Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'schoolboy'

English Word: schoolboy

Key Russian Translations:

• школьник [ʂkɐlʲˈnʲik] - [Common noun, typically used for male students; Informal to Formal]

Frequency: High (This word is commonly used in everyday Russian conversation and literature related to education.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it involves basic vocabulary for describing people and daily life; suitable for new learners of Russian.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

школьник: [ʂkɐlʲˈnʲik]

Note on школьник: The initial sound 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to the 'sh' in English "she," but with a more retroflex quality. Pay attention to the soft 'л' (palatalized), which is common in Russian and affects the flow of the word.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A young male student attending school.

Translation(s) & Context:

• школьник - Used in general contexts to refer to a boy of school age, often in educational or familial settings. This is the standard translation and is appropriate for both spoken and written Russian.

Usage Examples:

• Русский мальчик всегда старается быть лучшим в классе. Он – типичный школьник.

  The Russian boy always tries to be the best in class. He is a typical schoolboy.

• В школьном дворе школьник играл в футбол с друзьями.

  In the schoolyard, the schoolboy was playing football with his friends.

• Мой младший брат – школьник, и он любит читать книги о приключениях.

  My younger brother is a schoolboy, and he loves reading adventure books.

• Школьник должен уважать своих учителей и выполнять домашние задания.

  A schoolboy should respect his teachers and complete his homework.

• В этом фильме главный герой – школьник, который открывает тайну старого дома.

  In this film, the main character is a schoolboy who uncovers the mystery of an old house.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Школьник" is a masculine noun of the second declension in Russian. It follows standard patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant, with changes in cases and numbers. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: This word does not have irregular inflections, making it straightforward for beginners. For female equivalents, use "школьница" with its own feminine inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ученик (uchennik) - More general term for a student, often interchangeable but less specific to school age; used in formal contexts.
  • школьный мальчик (shkol'nyy mal'chik) - Literally "school boy," used for emphasis in descriptive narratives.
• Antonyms:
  • взрослый (vzoslyy) - Adult, contrasting with the youthfulness of a schoolboy.
  • студент (student) - University student, implying a higher level of education.

Related Phrases:

• Школьный возраст (shkol'nyy vozrast) - School age; Refers to the typical age range for attending school, e.g., 7-18 years old in Russia.
• Школьный дневник (shkol'nyy dnevnik) - School diary; A notebook used by students to record homework and grades.
• Типичный школьник (tipichnyy shkol'nik) - Typical schoolboy; Used to describe common characteristics of school-aged boys in stories or discussions.

Usage Notes:

This translation is gender-specific; "школьник" refers only to males. For females, use "школьница." In Russian, it's important to consider the context: in formal writing or education-related topics, this word is highly appropriate. When speaking, it can be used across informal and formal registers, but always ensure agreement in gender and number. Compared to English "schoolboy," Russian offers more flexibility with inflections to fit sentence structure, which helps in conveying precise relationships (e.g., possession or direction via cases).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "школьник" to refer to a female student. Incorrect: "Моя сестра – школьник." (My sister is a schoolboy.)

  Correct: "Моя сестра – школьница." (My sister is a schoolgirl.)

  Explanation: Russian nouns have grammatical gender, so mismatching can lead to confusion or unintended humor. Always check the gender of the subject.

• Error: Forgetting inflections in sentences, e.g., using the nominative form in all cases. Incorrect: "Я думаю о школьник." (I am thinking about schoolboy – grammatically wrong.)

  Correct: "Я думаю о школьнике." (I am thinking about the schoolboy – genitive case.)

  Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook, leading to unnatural phrasing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of a "schoolboy" often evokes images of the Soviet-era education system, where uniforms and structured schooling were emphasized. Today, it reflects the importance of education in Russian society, with school starting at age 7 and involving extracurricular activities like sports and arts. Terms like "школьник" can carry nostalgic connotations in literature, such as in stories by authors like Anton Chekhov, highlighting childhood innocence and challenges.

Related Concepts:

• ученик (student)
• школьница (schoolgirl)
• студент (university student)
• подросток (teenager)