Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'season'

English Word: season

Key Russian Translations:

• сезон [ˈsʲezən] - [General use, can be formal or informal]
• время года [ˈvrʲemə ɡɐˈda] - [Informal, often used in everyday conversation about weather cycles]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in contexts like weather, sports, and media, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage; for 'сезон', it's straightforward, but 'время года' may vary slightly in complexity)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сезон: [ˈsʲezən]

время года: [ˈvrʲemə ɡɐˈda]

Note on сезон: The stress is on the first syllable; the 's' sound is palatalized, which is a common challenge for English speakers learning Russian phonetics. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A period of the year characterized by particular weather or climate (e.g., spring, summer).

Translation(s) & Context:

• сезон - Used in general or formal contexts, such as discussing seasonal changes or tourism (e.g., in weather reports or travel).
• время года - Informal contexts, like casual conversations about daily life or poetry.

Usage Examples:

• Летом всегда жарко, это мой любимый сезон.

  In summer, it's always hot; that's my favorite season.

• Зимний сезон в России часто сопровождается снегом и праздниками.

  The winter season in Russia is often accompanied by snow and holidays.

• Время года влияет на нашу одежду и активности.

  The season of the year affects our clothing and activities.

• Этот сезон фруктов очень урожайный.

  This fruit season is very productive.

2. A period of time in sports, TV, or other activities (e.g., football season or TV season).

Translation(s) & Context:

• сезон - Common in formal and informal contexts, especially in media or sports discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Футбольный сезон начинается в августе.

  The football season starts in August.

• Второй сезон сериала был лучше первого.

  The second season of the series was better than the first.

• Сезон охоты ограничен определенными месяцами.

  The hunting season is limited to certain months.

• Этот сезон моды представит новые тенденции.

  This fashion season will introduce new trends.

• В разгар сезона продажи резко возрастают.

  In the peak of the season, sales increase sharply.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Сезон' is a masculine noun (3rd declension) and follows standard Russian inflection patterns. It changes based on case, number, and gender agreement. 'Время года' is a noun phrase where 'время' is neuter and 'года' is genitive singular of 'год' (year).

For 'время года', it remains relatively stable but 'года' inflects as a genitive form; the phrase as a whole is invariant in most uses.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • период (period) - Often used interchangeably but more general.
  • время (time) - Informal synonym for broader temporal concepts.
• Antonyms:
  • вне сезона (off-season) - Refers to periods outside the main season.
  • затишье (lull) - Used in contexts like business or weather to mean a quiet period.

Related Phrases:

• В сезон - In season (e.g., for fruits or events); refers to the peak time for availability.
• Сезонный отпуск - Seasonal vacation; commonly used for holiday planning.
• Открытие сезона - Opening of the season; often in sports or cultural events.

Usage Notes:

'Сезон' directly corresponds to the English 'season' in most contexts, making it a versatile word, but English speakers should note that Russian requires case agreement (e.g., use genitive for possession). For informal settings, 'время года' might be preferred in poetic or descriptive language. When choosing between translations, opt for 'сезон' in modern, practical contexts like business or media, and be mindful of gender agreement in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'сезон' without proper declension, e.g., saying "в сезонa" instead of "в сезоне" for prepositional case.
  Correct: "В сезоне" (In the season). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case; this error stems from not learning declension patterns.
• Mistake: Confusing 'сезон' with 'время' alone, leading to incomplete phrases like "время лето" instead of "летний сезон".
  Correct: "Летний сезон" (Summer season). Explanation: 'Сезон' provides specificity, so always pair it appropriately for clarity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, seasons like 'зима' (winter) often carry deep symbolic meanings, such as in literature (e.g., Pushkin's works) or holidays (e.g., New Year's in winter season). The word 'сезон' is frequently associated with rural traditions, like the harvest season, reflecting Russia's agricultural heritage and the importance of seasonal cycles in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• весна (spring)
• лето (summer)
• осень (autumn)
• зима (winter)