Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'till'

English Word: till

Key Russian Translations:

• до [dɐ] - [Formal, Used in time expressions]
• касса [ˈkasə] - [Informal, Plural: кассы, Used for cash registers]

Frequency: High (e.g., 'до' is very common in everyday Russian; 'касса' is medium in commercial contexts)

Difficulty: A1 for 'до' (Beginner level); B1 for 'касса' (Intermediate, due to noun inflections)

Pronunciation (Russian):

до: [dɐ]

Note on до: The vowel 'o' is often reduced to a schwa sound [ɐ] in unstressed positions, which is common in Russian phonetics.

касса: [ˈkasə]

Note on касса: Stress falls on the first syllable; the 'a' in the second syllable is pronounced as a neutral vowel.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a preposition meaning 'until' or 'up to'

Translation(s) & Context:

• до - Used in temporal contexts, such as indicating a point in time (e.g., in formal writing or speech).

Usage Examples:

• Я подожду до вечера.

  I will wait until evening.

• Он работает до пяти часов.

  He works until five o'clock.

• До завтрашнего дня всё будет готово.

  Everything will be ready by tomorrow.

• Путешествие продлится до конца недели.

  The trip will last until the end of the week.

• До встречи на конференции!

  See you at the conference (until we meet)!

As a noun meaning 'cash register' or 'till'

Translation(s) & Context:

• касса - Used in retail or financial contexts, often in plural for multiple registers.

Usage Examples:

• Платите на кассе.

  Pay at the till.

• Касса магазина закрыта по выходным.

  The store's till is closed on weekends.

• В этой кассе можно расплатиться картой.

  You can pay with a card at this till.

• Очередь у кассы длинная.

  The line at the till is long.

• Сотрудник проверил кассу в конце смены.

  The employee checked the till at the end of the shift.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'До' is a preposition and does not inflect; it remains unchanged in all contexts.

'Касса' is a feminine noun (first declension). It follows standard Russian noun inflections. Below is a table of its forms:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: для 'до' - пока (while, until, with a sense of duration); для 'касса' - терминал (terminal, in modern contexts)
• Antonyms: для 'до' - после (after); для 'касса' - нет прямого антонима, но контраст может быть с 'банкомат' (ATM, as an alternative payment method)

Related Phrases:

• До свидания - A common farewell phrase meaning "Goodbye" or "Until we meet again."
• До скорой встречи - Meaning "See you soon," emphasizing a future meeting.
• Оплатить на кассе - Meaning "To pay at the till," used in shopping scenarios.
• Касса закрыта - Meaning "The till is closed," indicating unavailability.

Usage Notes:

'До' directly corresponds to 'till' as a preposition in English, but it's more versatile in Russian for indicating limits in time, space, or quantity. Use it in formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with verb aspect (e.g., pair with imperfective verbs for ongoing actions). For 'касса', it's specifically for physical or digital payment points; choose it over synonyms like 'терминал' based on context—'касса' implies a traditional setup. When translating 'till' as a noun, ensure the context is commercial; otherwise, 'до' might be more appropriate.

• In sentences, 'до' often precedes a noun or time expression without articles, unlike English.
• For multiple translations, select based on nuance: 'до' for abstract time, 'касса' for concrete objects.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'до' with 'к' (to, towards), using 'к вечеру' instead of 'до вечера' for "until evening." Incorrect: "Я приду к вечера" (wrong usage); Correct: "Я приду до вечера" (I will come until evening). This error stems from overlapping prepositional uses—remember, 'до' implies up to a point, while 'к' suggests direction. For 'касса', a common mistake is forgetting inflections, e.g., saying "платить на касса" instead of "платить на кассе" (pay at the till), which affects case agreement.

Cultural Notes:

'До свидания' is a staple in Russian etiquette, reflecting the culture's emphasis on polite farewells. It literally means "until (we meet again)," highlighting the value of relationships and future interactions in social contexts. In everyday life, it's used universally, from casual chats to formal settings, underscoring Russia's communal communication style.

Related Concepts:

• пока
• после
• терминал