Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'swede'

English Word: swede

Key Russian Translations:

• швед [ʂvʲed] - [Formal, Masculine noun, used for a male person from Sweden]
• шведка [ʂvʲetkə] - [Formal, Feminine noun, used for a female person from Sweden]

Frequency: Medium (This word is commonly encountered in discussions about nationalities, travel, or history, but not in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level; learners should be familiar with basic noun genders and declensions, as per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

швед: [ʂvʲed] (The 'ш' is a voiceless retroflex fricative, similar to the 'sh' in 'shoe' but more retracted.)

шведка: [ʂvʲetkə] (Note the diminutive '-ка' suffix, which softens the pronunciation and adds a feminine nuance; the 'т' is palatalized.)

Note on швед: Be cautious with the initial 'ш' sound, as it's distinct from the softer 'ш' in some dialects; practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A person from Sweden (nationality or ethnic identity).

Translation(s) & Context:

• швед - Used in formal or neutral contexts when referring to a male Swedish national, such as in historical texts or demographic discussions.
• шведка - Applied in contexts involving female Swedish individuals, often in social or biographical settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он — швед, и он говорит по-шведски с акцентом, который отражает его корни.

  He is a Swede, and he speaks Swedish with an accent that reflects his roots.

• Моя подруга — шведка, она переехала в Москву и теперь учит русский язык.

  My friend is a Swede (female), she moved to Moscow and is now learning Russian.

• В музее мы увидели артефакты, созданные шведами во время викингских эпох.

  In the museum, we saw artifacts created by Swedes during the Viking eras.

• Шведка, которую я встретил на конференции, поделилась историями о шведской культуре.

  The Swede (female) I met at the conference shared stories about Swedish culture.

• Многие шведы предпочитают жить в экологически чистых районах, как в их родной стране.

  Many Swedes prefer to live in environmentally friendly areas, just like in their home country.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'швед' and 'шведка' are nouns. 'Швед' is a masculine noun of the second declension, while 'шведка' is a feminine noun. They follow standard Russian inflection patterns, which are regular but require attention to cases and numbers.

Note: These forms are regular, but English learners often struggle with genitive and dative cases. There are no irregular inflections for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • шведец (less common variant, implies a more historical or poetic context)
  • шведка (for feminine, as above, but can sometimes be synonymous in broader nationality discussions)
• Antonyms: None directly applicable, as this is a nationality term. However, in broader contexts, terms like "не швед" (not a Swede) might contrast with other nationalities.

Related Phrases:

• Шведский язык — The Swedish language (common in linguistic or cultural discussions).
• Шведская культура — Swedish culture (used when talking about traditions and heritage).
• Житель Швеции — Resident of Sweden (a more general phrase for everyday use, emphasizing location over nationality).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'швед' directly corresponds to the English 'Swede' when referring to a person from Sweden, but always specify gender with 'швед' for male and 'шведка' for female to match Russian's grammatical requirements. Use in formal contexts like academic writing or official documents; in informal speech, Russians might opt for broader terms like 'из Швеции' (from Sweden). Pay attention to case endings for proper sentence structure, and avoid using it in plural without context, as it can imply a group stereotype.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'швед' for females (e.g., saying "Она швед" instead of "Она шведка"). Correct: "Она шведка" — This mistakes the gender agreement, which is crucial in Russian nouns.

• Error: Forgetting declensions in sentences (e.g., "Я видел швед" instead of "Я видел шведа" in accusative case). Correct: "Я видел шведа" — Explanation: Russian requires case changes based on sentence role, so learners must practice noun endings to avoid grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing with the vegetable 'swede' (which translates to 'свёкла' in Russian). Correct: Use 'швед' only for people, not plants, to prevent mix-ups in context.

Cultural Notes:

The term 'швед' carries positive connotations in Russian culture, often linked to Sweden's reputation for innovation, neutrality, and high quality of life. Historically, it evokes images of the Viking era or modern Scandinavian influences, such as IKEA or Nobel Prizes. In Russian media, Swedes are sometimes stereotyped as progressive or environmentally conscious, which can add layers of cultural nuance when using the word in conversations.

Related Concepts:

• шведский (Swedish, as an adjective)
• Стокгольм (Stockholm, the capital)
• Скандинавия (Scandinavia, the broader region)