Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'postage'

English Word: postage

Key Russian Translations:

• Почтовый сбор [pɐˈʂto.vɨj ˈsboɾ] - [Formal, Used in official or financial contexts]
• Почтовая оплата [pɐˈʂto.vɨj ɐˈpla.tə] - [Informal, Plural forms possible when referring to multiple items]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday discussions about shipping and commerce, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like 'дом' or 'работа')

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (Requires understanding of noun-adjective agreements; for 'Почтовый сбор', it's B1; for 'Почтовая оплата', it's also B1 due to similar grammatical structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Почтовый сбор: [pɐˈʂto.vɨj ˈsboɾ]

Note on Почтовый сбор: The stress falls on the second syllable of 'почтовый' (po-CHTO-vy), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the rolled 'r' and soft vowels. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Почтовая оплата: [pɐˈʂto.vɨj ɐˈpla.tə]

Note on Почтовая оплата: The ending 'ая' indicates feminine form, affecting pronunciation; stress on 'pla' in 'оплата'. Pay attention to the soft 'т' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The cost of mailing or shipping items

Translation(s) & Context:

• Почтовый сбор - Used in formal contexts like international shipping or billing statements, emphasizing fees for postal services.
• Почтовая оплата - Applied in everyday informal settings, such as online shopping or local mail, where payment for delivery is discussed.

Usage Examples:

• Я плачу почтовый сбор за международную посылку.

  I am paying the postage for an international package.

• Почтовая оплата для книг обычно включает сбор за доставку.

  Postage for books usually includes a fee for delivery.

• Не забудьте добавить почтовый сбор в общую сумму заказа.

  Don't forget to add the postage to the total order amount.

• В России почтовая оплата может варьироваться в зависимости от региона.

  In Russia, postage can vary depending on the region.

• Он отказался платить почтовый сбор, поэтому посылка вернулась.

  He refused to pay the postage, so the package was returned.

Postage as part of a postal system or service

Translation(s) & Context:

• Почтовый сбор - In administrative contexts, such as government or business discussions about mail services.

Usage Examples:

• Почтовый сбор в нашей стране регулируется почтовым департаментом.

  Postage in our country is regulated by the postal department.

• Для отправки письма нужно оплатить почтовый сбор заранее.

  To send a letter, you need to pay the postage in advance.

• Почтовая оплата онлайн упрощает процесс доставки товаров.

  Online postage makes the process of delivering goods easier.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Почтовый сбор' is a noun phrase where 'почтовый' is an adjective and 'сбор' is a masculine noun. It follows standard Russian inflection rules.

For 'Почтовая оплата', 'почтовая' is a feminine adjective, and 'оплата' is a feminine noun with regular inflections similar to above, but adjusted for gender.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Почтовая доставка (Slightly broader, often used for the entire process of mailing)
  • Тариф на доставку (More general, applicable in commercial contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • Бесплатная доставка (Free delivery, implying no cost involved)

Related Phrases:

• Почтовая марка - A stamp indicating postage paid; Used in formal mail systems to denote fees.
• Оплата доставки - Payment for delivery; A common phrase in e-commerce for handling postage costs.
• Международный почтовый сбор - International postage fee; Refers to cross-border mailing charges.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'почтовый сбор' directly corresponds to 'postage' as a fee, but it's often used in more formal or bureaucratic contexts compared to English. Choose 'почтовая оплата' for everyday conversations to sound more natural. Be mindful of gender agreement: adjectives like 'почтовый' must agree with the noun they modify (e.g., masculine for 'сбор'). In plural forms, it's common in lists of expenses. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; instead, consider the context, such as online vs. physical mail.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'почта' (post office) to mean 'postage', which confuses the service with the fee. Correct: 'Почтовый сбор' for the cost. Example of error: "Я плачу почта за письмо" (Wrong: implies paying the post office itself). Correct: "Я плачу почтовый сбор за письмо" – This error stems from overgeneralizing basic vocabulary.

• Error: Forgetting adjective-noun agreement, e.g., saying 'почтовый оплата' instead of 'почтовая оплата'. Correct: Always match gender, number, and case. This can make the sentence grammatically incorrect and confusing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, postage is managed by the state-owned Russian Post (Почта России), which has a long history dating back to the tsarist era. Fees can vary significantly by region and service type, reflecting the country's vast geography. 'Почтовый сбор' often carries connotations of reliability in official communications, but delays in rural areas are culturally noted as a common challenge.

Related Concepts:

• Доставка
• Почта
• Тариф