Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sibling'

English Word: sibling

Key Russian Translations:

• брат [brat] - [Formal, Masculine, Used for male siblings]
• сестра [ˈsʲes.trə] - [Formal, Feminine, Used for female siblings]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about family, but not as frequent as basic greetings)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary level; straightforward for beginners, but requires understanding of gender agreement in Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

брат: [brat] (Stressed on the first syllable; the 'r' is rolled.)

сестра: [ˈsʲes.trə] (Stressed on the first syllable; note the soft 's' sound indicated by the palatalized 'sʲ'.)

Note on брат: The 'r' can be challenging for non-native speakers; ensure a clear trill for authenticity in formal settings.

Note on сестра: The soft 'sʲ' sound is a common feature in Russian; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A brother or sister; a person with whom one shares one or both parents.

Translation(s) & Context:

• брат - Used in contexts involving male siblings, such as family discussions or formal introductions.
• сестра - Used in contexts involving female siblings, often in everyday conversations or storytelling.

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть старший брат, который живёт в Москве.

  I have an older brother who lives in Moscow. (This example shows 'брат' in a nominative case, discussing family structure.)

• Моя сестра работает врачом и помогает людям каждый день.

  My sister works as a doctor and helps people every day. (Illustrates 'сестра' in a possessive context, highlighting familial roles.)

• Братья и сёстры часто делятся секретами в детстве.

  Siblings often share secrets in childhood. (Here, 'братья' is the plural form of 'брат', and 'сёстры' for 'сестра', demonstrating plural usage in general statements.)

• Я горжусь своим братом за его достижения в спорте.

  I am proud of my brother for his achievements in sports. (Shows 'брат' with possessive pronouns, in an emotional or praising context.)

• Сёстры иногда ссорятся, но всегда поддерживают друг друга.

  Sisters sometimes argue but always support each other. (Uses the plural 'сёстры' to discuss common sibling dynamics in Russian culture.)

Secondary Meaning: Extended to metaphorical or figurative use, e.g., close friends as 'siblings' in English.

Translation(s) & Context:

• брат - In informal or metaphorical contexts, like brotherhood in organizations.
• сестра - Less common metaphorically, but can imply close female bonds.

Usage Examples:

• В армии солдаты становятся как братья.

  In the army, soldiers become like brothers. (Metaphorical use of 'братья' to denote camaraderie.)

• Мои подруги – как сёстры для меня.

  My friends are like sisters to me. (Figurative application of 'сёстры' in personal relationships.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'брат' (masc. noun) and 'сестра' (fem. noun) are first-declension nouns in Russian, which means they undergo changes based on case, number, and gender. Russian nouns inflect for six cases (Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative, Instrumental, Prepositional) and can be singular or plural.

For 'брат' (irregular in plural):

For 'сестра' (regular):

Note: These nouns do not change for verb agreement but must agree with adjectives and other modifiers in case, number, and gender.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: родственник (relative) - More general, used for any family member; одноплеменник (fellow tribesman) - In historical or cultural contexts.
• Antonyms: враг (enemy) - Indicates opposition; чужой (stranger) - Used for non-family members, emphasizing lack of relation.

Related Phrases:

• Старший брат - Older brother; commonly used in family hierarchies.
• Младшая сестра - Younger sister; implies age order in sibling relationships.
• Братья и сёстры - Brothers and sisters; a phrase for collective siblings in family contexts.

Usage Notes:

Russian translations for 'sibling' are gender-specific, unlike the neutral English term. Always choose 'брат' for males and 'сестра' for females to maintain grammatical accuracy. In formal writing or speech, use these with appropriate case inflections. For example, in questions about family, Russians might say "У тебя есть братья или сёстры?" (Do you have brothers or sisters?). Be mindful of cultural emphasis on family ties, where these words often appear in emotional or relational contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'брат' for a female sibling. Incorrect: У меня есть брат (referring to a sister). Correct: У меня есть сестра. Explanation: Russian requires gender agreement, so mixing genders can confuse the meaning and sound unnatural.
• Error: Forgetting inflections in sentences. Incorrect: Я люблю брат (without genitive case). Correct: Я люблю брата. Explanation: Nouns must inflect based on their role in the sentence; this is a common oversight for English speakers used to less inflection.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, siblings like 'брат' and 'сестра' often symbolize strong familial bonds and loyalty, influenced by historical emphasis on extended families. For instance, in literature and folklore, siblings frequently appear in stories of support, as seen in tales like those of Ivan and his sisters, reflecting values of unity and protection in Slavic traditions.

Related Concepts:

• родители (parents)
• дети (children)
• семья (family)