thirteen
Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'thirteen'
English Word: thirteen
Key Russian Translations:
- тринадцать /ˈtrʲinʲɐdʲtsʲ/ - [Formal/Neutral, Used in general counting and everyday contexts]
Frequency: High (The word is commonly used in daily conversations, such as counting, ages, dates, and quantities.)
Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level; basic numbers are straightforward for English speakers to learn, with minimal irregularities.)
Pronunciation (Russian):
тринадцать: /ˈtrʲinʲɐdʲtsʲ/
Note on тринадцать: The stress is on the first syllable (/ˈtrʲinʲ/). Be cautious with the palatalized 'r' sound, which is common in Russian but may be challenging for English speakers. Pronunciation can vary slightly in fast speech.
Audio: []
Meanings and Usage:
Meaning: The number 13
Translation(s) & Context:
- тринадцать - Used in numerical contexts such as counting, ages, quantities, or dates in both formal and informal settings.
Usage Examples:
-
У меня тринадцать яблок в корзине.
I have thirteen apples in the basket. (This example shows the word in a simple declarative sentence for counting objects.)
-
Ей тринадцать лет, и она учится в школе.
She is thirteen years old and studies at school. (Here, it demonstrates usage with age in a biographical context.)
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В доме тринадцать комнат, включая подвал.
There are thirteen rooms in the house, including the basement. (This illustrates the word in a descriptive context for quantities.)
-
Мы встретились ровно в тринадцать часов.
We met exactly at thirteen o'clock. (This shows its use in time-telling, often in formal or military contexts.)
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Тринадцать игроков вышли на поле во время матча.
Thirteen players entered the field during the match. (This example highlights usage in sports or group activities.)
Russian Forms/Inflections:
The word "тринадцать" is a cardinal number in Russian and follows the patterns of compound numbers. It is invariable in most cases but can show some inflection when used with nouns, depending on the noun's gender, number, and case. Russian numbers like this one are generally not conjugated like verbs but must agree with the nouns they modify in case.
| Form | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Base form) | тринадцать | Used as a standalone number or with nouns in nominative case, e.g., "тринадцать книг" (thirteen books). |
| Genitive | тринадцати | Used for possession or after prepositions like "из" (from), e.g., "из тринадцати книг" (from thirteen books). The number changes to agree with the genitive case. |
| Dative | тринадцати | Used for indirect objects, e.g., "для тринадцати друзей" (for thirteen friends). |
| Accusative | тринадцать (same as nominative for inanimate nouns) | Often identical to nominative for plural inanimate objects, e.g., "я купил тринадцать книг" (I bought thirteen books). |
| Instrumental | тринадцатью (for some contexts, but rare for pure numbers) | Used with instrumental case nouns, e.g., "с тринадцатью друзьями" (with thirteen friends), though numbers like this are less commonly inflected alone. |
| Prepositional | тринадцати | Used in prepositional phrases, e.g., "о тринадцати историях" (about thirteen stories). |
Note: As a compound number, "тринадцать" is relatively stable but must align with the noun's case in complex sentences.
Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:
- Synonyms: There are no exact synonyms for "тринадцать" as it is a specific numeral. However, related terms include "тринадцать штук" (thirteen pieces) for emphasis in informal contexts.
- Antonyms: None directly, as antonyms for numbers are not standard. Conceptually, it contrasts with numbers like "двенадцать" (twelve) or "четырнадцать" (fourteen).
Related Phrases:
- тринадцать лет - Thirteen years (often used for age, e.g., in contexts like birthdays or legal age requirements).
- тринадцать часов - Thirteen o'clock (used in 24-hour time formats, common in scheduling or military contexts).
- тринадцать раз - Thirteen times (indicating repetition, e.g., in mathematical or narrative contexts).
Usage Notes:
In Russian, "тринадцать" directly corresponds to the English "thirteen" as a cardinal number and is used in similar contexts for counting, ages, and quantities. It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings without restrictions. However, remember that Russian numbers must agree in case with the nouns they modify, which differs from English. For example, use the genitive form "тринадцати" in phrases like "из тринадцати" (out of thirteen). When choosing between translations, "тринадцать" is the standard and most accurate for this word; no alternatives are needed unless specifying ordinal forms (e.g., "тринадцатый" for "thirteenth").
Common Errors:
Error: Confusing "тринадцать" with "тринадцатью" in instrumental contexts. Incorrect: "С тринадцать друзей" (wrong case agreement). Correct: "С тринадцатью друзьями". Explanation: English speakers often forget case changes; always ensure the number aligns with the noun's case for grammatical accuracy.
Error: Using "тринадцать" as an ordinal without modification. Incorrect: "Я на тринадцать месте" (meaning "I am in thirteenth place"). Correct: "Я на тринадцатом месте". Explanation: For ordinal numbers, add the appropriate suffix; "тринадцать" is cardinal only.
Error: Mispronouncing the palatalized sounds, e.g., saying /tri-na-dats/ instead of /ˈtrʲinʲɐdʲtsʲ/. Explanation: This can make the word harder to understand; practice the soft 'r' and 'n' sounds to avoid sounding unnatural.
Cultural Notes:
In Russian culture, the number thirteen is not as strongly associated with bad luck as it is in some Western traditions (e.g., "Friday the 13th"). However, it may still carry mild superstitious connotations in certain contexts, such as avoiding the 13th floor in buildings, similar to English-speaking countries. This reflects broader Slavic folklore where numbers can symbolize fate or mysticism.
Related Concepts:
- двенадцать (twelve)
- четырнадцать (fourteen)
- тринадцать лет (thirteen years)
- тринадцатый (thirteenth, ordinal form)