Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'salary'

English Word: salary

Key Russian Translations:

• зарплата [zɐrˈplatə] - [Informal, Common]
• оклад [ɐˈkɫat] - [Formal, Often used in official or contractual contexts]

Frequency: High (This term is commonly used in everyday conversations, media, and professional settings in Russian-speaking countries.)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary, based on CEFR; straightforward for beginners, but understanding nuances like formal vs. informal usage may require intermediate practice. For 'зарплата': A2; for 'оклад': B1 due to more formal contexts.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

зарплата: [zɐrˈplatə]

Note on зарплата: The stress falls on the second syllable ("plat"), which is a common point of difficulty for English speakers. The "р" is a trilled 'r' sound.

Audio: []

оклад: [ɐˈkɫat]

Note on оклад: The "л" is a soft 'l' sound, and the stress is on the second syllable. Pronunciation can vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Fixed regular payment, typically paid on a monthly basis, for work done.

Translation(s) & Context:

• зарплата - Used in everyday, informal contexts when discussing personal or general income, such as in casual conversations about jobs.
• оклад - Applied in formal settings, like employment contracts, official documents, or professional discussions, referring to the base fixed component of salary.

Usage Examples:

• Моя зарплата повысилась на 10% в этом году благодаря хорошим результатам.

  My salary increased by 10% this year due to good performance.

• Он получает оклад в размере 60,000 рублей, плюс бонусы за сверхурочную работу.

  He receives a salary of 60,000 rubles, plus bonuses for overtime work.

• Зарплата в этой компании всегда выплачивается вовремя, что очень важно для сотрудников.

  The salary in this company is always paid on time, which is very important for employees.

• Её оклад был увеличен после переговоров с начальством о повышении квалификации.

  Her salary was increased after negotiations with management about skill upgrades.

• Средняя зарплата в IT-сфере в Москве выше, чем в других регионах России.

  The average salary in the IT sector in Moscow is higher than in other regions of Russia.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'зарплата' and 'оклад' are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard feminine declension patterns. 'Зарплата' is a third-declension noun and inflects regularly, while 'оклад' also inflects but is less commonly varied in everyday use.

Note: These are regular inflections. 'Оклад' may remain unchanged in some fixed phrases due to its formal nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • заработок [zɐrɐˈbotk] - More general, referring to earnings from work; often used interchangeably with зарплата in informal contexts.
  • гонорар [ɡɐnɐˈrar] - Specifically for fees, like for freelance or artistic work; differs from зарплата by implying irregular payment.
• Antonyms:
  • безработица [bʲɪzraˈbotʲɪtsə] - Unemployment; highlights the absence of salary or income.

Related Phrases:

• Повысить зарплату - To raise salary (This phrase is used in negotiations or discussions about wage increases.)
• Минимальный оклад - Minimum salary (Refers to the legal minimum wage in formal employment contexts.)
• Зарплата в конверте - Salary in an envelope (Informal term for undeclared or cash payments, often with cultural implications of tax evasion.)

Usage Notes:

'Зарплата' is the most straightforward and common translation for 'salary' in Russian, suitable for everyday use, while 'оклад' emphasizes the fixed base pay in formal settings like job contracts. English speakers should note that Russian often distinguishes between gross and net salary explicitly. For example, use 'зарплата' in casual talk about personal finances, but opt for 'оклад' in professional documents. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as both words are feminine nouns.

• In questions: "Сколько у тебя зарплата?" (How much is your salary?) is informal; for formal inquiries, use "Каков ваш оклад?"
• Contextual choice: If the salary includes bonuses, 'зарплата' might encompass the total, whereas 'оклад' is strictly the base.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'зарплата' with 'премия' (bonus), thinking they mean the same thing. Error example: Saying "Моя премия повысилась" to mean "My salary increased," which is incorrect because 'премия' refers to a one-time bonus, not regular pay. Correct usage: Use 'зарплата' for ongoing salary and explain the difference to avoid implying irregular payments. Another common mistake is improper inflection, e.g., using 'зарплата' in the wrong case, like "Я получил зарплата" instead of "Я получил зарплату" (I received my salary).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussing salary openly is less taboo than in some English-speaking countries, but it's still context-dependent. Salaries are often tied to economic factors like inflation, and terms like 'зарплата в конверте' reflect historical practices of informal payments during the Soviet era, highlighting issues of transparency in modern Russian employment.

Related Concepts:

• пенсия [pʲenˈsʲiə] - Pension
• доход [ˈdoxət] - Income
• трудовой договор [trʊˈdovɨj dɐˈɡɔvər] - Employment contract