Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'price'

English Word: price

Key Russian Translations:

• цена (/ˈt͡sʲenə/) - [Common, Neutral]
• стоимость (/stɐˈiməsʲtʲ/) - [Formal, Often used in business or financial contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly encountered in everyday conversations about shopping, economics, and services, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary like "hello".)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner level; straightforward for English speakers due to phonetic similarities, but requires understanding of noun declensions in Russian.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

цена: /ˈt͡sʲenə/ (The "ц" is pronounced like "ts" in "bits", with a soft "e" sound. Stress on the first syllable.)

стоимость: /stɐˈiməsʲtʲ/ (The "о" is reduced to a schwa sound in unstressed positions; stress on the second syllable. Note the soft "тʲ" at the end.)

Note on цена: Be cautious with the soft "цʲ" sound, which can be challenging for beginners; it’s softer than in English "ts". Variations may occur in dialects, but standard Russian uses this form.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: The amount of money required to buy something.

Translation(s) & Context:

• цена - Used in everyday contexts for the cost of goods or services, such as in markets or online shopping.
• стоимость - Applied in more formal settings, like calculating expenses in business or official documents.

Usage Examples:

• Какая цена этого платья? (Kakaya tsena etogo platiya?)

  What is the price of this dress? (This example shows the word in a simple inquiry about clothing in a retail environment.)

• Стоимость поездки на такси выросла из-за пробок. (Stoimost' poezdki na taksi vyrosla iz-za probok.)

  The price of the taxi ride increased due to traffic jams. (Illustrates use in a traffic-related context, emphasizing formal language.)

• Я не могу купить это, потому что цена слишком высокая. (Ya ne mogu kupit' eto, potomu chto tsena slishkom vysokaya.)

  I can't buy this because the price is too high. (Demonstrates negation and comparison in a decision-making scenario.)

• В магазине объявили скидку на товары с высокой стоимостью. (V magazine ob"yavili skidku na tovary s vysokoy stoimost'yu.)

  The store announced a discount on items with high prices. (Shows the word in a promotional or sales context.)

• Проверь цену перед покупкой. (Prover' tsenu pered pokupkoy.)

  Check the price before buying. (A practical, imperative sentence for everyday advice.)

Secondary Meaning: The value or worth of something, often metaphorical.

Translation(s) & Context:

• цена - In metaphorical uses, like the "price" of success in terms of effort.
• стоимость - Less common here, but can imply broader value in professional contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Цена успеха — это упорный труд. (Tsena uspekha — eto upornyy trud.)

  The price of success is hard work. (This highlights a figurative use in motivational contexts.)

• Какая стоимость твоего времени? (Kakaya stoimost' tvoyego vremeni?)

  What is the price of your time? (Shows a philosophical or professional inquiry.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "цена" and "стоимость" are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard feminine declension patterns. "Цена" is more common and has regular inflections, while "стоимость" is also regular but can vary slightly in formal usage.

Note: These are regular feminine noun inflections. "Цена" does not have irregular forms, making it beginner-friendly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • цена — тариф (tarif) [More specific to rates or fees]
  • стоимость — цена [Interchangeable in some contexts, but стоимость implies a calculated value]
  • расценка (rascenka) [Used for pricing in services or labor]
• Antonyms:
  • бесплатно (besplatno) [Free of charge]
  • скидка (skidka) [Discount, implying a reduction in price]

Related Phrases:

• Высокая цена (Vysokaya tsena) - High price (Refers to an elevated cost in shopping or metaphorical value.)
• Сниженная стоимость (Snizhenraya stoimost') - Reduced price (Common in sales promotions.)
• Платить цену (Platit' tsenu) - To pay the price (Idiomatic for consequences in life situations.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "цена" is the most direct equivalent to "price" and is used neutrally in daily life, while "стоимость" is preferred in formal or professional contexts to emphasize calculated or intrinsic value. English speakers should note that Russian nouns like these decline by case, so always adjust for grammar (e.g., use genitive for possession). Choose "цена" for casual conversations and "стоимость" for business reports to match the appropriate register.

• Contextual tip: In bargaining scenarios, "цена" is essential, as in markets where negotiation is common.
• Grammar note: Always feminine, so adjectives and verbs must agree (e.g., "дорогая цена" for "expensive price").

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "цена" with "стоимость" and use them interchangeably, but this can sound awkward. For example:

• Incorrect: Использовать стоимость для повседневной покупки (Ispol'zovat' stoimost' dlya povsednevnoy pokupki) - This over-formalizes a simple purchase.
• Correct: Использовать цену для повседневной покупки (Ispol'zovat' tsenu dlya povsednevnoy pokupki) - Use "цена" for everyday contexts.
• Another error: Forgetting declensions, e.g., saying "у цена" instead of "у цены" in genitive form, which disrupts sentence flow.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of "price" (цена) often extends to metaphorical ideas, such as the "price of freedom" in historical contexts like the Soviet era, where personal sacrifices were common. This reflects a cultural emphasis on resilience and the true cost of change.

Related Concepts:

• деньги (den'gi) - Money
• рынок (rynok) - Market
• скидка (skidka) - Discount