Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'their'

English Word: their

Key Russian Translations:

• Их [ix] - [Informal, used for possessive plural or general reference to 'their' in context]

Frequency: High (Pronouns like "их" are used frequently in everyday Russian conversation and writing.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as basic possessive pronouns are introduced early in Russian language learning.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Их: [ix]

Note on Их: The pronunciation [ix] features a soft 'i' sound followed by a guttural 'kh' (like in Scottish 'loch'). Be mindful of the soft sign in writing, which affects pronunciation subtly in connected speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Possessive pronoun indicating ownership or relation (primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Их - Used in contexts where "their" refers to possession by a plural third-person subject, such as people or objects. Common in informal and formal settings for everyday descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Их дом очень большой, и он окружен садом.

  English translation: Their house is very big, and it is surrounded by a garden. (This example shows "their" used with a plural subject in a descriptive context.)

• Русский пример: Я видел их машину на парковке вчера вечером.

  English translation: I saw their car in the parking lot last evening. (Illustrates "their" in a past-tense narrative, emphasizing possession.)

• Русский пример: В их семье всегда много гостей во время праздников.

  English translation: In their family, there are always many guests during holidays. (Demonstrates "their" in a familial or cultural context, showing ongoing states.)

• Русский пример: Их идеи часто вдохновляют команду на новые проекты.

  English translation: Their ideas often inspire the team on new projects. (This highlights "their" in a professional or motivational setting.)

• Русский пример: Мы обсудим их предложения на следующей встрече.

  English translation: We will discuss their suggestions at the next meeting. (Shows "their" in a future-oriented, formal discussion.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Pronouns like "Их" (their) in Russian are generally invariable and do not change form based on gender, number, or case in most contexts, unlike nouns or adjectives. It remains "Их" regardless of the sentence structure. However, its usage is tied to the grammatical case of the noun it modifies (e.g., genitive for possession).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Ихний (Ikhnij) - A more dialectical or informal variant, often used in spoken Russian to emphasize possession, but less standard in formal writing.
  • Свой (Svoy) - Means "one's own" and can sometimes substitute in reflexive contexts, with a subtle difference implying personal ownership.
• Antonyms: Not directly applicable, as "Их" is a possessive pronoun without a clear opposite. However, in some contexts, words like "чужой" (Chuzhoy, meaning "someone else's") could contrast possession.

Related Phrases:

• Их дом - Their house (A basic possessive phrase used in daily conversations about property.)
• Их друзья - Their friends (Common in social contexts, e.g., when discussing relationships.)
• В их отсутствие - In their absence (A fixed phrase for situations involving unavailability, often in formal or professional settings.)
• Их мнение - Their opinion (Used in debates or discussions to refer to group perspectives.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "Их" directly corresponds to the English "their" as a possessive pronoun for plural third-person subjects. It is always used in the genitive case and does not change form, making it straightforward for English learners. However, be cautious with gender and number: Russian pronouns can sometimes require context from the noun they modify. For formal writing, stick to "Их" over dialectical alternatives. When choosing between translations, use "Их" for neutral or general possession, but consider "Свой" if the possession is reflexive or internal to the subject.

Common Errors:

• Ошибка: Using "Их" incorrectly with singular nouns, e.g., saying "Их книга" when referring to a single item belonging to a group. Правильное использование: In Russian, "Их" works for plural, but for singular, ensure context matches; correct example: "Их книги" (Their books). Объяснение: English learners often overlook Russian's strict agreement in number, leading to grammatical errors.

• Ошибка: Confusing "Их" with "Его" (his) or "Её" (her), e.g., mistakenly saying "Его дом" for "their house." Правильное использование: Use "Их" specifically for plural possession; correct: "Их дом." Объяснение: This mix-up stems from English's gender-neutral "their," but Russian requires precise pronoun selection based on the subject.

Cultural Notes:

Possessive pronouns like "Их" in Russian do not carry significant cultural connotations on their own, as they are basic grammatical elements. However, in Russian communication, emphasizing possession (e.g., through "Их" in family or community contexts) can reflect the cultural value placed on collectivism and shared ownership, which is common in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• Наш (Nash) - Our
• Ваш (Vash) - Your (plural/formal)
• Его (Yego) - His
• Её (Yeyo) - Her