Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sterling'

English Word: sterling

Key Russian Translations:

• фунт стерлингов [funt stɛrlʲɪnɡof] - [Formal, Used in financial or economic contexts]
• стерлинговый [stɛrlʲɪnɡovɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Used to describe high-quality or pure items, e.g., in metallurgy or figuratively]

Frequency: Medium (Common in financial discussions, business, or historical contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires basic understanding of Russian nouns and adjectives, but the specific term may need contextual knowledge. For 'фунт стерлингов', it's B1; for 'стерлинговый', it's B2 due to its less common adjective form)

Pronunciation (Russian):

фунт стерлингов: [funt stɛrlʲɪnɡof]

стерлинговый: [stɛrlʲɪnɡovɨj]

Note on фунт стерлингов: The stress falls on the first syllable of "фунт" [funt], and "стерлингов" has a soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Pronounce it smoothly as a phrase.

Note on стерлинговый: This adjective ends with a soft consonant, and the 'ый' ending may vary in informal speech; listen for regional variations in vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun (referring to British currency)

Translation(s) & Context:

• фунт стерлингов - Used in formal financial, economic, or historical contexts to denote the British pound; equivalent to the English "pound sterling" in monetary discussions.

Usage Examples:

• В банке я обменял евро на фунт стерлингов по выгодному курсу.

  In the bank, I exchanged euros for pounds sterling at a favorable rate.

• Финансовый кризис повлиял на стоимость фунта стерлингов по отношению к доллару.

  The financial crisis affected the value of the pound sterling against the dollar.

• Туристы часто берут с собой фунт стерлингов, путешествуя по Великобритании.

  Tourists often bring pounds sterling with them when traveling to the United Kingdom.

• Инвестиции в фунт стерлингов могут быть рискованными из-за политических изменений.

  Investing in pounds sterling can be risky due to political changes.

As an adjective (meaning high-quality or pure)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стерлинговый - Used in contexts describing excellence, purity, or high standards, such as in metallurgy (e.g., pure silver) or metaphorically for character; less common and more formal than everyday adjectives.

Usage Examples:

• Этот ювелирный магазин продаёт только стерлинговый серебро высшего качества.

  This jewelry store sells only sterling silver of the highest quality.

• Его стерлинговая репутация в бизнесе помогла ему завоевать доверие партнёров.

  His sterling reputation in business helped him gain the trust of partners.

• В литературе часто описывают стерлинговые качества героев, подчёркивая их честность.

  In literature, sterling qualities of heroes are often described, emphasizing their honesty.

• Стерлинговый сплав используется в производстве монет для обеспечения долговечности.

  Sterling alloy is used in coin production to ensure durability.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'фунт стерлингов', this is a noun phrase where 'фунт' is a masculine noun (from Latin origin) and 'стерлингов' acts as a modifier. It follows standard Russian noun inflections for 'фунт' in the genitive case when used in phrases.

For 'стерлинговый', it is an adjective that follows regular Russian adjective inflections based on gender, number, and case:

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregularities for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • британский фунт (British pound) - Often used interchangeably in casual financial talk, but more general.
  • высококачественный (high-quality) - For the adjective sense, implying excellence without the specific historical connotation.
• Antonyms:
  • дешёвый (cheap) - For the adjective sense, contrasting with high quality.
  • некачественный (low-quality) - Emphasizing inferiority in material or character.

Related Phrases:

• Британский фунт стерлингов - A common extension; refers to the official name of the currency. (English: British pound sterling, used in formal economic reports.)
• Стерлинговое серебро - A fixed phrase for high-purity silver. (English: Sterling silver, often in jewelry contexts.)
• Курс фунта стерлингов - Refers to exchange rates. (English: Pound sterling exchange rate, in financial discussions.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'фунт стерлингов' directly corresponds to the English 'pound sterling' as a noun and is primarily used in financial or international contexts. It's a formal term, so avoid it in casual conversations unless discussing economics. For the adjective 'стерлинговый', it mirrors 'sterling' in meaning high quality, but it's less common and often limited to technical fields like metallurgy. When choosing between translations, use 'фунт стерлингов' for currency and 'стерлинговый' for quality descriptions. Grammatically, always inflect adjectives to match the noun's gender, number, and case for accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'стерлинг' alone without 'фунт', thinking it's a standalone word. Correct: The full phrase 'фунт стерлингов' is needed for currency. Example of error: "Я купил стерлинг" (incorrect). Correct: "Я купил фунт стерлингов" (I bought pounds sterling). Explanation: 'Стерлинг' by itself isn't standard; it needs the context of 'фунт'.

• Error: Failing to inflect 'стерлинговый' properly, e.g., using it in the wrong gender. Correct: Match it to the noun, like 'стерлинговая репутация' for feminine nouns. Example of error: "Стерлинговый репутация" (incorrect gender agreement). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with their nouns, which is a common pitfall for English learners.

Cultural Notes:

The term 'фунт стерлингов' reflects Britain's historical monetary system, originating from the sterling silver standard in the Middle Ages, symbolizing purity and reliability. In Russian culture, it's often associated with British financial stability or as a contrast to the ruble in discussions of global economics, highlighting themes of imperialism and trade history.

Related Concepts:

• евро (euro)
• доллар (dollar)
• высококачественный (high-quality)