Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'singly'

English Word: singly

Key Russian Translations:

• поодиночке (/pə ɐdʲɪˈnot͡ɕkʲe/) - [Informal, Adverbial use in everyday contexts]
• отдельно (/ɐtˈdʲelʲnə/) - [Formal, Often used in written or professional settings]

Frequency: Medium (Common in conversational Russian but not as frequent as basic adverbs like "тогда" or "потом").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adverbial forms and basic sentence structure; "поодиночке" may be slightly more challenging due to its less common inflection patterns compared to "отдельно").

Pronunciation (Russian):

поодиночке: /pə ɐdʲɪˈnot͡ɕkʲe/

Note on поодиночке: The stress falls on the third syllable ("no"), and the "ч" is a soft palatal fricative, which can be tricky for English speakers—similar to the "ch" in "church" but softer. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

отдельно: /ɐtˈdʲelʲnə/

Note on отдельно: The initial "o" is often reduced to a schwa in fast speech, and the "dʲ" is palatalized, which is a common feature in Russian adverbs.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: One by one or individually (referring to actions performed separately)

Translation(s) & Context:

• поодиночке - Used in informal contexts to describe sequential or isolated actions, such as in daily conversations or narratives.
• отдельно - Applied in formal contexts, like instructions or reports, to emphasize separation or individuality.

Usage Examples:

• Они шли поодиночке через лес, чтобы не привлекать внимания.

  They walked singly through the forest to avoid drawing attention.

• В магазине товары упаковываются отдельно для каждого клиента.

  In the store, items are packaged singly for each customer.

• Дети отвечали поодиночке на вопросы учителя во время урока.

  The children answered singly to the teacher's questions during the lesson.

• Эти файлы нужно обрабатывать отдельно, чтобы избежать ошибок.

  These files need to be processed singly to avoid errors.

• Во время пробежки мы бежим поодиночке, чтобы поддерживать дистанцию.

  During the run, we go singly to maintain distance.

Meaning 2: In a single or individual manner (emphasizing isolation or uniqueness)

Translation(s) & Context:

• поодиночке - Common in descriptive contexts, such as literature or casual speech, to highlight individuality.
• индивидуально - A more formal synonym, used in educational or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Каждый участник выступал поодиночке на конкурсе талантов.

  Each participant performed singly at the talent show.

• Задания должны быть выполнены индивидуально, без помощи других.

  The tasks must be completed singly, without help from others.

• В этой игре игроки действуют поодиночке, а не в команде.

  In this game, players act singly, not as a team.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Most Russian translations for "singly" are adverbs, which typically do not inflect for case, number, or gender. However, "поодиночке" is an adverb derived from the noun "одиночка" and remains invariable in standard use. "Отдельно" is also an adverb and does not change form.

For completeness, if the root word influences usage (e.g., related to nouns like "одиночка"), here is a basic inflection table for the noun "одиночка" (which means "loner" or "single unit"):

Note: As an adverb, "поодиночке" does not inflect and is used invariantly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • индивидуально (individually; more formal and precise in professional contexts)
  • по отдельности (separately; often interchangeable but emphasizes division)
• Antonyms:
  • вместе (together; implies group action)
  • коллективно (collectively; formal, opposite in group settings)

Related Phrases:

• поодиночке и группами - Singly and in groups; used to contrast individual and collective actions.
• отдельно от других - Separately from others; emphasizes isolation in social or work contexts.
• в одиночку - Alone or by oneself; a common phrase implying self-reliance, often with a connotation of independence.

Usage Notes:

"Singly" corresponds most closely to "поодиночке" in informal Russian speech, where it conveys a sense of one-at-a-time progression. Use "отдельно" for more formal or written contexts to maintain a professional tone. Be mindful of word order in Russian sentences, as adverbs like these typically follow the verb they modify. When choosing between translations, opt for "поодиночке" in everyday conversations and "отдельно" in instructions or descriptions to align with the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "по одиночке" without the correct preposition, e.g., saying "они шли по одиночке" instead of "поодиночке" as a single word. Correct: "Поодиночке" is the proper adverbial form; the error stems from treating it as separate words, which alters meaning. Explanation: In Russian, compound adverbs like this must be written as one word to function correctly.

• Error: Confusing it with "один" (one), leading to incorrect phrases like "один за один" instead of "поодиночке". Correct: Use "поодиночке" for sequential actions; "один" is an adjective or numeral. Explanation: This mix-up often occurs due to literal translations from English, but Russian requires idiomatic expressions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "в одиночку" (alone) often carry a positive connotation of resilience or individualism, as seen in literature and folklore (e.g., stories of heroes facing challenges singly). This reflects Russia's historical emphasis on personal endurance in vast, isolated landscapes, which can add depth to expressions like "поодиночке" in modern usage.

Related Concepts:

• одиночество (solitude)
• индивидуальность (individuality)
• групповой (group)