Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'offspring'

English Word: offspring

Key Russian Translations:

• Потомство [pə'tomstvə] - [Formal, often used in biological or literary contexts]
• Дети [ˈdʲetʲi] - [Informal, Plural, commonly used for immediate children or family]
• Наследники [nəslʲe'dʲinʲikʲi] - [Formal, implying heirs or successors]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday conversation, literature, and scientific texts, but not as frequent as basic family terms)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage; 'Потомство' may be B2 due to its formal nature, while 'Дети' is more A2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Потомство: [pə'tomstvə]

Note on Потомство: The stress falls on the second syllable ('tom'). Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech, where the 'o' might reduce to a schwa.

Дети: [ˈdʲetʲi]

Note on Дети: The initial 'D' is palatalized, which is a common feature in Russian; ensure the 'i' ending is soft.

Наследники: [nəslʲe'dʲinʲikʲi]

Note on Наследники: Multiple syllables with alternating stress; the 'лʲ' is palatalized, which might be challenging for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Biological or direct descendants (e.g., children, progeny in a literal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Потомство - Used in formal, scientific, or literary contexts, such as discussing genetics or family lines.
• Дети - Applied in everyday, informal situations referring to one's own children or immediate offspring.

Usage Examples:

• Мое потомство продолжает семейные традиции.

  My offspring continue the family traditions.

• У него трое детей, которые являются его прямым потомством.

  He has three children, who are his direct offspring.

• Дети часто наследуют черты от своего потомства предков.

  Children often inherit traits from their offspring's ancestors. (Note: This sentence demonstrates a contextual mix for emphasis.)

• Её дети — это всё её потомство.

  Her children are her entire offspring.

Meaning 2: Figurative or extended descendants (e.g., successors, heirs in a non-biological sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Наследники - Used in legal, historical, or metaphorical contexts, such as in business or royalty.
• Потомство - Can extend to figurative use in literature or philosophy.

Usage Examples:

• Наследники компании — это его духовное потомство.

  The company's heirs are his spiritual offspring.

• В науке каждый учёный имеет своё потомство идей.

  In science, every scholar has their own offspring of ideas.

• Его наследники продолжают дело своего предка.

  His offspring continue the work of their ancestor.

• Дети революции стали новым потомством нации.

  The children of the revolution became the new offspring of the nation.

• Наследники трона — это прямое потомство короля.

  The throne's heirs are the direct offspring of the king.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Most key translations are nouns, which undergo declension based on case, number, and gender in Russian. Below is a table for 'Потомство' (neuter noun) and 'Дети' (plural noun). 'Наследники' is a plural masculine noun with standard patterns.

Note: 'Дети' is invariant in plural form but changes with cases as shown. 'Потомство' and 'Наследники' follow regular patterns for their genders.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Потомки (descendants, more specific to lineage)
  • Рожденные (born ones, informal for children)
  • Преемники (successors, overlapping with heirs)
• Antonyms:
  • Предки (ancestors)
  • Родители (parents)

Explanation: 'Потомки' is similar to 'Потомство' but emphasizes generational depth; use in historical contexts for nuance.

Related Phrases:

• Потомство рода (Lineage of the family) - Refers to the descendants of a specific clan or bloodline.
• Дети природы (Children of nature) - A metaphorical phrase for people closely connected to the environment.
• Наследники трона (Heirs to the throne) - Used in royal or successional contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'offspring' translations like 'Потомство' are more formal and often appear in written or academic language, while 'Дети' is everyday spoken language. Choose 'Наследники' for legal contexts to match the inheritance aspect of 'offspring'. Be mindful of gender agreements in sentences, as Russian nouns decline based on case. For example, when using with verbs, ensure subject-verb agreement. English users should note that Russian doesn't have a direct one-to-one equivalent, so context dictates the best choice.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'Потомство' in casual family conversations, which sounds overly formal. Correct: Opt for 'Дети' instead. Example of error: "Мои потомство дома" (incorrect). Correct: "Мои дети дома" – This maintains natural flow and avoids stiffness.

• Error: Confusing declensions, e.g., saying "У меня потомство" instead of the proper genitive in complex sentences. Correct: In genitive contexts, use "У меня есть потомство" for possession, but ensure case accuracy like "потомства" in phrases like "из потомства".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'Потомство' often carry a sense of legacy and continuity, especially in literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy, where family lines are central). This reflects the historical importance of lineage in Russian society, influenced by Orthodox traditions and serfdom eras, emphasizing familial and national heritage.

Related Concepts:

• Родственники (relatives)
• Семья (family)
• Гены (genes)
• Поколения (generations)