вероятности, перспективы (perspectives; slightly more optimistic connotation)
  • вероятность: шанс (more informal), возможность (possibility; broader context)
• Antonyms:
  • шансы: невозможность (impossibility)
  • вероятность: невероятность (improbability)

Related Phrases:

• Против всех шансов - Against all odds; used to describe overcoming unlikely circumstances.
• Высокая вероятность - High probability; common in scientific or predictive contexts.
• Шансы на успех - Chances of success; everyday expression in motivational or risk-taking scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Шансы" is the most direct translation for "odds" in betting contexts and is preferred in informal speech, while "вероятность" aligns more with statistical or formal English usage. Be mindful of context: in Russian, "шансы" often implies action or gambling, whereas "вероятность" is passive and descriptive. For English learners, choose "шансы" for everyday conversations and "вероятность" in academic settings. Grammatically, both nouns require appropriate case agreement with prepositions, e.g., "на шансы" (on the odds).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "шансы" interchangeably with "вероятность" without context, e.g., saying "шансы события" when "вероятность события" is more precise in scientific contexts.

  Correct: "Вероятность события высокая." (The probability of the event is high.)

  Explanation: This confuses informal and formal registers, leading to miscommunication in professional settings.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., using nominative "шансы" in genitive contexts like "из шансы" instead of "из шансов".

  Correct: "Из шансов на победу." (From the odds of victory.)

  Explanation: Russian requires case changes, which English speakers might overlook, altering the sentence's meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "шансы" is heavily associated with sports betting and lotteries, reflecting a societal interest in games of chance. Historically, this ties to Russia's gambling traditions, which were regulated in the 2000s, making phrases like "против всех шансов" popular in literature and media for themes of resilience, as seen in works by authors like Dostoevsky.

Related Concepts:

• ставка (bet)
• риск (risk)
• успех (success)