Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'twelfth'

English Word: twelfth

Key Russian Translations:

• двенадцатый /dvʲɪˈnadtsətɨj/ - [Formal, used for ordinal numbering in general contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like dates, lists, and rankings, but not as frequent as cardinal numbers.)

Difficulty: A2 (Basic level; suitable for beginners learning Russian numbers and ordinal forms, per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

двенадцатый: /dvʲɪˈnadtsətɨj/

Note on двенадцатый: The stress is on the third syllable ("nad"), and the "ц" sound is a voiceless alveolar affricate. Palatalization of "дв" (as in /dvʲ/) can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: Ordinal number indicating the twelfth in a sequence (e.g., twelfth day, twelfth item).

Translation(s) & Context:

• двенадцатый - Used in formal and informal contexts for ordering items, dates, or positions, such as in historical events or lists.

Usage Examples:

• Двенадцатый день января был самым холодным в этом году.

  The twelfth day of January was the coldest this year.

• Эта книга - двенадцатая в серии популярных романов.

  This book is the twelfth in the series of popular novels.

• Двенадцатый игрок команды забил решающий гол.

  The twelfth player on the team scored the winning goal.

• В двенадцатом веке Русь столкнулась с новыми вызовами.

  In the twelfth century, Rus' faced new challenges.

• Двенадцатая глава книги посвящена истории России.

  The twelfth chapter of the book is dedicated to Russian history.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

двенадцатый is an ordinal numeral/adjective in Russian, which inflects based on gender, number, and case. It follows the general patterns for ordinal numbers derived from cardinals. Unlike English, Russian ordinals change form to agree with nouns.

Note: This word does not have irregular inflections like some other numerals, making it relatively straightforward once the pattern is learned.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • двенадцатый вариант (a variant form, but essentially the same)
  • №12 (abbreviated form in lists)
  Note: Synonyms are limited; it's a specific ordinal.
• Antonyms:
  • первый (first)
  • последний (last)

Related Phrases:

• Двенадцатый век - The twelfth century (refers to historical periods).
• Двенадцатое число - The twelfth (of the month, e.g., in dates).
• Двенадцатая симфония - The twelfth symphony (used in arts and music contexts).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "twelfth" translates to "двенадцатый" and must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, unlike English where it's invariant. Use it in formal writing, such as historical texts or official documents, but it's also common in everyday speech for dates (e.g., "двенадцатое января"). When choosing between translations, stick to "двенадцатый" for standard ordinal use; avoid direct word-for-word translations from English to prevent errors in agreement.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the cardinal number "двенадцать" (twelve) instead of the ordinal "двенадцатый". Incorrect: "Двенадцать день" (wrong form). Correct: "Двенадцатый день". Explanation: English speakers often confuse cardinals and ordinals; in Russian, ordinals are required for sequencing.

• Error: Failing to inflect for case, e.g., using "двенадцатый" in genitive contexts. Incorrect: "Говорили о двенадцатый год" (should be genitive). Correct: "Говорили о двенадцатом годе". Explanation: Russian grammar demands case agreement, which can be overlooked by beginners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the "twelfth" often appears in historical contexts, such as the Twelfth Century (XII век), a period of significant events in Kievan Rus' history, including the Mongol invasions. This reinforces the importance of ordinal numbers in discussing timelines and cultural heritage.

Related Concepts:

• первый (first)
• второй (second)
• тринадцатый (thirteenth)
• век (century)