Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'savings'

English Word: savings

Key Russian Translations:

• сбережения [sbɪrʐɪˈnʲijə] - [Plural, Formal; Used in financial contexts]
• экономия [jɪkɐˈnomʲijə] - [Formal; Often implies frugality or cost-saving]

Frequency: Medium (Common in financial discussions, business, and everyday conversations about money management)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level can grasp basic usage, but inflection patterns may require practice)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сбережения: [sbɪrʐɪˈnʲijə]

Note on сбережения: The "ж" sound is a voiced palatal fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it's softer than "zh" in "measure." Variations in stress may occur in rapid speech.

экономия: [jɪkɐˈnomʲijə]

Note on экономия: The initial "э" is pronounced like the "e" in "bed," and the word has a rolling rhythm; be mindful of the soft sign (ь) affecting the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Accumulated money set aside for future use (e.g., bank savings)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сбережения - Used in formal financial contexts, such as banking or investment discussions.
• экономия - Applied when emphasizing thrift or reduction in expenses, often in everyday or economic scenarios.

Usage Examples:

• Мои сбережения позволяют мне купить новый дом. (My savings allow me to buy a new house.)

  Translation: My savings allow me to buy a new house. (This example shows "сбережения" in a plural nominative context, highlighting financial security.)

• Благодаря экономии, мы смогли отправиться в отпуск. (Thanks to savings/frugality, we were able to go on vacation.)

  Translation: Thanks to savings/frugality, we were able to go on vacation. (Here, "экономия" implies deliberate cost-cutting in a personal narrative.)

• Эти сбережения накапливались годами. (These savings have been accumulating for years.)

  Translation: These savings have been accumulating for years. (Demonstrates "сбережения" in a temporal context with verb agreement.)

• Семейная экономия помогла пережить кризис. (Family savings/frugality helped us survive the crisis.)

  Translation: Family savings/frugality helped us survive the crisis. (Illustrates "экономия" in a broader socio-economic setting.)

• Инвестируйте свои сбережения в надежные активы. (Invest your savings in reliable assets.)

  Translation: Invest your savings in reliable assets. (Shows "сбережения" in an advisory, formal context with imperative structure.)

Secondary Meaning: The act of saving or reducing costs (e.g., energy savings)

Translation(s) & Context:

• экономия - Common in contexts related to efficiency, such as energy or resource conservation.
• сбережения - Less common here, but can be used metaphorically for non-financial savings.

Usage Examples:

• Энергосберегающие лампочки обеспечивают экономию электроэнергии. (Energy-saving light bulbs provide savings in electricity.)

  Translation: Energy-saving light bulbs provide savings in electricity. (This uses "экономия" to denote resource efficiency in a technical context.)

• Правильное планирование приводит к сбережениям времени. (Proper planning leads to savings in time.)

  Translation: Proper planning leads to savings in time. (Extends "сбережения" metaphorically beyond finances.)

• Экономия на продуктах питания важна в период инфляции. (Savings on food products are important during inflation.)

  Translation: Savings on food products are important during inflation. (Highlights "экономия" in an economic hardship scenario.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "сбережения" and "экономия" are nouns. "Сбережения" is a plural-only noun (neuter gender) and follows standard Russian declension patterns for third-declension nouns. "Экономия" is a feminine singular noun that declines regularly.

Note: "Сбережения" does not have a singular form in common usage, making it invariant in that sense.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • резерв (rezerv) - More general, implying a reserve fund.
  • капитал (kapital) - Emphasizes accumulated wealth, with a financial nuance.
• Antonyms:
  • расходы (rashody) - Expenditures or spending.
  • транжирство (tranzhirstvo) - Wastefulness or extravagance.

Related Phrases:

• Сделать сбережения (Sdelat' sberezheniya) - To make savings; Used in contexts of building financial security.
• Экономия времени (Ekonomiya vremeni) - Time savings; Refers to efficiency in daily life or work.
• Банковские сбережения (Bankovskiye sberezheniya) - Bank savings; A common phrase for deposit accounts.

Usage Notes:

"Сбережения" directly corresponds to the plural form of "savings" in English, focusing on accumulated funds, and is ideal for formal or financial discussions. "Экономия" aligns more with the verb "to save" or noun forms implying reduction, so choose it for contexts involving thrift. Be aware of Russian's case system; for example, use genitive for possession (e.g., "моих сбережений"). In informal speech, these words might be shortened or contextualized differently, but they remain neutral across most dialects.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "сбережения" in singular form (e.g., *сбережение*), which is incorrect as it's a plural-only noun.
  Correct: Stick to plural forms and decline properly, e.g., "Мои сбережения" instead of *Моё сбережение*.
  Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian's plural invariance; this error can make the sentence sound unidiomatic.
• Mistake: Confusing "экономия" with "экономика" (economy as a field).
  Correct: Use "экономия" for savings, e.g., "Эта покупка принесла экономию" (This purchase brought savings).
  Explanation: The words are similar but distinct; mixing them up can alter the meaning entirely in professional contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "сбережения" often carries a connotation of prudence and stability, influenced by historical events like the Soviet era's emphasis on collective savings and post-Soviet economic instability. This makes it a symbol of personal resilience, especially in discussions about family finances or national economic policies.

Related Concepts:

• инвестиции (investitsii)
• бюджет (byudzhet)
• финансы (finansy)