Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'those'

English Word: those

Key Russian Translations:

• те [tʲe] - [Used as a demonstrative pronoun for plural objects, typically referring to items farther from the speaker; Informal/Neutral]
• те самые [tʲe səmɨje] - [Emphasizes specific plural items; Formal, used for precision in context]

Frequency: High (Common in everyday Russian speech for referring to plural objects in various contexts)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as basic demonstratives are introduced early in language learning)

Pronunciation (Russian):

те: [tʲe]

те самые: [tʲe səmɨje]

Note on те: The 'т' is palatalized, which can be tricky for beginners; it sounds softer, like a 't' followed by a 'y' glide. Variations in speed may affect vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Demonstrative pronoun referring to plural objects or people farther from the speaker

Translation(s) & Context:

• те - Used in casual conversation to point out multiple items not in immediate proximity; Context: Everyday dialogue, descriptions.
• те самые - Used for emphasis on specific plural items; Context: Formal writing or precise storytelling to avoid ambiguity.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Те книги на полке очень интересные. (Those books on the shelf are very interesting.)

  English: Those books on the shelf are very interesting. (Demonstrates basic use with plural nouns in a descriptive context.)

• Русский: Те самые друзья помогли мне в трудную минуту. (Those very friends helped me in a difficult moment.)

  English: Those very friends helped me in a difficult moment. (Shows emphasis on specific individuals in a narrative.)

• Русский: Почему те цветы в вазе вянут так быстро? (Why are those flowers in the vase wilting so quickly?)

  English: Why are those flowers in the vase wilting so quickly? (Illustrates use in questions about distant objects.)

• Русский: Те игрушки принадлежат детям из соседнего дома. (Those toys belong to the children from the neighboring house.)

  English: Those toys belong to the children from the neighboring house. (Example in possessive contexts.)

• Русский: Не трогай те предметы, они хрупкие. (Don't touch those items; they are fragile.)

  English: Don't touch those items; they are fragile. (Demonstrates imperative sentences with warnings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Те" is a demonstrative pronoun/adjective that declines based on case, number, and gender in Russian. It follows the pattern of adjectives and has regular declensions for plural forms. Below is a table outlining the key inflections for "те" in its plural forms:

For "те самые", it follows the same declension pattern as "те" but with the addition of "самые" which also inflects (e.g., genitive: тех самых). If the word is used as an unchangeable particle in fixed phrases, it remains invariant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • эти [ˈɛtʲi] (these/those, for closer objects; slight difference: used when items are nearer)
  • вот эти [vot ˈɛtʲi] (these very ones; emphasizes immediacy)
• Antonyms:
  • эти [ˈɛtʲi] (in contrast, for nearer objects; no direct antonym, but contextually opposite)

Related Phrases:

• Те самые люди [tʲe səmɨje ˈlʲudʲi] - Those very people; Used to specify exact individuals in stories or accusations.
• Не те вещи [nʲe tʲe ˈvʲeŋʲi] - Not those things; Common in denials or corrections in daily conversations.
• Те издалека [tʲe izˈdalʲekə] - Those from afar; Refers to distant objects or people, often in poetic or descriptive contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "those" translates most directly to "те", which functions similarly to English as a demonstrative but must agree in case, number, and gender with the noun it modifies. Unlike English, Russian requires declension, so beginners should practice forms like "тех" in genitive contexts. Use "те самые" for emphasis when precision is needed, such as in formal writing. Be mindful of word order: in Russian, the demonstrative often precedes the noun, e.g., "те книги" vs. English "those books". Choose between translations based on context—opt for "те" in informal speech and "те самые" in more formal or emphatic situations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "те" without proper declension, e.g., saying "Я видел те" instead of "Я видел тех" in genitive contexts. Correct: "Я видел тех людей" (I saw those people). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement; failing to decline can make the sentence grammatically incorrect and confusing.

• Error: Confusing "те" with "эти", e.g., using "эти" for distant objects. Correct: Use "те" for farther items and "эти" for nearer ones. Explanation: This mix-up stems from English's less precise distance indicators; always consider proximity in Russian to avoid miscommunication.

Cultural Notes:

Demonstratives like "те" in Russian often reflect a speaker's spatial awareness, which is culturally tied to Russia's vast landscapes. In literature or everyday speech, they can evoke a sense of distance or nostalgia, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy, where "those" distant elements symbolize broader themes of separation or history.

Related Concepts:

• этот [ˈɛtət] (this)
• тот [tot] (that)
• вот [vot] (here, this one)