Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'relative'

English Word: relative

Key Russian Translations:

• родственник [rɐdˈstvenʲnʲik] - [Formal, Masculine]
• родственница [rɐdˈstvenʲnʲitsə] - [Formal, Feminine]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations about family and relationships)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun genders and declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

родственник: [rɐdˈstvenʲnʲik]

Note on родственник: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'н' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

родственница: [rɐdˈstvenʲnʲitsə]

Note on родственница: Similar to родственник, but ends with a feminine suffix; pronunciation may vary slightly in casual speech.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person connected by blood or marriage (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• родственник - Used for male relatives in formal or general contexts, such as family discussions or official documents.
• родственница - Used for female relatives, emphasizing gender agreement in Russian sentences.

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть дядя, который является моим ближайшим родственником.

  I have an uncle who is my closest relative.

• Она часто встречается со своей родственницей на семейных собраниях.

  She often meets with her relative at family gatherings.

• Мои родственники живут в разных городах России.

  My relatives live in different cities in Russia.

• Этот родственник по материнской линии очень важен для нашей семьи.

  This relative on my mother's side is very important to our family.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "родственник" and "родственница" are nouns that follow standard Russian declension patterns for masculine and feminine nouns, respectively. They decline by case and number, which is essential in Russian grammar.

Note: These forms are regular, but always ensure gender and case agreement with other words in the sentence.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • родня (more informal, refers to family members collectively)
  • семьянин (emphasizes family-oriented individuals, with a slight nuance of closeness)
• Antonyms:
  • чужой (stranger or unrelated person; highlights lack of familial connection)

Related Phrases:

• Ближний родственник - Closest relative; used in contexts discussing immediate family ties.
• Дальний родственник - Distant relative; often in conversations about extended family.
• По крови родственник - Blood relative; emphasizes biological connections over marriage.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, always match the gender of the relative with the noun form (e.g., use "родственник" for males and "родственница" for females). This differs from English, where "relative" is gender-neutral. Be cautious in formal writing or speech, as incorrect gender can lead to misunderstandings. When choosing between translations, opt for "родственник" as a default for mixed or unknown genders in plural contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "родственник" for a female relative. Incorrect: "Моя родственник." Correct: "Моя родственница." Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in gender; this mistake often stems from English's lack of gender specificity.

• Error: Forgetting to decline the noun in sentences. Incorrect: "Я встречаюсь с родственник." Correct: "Я встречаюсь с родственником." Explanation: Proper case usage is crucial for grammatical accuracy in Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, family and relatives play a central role, often influencing social and daily life. Terms like "родственник" carry connotations of obligation and closeness, reflecting the historical emphasis on extended family networks in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• семья (family)
• родственники по линии (relatives by lineage)
• близкие (close ones)