Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pittance'

English Word: pittance

Key Russian Translations:

• жалкие гроши [ʐalʲkʲi ɡroʂɨ] - [Informal]
• ничтожная сумма [nʲit͡ʂnəjə ˈsummə] - [Formal]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation but appear in literary, financial, or descriptive contexts.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun and adjective inflections, as well as contextual vocabulary, though the core concept is straightforward for learners beyond beginner level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

жалкие гроши: [ʐalʲkʲi ɡroʂɨ]

Note on жалкие гроши: The stress falls on the first syllable of "жалкие" [ʐalʲkʲi], and "гроши" has a soft 'sh' sound. Be mindful of the palatalized 'l' in жалкие, which can be tricky for English speakers.

ничтожная сумма: [nʲit͡ʂnəjə ˈsummə]

Note on ничтожная сумма: Stress is on the second syllable of "ничтожная" [nʲit͡ʂnəjə]. The 'щ' in ничтожная is a voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'sh' but more sibilant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A very small or inadequate amount of money

Translation(s) & Context:

• жалкие гроши - Used in informal, everyday contexts to express disdain for low pay or insignificant earnings, often in spoken language or literature.
• ничтожная сумма - Employed in formal or written contexts, such as business or legal discussions, to denote an amount that is negligible or insufficient.

Usage Examples:

• Он работает за жалкие гроши, но продолжает, потому что любит своё дело.

  He works for a pittance but continues because he loves his job.

• Эта компания предлагает ничтожную сумму за такой объём работы — это просто издевательство.

  This company offers a pittance for such a volume of work — it's just exploitation.

• После всех расходов от отпуска у меня остались только жалкие гроши в кармане.

  After all the vacation expenses, I was left with just a pittance in my pocket.

• Фрилансеры часто соглашаются на ничтожную сумму, чтобы набрать портфолио.

  Freelancers often agree to a pittance to build their portfolio.

• За такие жалкие гроши никто не захочет работать сверхурочно.

  For such a pittance, no one will want to work overtime.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The key translations involve an adjective ("жалкие" or "ничтожная") and a noun ("гроши" or "сумма"). Russian adjectives and nouns inflect based on gender, number, and case. Below is a table for inflections:

Note: "Гроши" is an irregular plural noun and does not have a singular form in modern usage, making it inherently plural. Adjectives like "жалкие" and "ничтожная" follow standard first-declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • мизер (miserable amount; more neutral and common in informal speech)
  • копейки (kopecks; implies something very small, often used hyperbolically)
  • ничтожный гонорар (insignificant fee; similar to "пittance" in professional contexts, with a formal tone)
• Antonyms:
  • жирный гонорар (fat fee; indicates a large, generous payment)
  • щедрая сумма (generous amount; used for substantial financial offers)

Related Phrases:

• За жалкие гроши — For a pittance; used to describe poorly paid work. (Context: Expressing dissatisfaction with low wages.)
• Ничтожная сумма денег — A negligible sum of money; formal way to refer to insignificant finances. (Context: In legal or financial documents.)
• Работать за гроши — To work for peanuts; idiomatic for underpaid labor. (Context: Common in discussions about economic inequality.)

Usage Notes:

"Пittance" directly corresponds to phrases like "жалкие гроши" in informal settings or "ничтожная сумма" in formal ones. Use "жалкие гроши" for conversational, emotional contexts where disdain is implied, such as complaining about salaries. In contrast, "ничтожная сумма" is better for professional or written English, like contracts. Be aware of Russian's case system: always adjust adjectives and nouns to match the sentence structure. For English learners, choose based on register—informal for daily talk, formal for official documents—to avoid mismatches in tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "жалкие гроши" in formal writing, which sounds too colloquial.
  Correct: Opt for "ничтожная сумма" instead, e.g., "Он получил ничтожную сумму" (He received a pittance) rather than "Он получил жалкие гроши".
  Explanation: "Жалкие гроши" is informal and may undermine professionalism.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the adjective, e.g., saying "жалкие грош" instead of "жалкие гроши".
  Correct: Always use the correct plural form: "жалкие гроши".
  Explanation: Russian nouns like "гроши" require agreement in number and case, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like "жалкие гроши" often reflect historical economic hardships, such as during the Soviet era or post-Soviet transitions, where low wages were common. This phrase carries a connotation of social inequality and resilience, making it a vivid way to discuss labor issues in contemporary Russia.

Related Concepts:

• бедность (poverty)
• зарплата (salary)
• финансы (finances)