Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tenth'

English Word: tenth

Key Russian Translations:

• десятый [dʲɪˈsatɨj] - [Formal, Ordinal number, Masculine nominative]
• десятая [dʲɪˈsatəj] - [Formal, Ordinal number, Feminine nominative]
• десятое [dʲɪˈsatəj] - [Formal, Ordinal number, Neuter nominative]
• десятую [dʲɪˈsʲatʊj] - [Formal, Ordinal number, Feminine accusative]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday counting, dates, and sequences, but not as frequent as cardinal numbers).

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it involves basic ordinal numbers; however, full inflection by gender, number, and case may reach A2 for feminine and plural forms).

Pronunciation (Russian):

десятый: [dʲɪˈsatɨj]

десятая: [dʲɪˈsatəj]

десятое: [dʲɪˈsatəj]

Note on десятый: The stress is on the second syllable, and the 'ы' sound ([ɨ]) can be tricky for English speakers, similar to a short 'i' in "bit" but more centralized. Variations may occur in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Ordinal number indicating the position of tenth in a sequence (e.g., in lists, dates, or rankings).

Translation(s) & Context:

• десятый - Used for masculine nouns in nominative case, such as referring to the tenth item in a list (e.g., "tenth book").
• десятая - Used for feminine nouns in nominative case, such as the tenth day or event (e.g., "tenth anniversary").
• десятое - Used for neuter nouns in nominative case, such as the tenth edition or abstract concepts.

Usage Examples:

• Это мой десятый визит в Москву.

  This is my tenth visit to Moscow. (Demonstrates use with a masculine noun in a personal context.)

• В этом году мы отмечаем десятую годовщину свадьбы.

  This year, we are celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary. (Shows feminine form in a formal, celebratory context.)

• Десятое сентября — важная дата в календаре.

  The tenth of September is an important date in the calendar. (Illustrates neuter form in date-related usage.)

• Он занял десятое место в соревновании.

  He took tenth place in the competition. (Highlights use in rankings, with agreement in gender and case.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The word "десятый" is an ordinal numeral adjective in Russian, which inflects based on gender, number, and case. It follows the standard adjective declension pattern, with some irregularities in certain forms. Below is a table showing the nominative forms; full declension varies by case.

Note: For other cases (e.g., genitive, dative), it changes as per standard adjective rules, e.g., genitive singular masculine: "десятого". This word is fully inflected and does not have invariant forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • десятая часть (for fractional sense, meaning "one tenth") - Used in mathematical contexts, implying a part rather than position.
  • десятка (informal, meaning "ten" as a group, but not exact synonym).
• Antonyms:
  • первый [ˈpʲɛrvɨj] (first) - Directly opposite in sequence.
  • последний [pɐˈslʲɛdnʲɪj] (last) - For the end of a sequence.

Related Phrases:

• в десятый раз - In the tenth time (e.g., repeating an action); used to emphasize repetition.
• десятая муза - The tenth muse (a cultural phrase referring to cinema in Russian arts);
• десятая спица в колесе - The tenth spoke in the wheel (idiomatic for something unnecessary or extra).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "tenth" translates to forms like "десятый," which must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, unlike English where "tenth" remains unchanged. For example, use "десятый" for masculine nouns and adjust for context (e.g., formal writing or dates). When choosing between translations, select based on the noun's gender: masculine for people or objects like "tenth president," feminine for events like "tenth edition." Be cautious in informal speech, where cardinal numbers might be used interchangeably, but ordinals are preferred in precise sequences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the cardinal number "десять" instead of the ordinal "десятый" in sequences. For example, saying "Я видел десять фильм" instead of "Я видел десятый фильм" (I saw the tenth film).

  Correct: "десятый фильм" – Explanation: Ordinal numbers indicate position, not quantity, so always use the inflected form for accuracy.

• Error: Forgetting gender agreement, e.g., saying "десятый день" for a feminine noun like "day" (which is masculine in Russian, but could confuse with feminine contexts).

  Correct: "Десятая годовщина" for feminine nouns – Explanation: This leads to grammatical errors; always check the noun's gender before inflecting.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the number ten and its ordinal form "десятый" often appear in historical contexts, such as the "Decembrists" (a group of rebels in 1825, referred to as the "tenth wave" of reform movements). This reflects Russia's revolutionary history, where numbers like this symbolize milestones, though "tenth" itself doesn't carry unique cultural weight beyond general numbering.

Related Concepts:

• первый (first)
• второй (second)
• сто (hundred, for larger sequences)
• порядковый числительный (ordinal numeral, as a grammatical concept)