Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'song'

English Word: song

Key Russian Translations:

• песня [ˈpʲesnʲə] - [Formal/Informal; Used in general contexts, such as music and literature]
• песенка [pʲɪˈsʲenkə] - [Informal; Often used for a short or simple song, like a children's tune]

Frequency: High - This word is commonly used in everyday Russian conversations, media, and cultural contexts.

Difficulty: A1 - Beginner level, as it is a basic vocabulary item; however, for "песенка," it may be A2 due to slight nuances in informality.

Pronunciation (Russian):

песня: [ˈpʲesnʲə]

песенка: [pʲɪˈsʲenkə]

Note on песня: The stress is on the first syllable, and the soft 'н' sound ([nʲ]) can be challenging for beginners. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A piece of music with lyrics, often sung.

Translation(s) & Context:

• песня - Used in formal and everyday contexts, such as describing songs in music, folklore, or performances.
• песенка - Applied in informal settings, like casual singing or children's songs, implying something lighter or shorter.

Usage Examples:

• Я люблю слушать русскую песню по вечерам. (Ya lyublyu slushat' russkuyu pesnyu po vecheram.)

  I love listening to Russian songs in the evenings. (This example shows the word in a cultural and leisure context.)

• Дети поют весёлую песенку на празднике. (Deti poyut vesyoluyu pesenku na prazdnike.)

  The children are singing a cheerful little song at the party. (Illustrates informal use in a social, family-oriented setting.)

• Эта старая песня напоминает мне о детстве. (Eta staraya pesnya napominayet mne o detstve.)

  This old song reminds me of my childhood. (Demonstrates emotional or nostalgic usage in personal narratives.)

• В концерте прозвучала популярная песенка из фильма. (V koncerte prozvučala populjarnaja pesenka iz fil'ma.)

  A popular little song from the movie was performed at the concert. (Shows the word in media and entertainment contexts.)

• Певец исполнил новую песню на фестивале. (Pevets ispolnil novuyu pesnyu na festivale.)

  The singer performed a new song at the festival. (Highlights professional or public performance scenarios.)

Secondary Meaning: A poem or lyrical composition that can be sung.

Translation(s) & Context:

• песня - In literary contexts, referring to folk or poetic songs with deeper meanings.

Usage Examples:

• В русской литературе песня часто несёт народные мотивы. (V russkoy literature pesnya často nesyot narodnye motivy.)

  In Russian literature, a song often carries folk motifs. (This example contexts the word in cultural and literary discussions.)

• Поэт написал красивую песню о любви. (Poet napisal krasivuyu pesnyu o lyubvi.)

  The poet wrote a beautiful song about love. (Shows crossover between poetry and music.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "песня" and "песенка" are feminine nouns in Russian. They follow standard first-declension patterns for feminine nouns ending in -я. "Песня" is the base form and inflects regularly, while "песенка" is a diminutive form with similar inflection rules.

For "песенка," the inflections are identical in pattern: Nominative singular - песенка, Genitive singular - песенки, etc. These words do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • песня - баллада (ballad; more poetic and narrative)
  • песенка - куплет (couplet; for a short verse in a song)
• Antonyms:
  • молчание (silence; implies the absence of sound or song)
  • шум (noise; contrasts with the structured melody of a song)

Related Phrases:

• народная песня (narodnaya pesnya) - Folk song; Refers to traditional songs rooted in Russian culture.
• популярная песня (populyarnaya pesnya) - Popular song; Used for mainstream music hits.
• детская песенка (detskaya pesenka) - Children's song; A light-hearted tune for kids, often with simple lyrics.

Usage Notes:

The Russian word "песня" directly corresponds to "song" in English but can carry cultural connotations, such as in folk traditions. Use "песенка" for more informal or diminutive contexts to convey affection or simplicity. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as both are feminine nouns (e.g., adjectives must agree: "красивая песня" - beautiful song). In formal writing, prefer "песня," while in casual speech, "песенка" adds warmth.

Common Errors:

• Confusing gender: English speakers might forget that "песня" is feminine, leading to errors like "красивый песня" instead of "красивая песня." Correct usage: Always use feminine adjectives and verbs agreeing with it.
• Overusing diminutives: Beginners might overuse "песенка" in formal contexts; for example, saying "Я спел песенку на концерте" (I sang a little song at the concert) when "песню" would be more appropriate. Explanation: Diminutives soften tone, so reserve them for informal settings.
• Mispronouncing stress: Saying [pʲeˈsnʲə] instead of [ˈpʲesnʲə] for "песня," which can alter meaning or sound unnatural. Correct: Emphasize the first syllable for clarity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "песня" often evokes deep historical and emotional significance, such as in folk songs that preserve national heritage or revolutionary anthems from the Soviet era. For instance, songs like "Kalinka" are not just entertainment but symbols of identity, reflecting Russia's rich oral traditions and resilience through music.

Related Concepts:

• музыка (music)
• мелодия (melody)
• стихи (poetry)