Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'twenty'

English Word: twenty

Key Russian Translations:

• двадцать /ˈdvadʲt͡sʲtʲ/ - [Formal, Informal; Used in general counting and numerical contexts]

Frequency: High (This word is commonly used in everyday Russian speech, writing, and formal contexts, such as dates, ages, and quantities.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; As a basic numeral, it is straightforward for English learners to grasp, especially those familiar with cardinal numbers.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

двадцать: /ˈdvadʲt͡sʲtʲ/

Note on двадцать: The pronunciation involves a soft 'd' sound (/dʲ/), which can be challenging for English speakers due to the palatalization. Stress falls on the first syllable. Variations may occur in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The cardinal number 20

Translation(s) & Context:

• двадцать - Used in everyday counting, measurements, ages, and dates; common in both formal and informal settings, such as in mathematics, shopping, or storytelling.

Usage Examples:

• Моему сыну двадцать лет. (My son is twenty years old. This example shows the word in a biographical context, discussing age.)

  Translation: My son is twenty years old.

• В магазине было двадцать яблок. (There were twenty apples in the store. This demonstrates its use in quantifying objects in a simple declarative sentence.)

  Translation: There were twenty apples in the store.

• Она работает двадцать часов в неделю. (She works twenty hours a week. Here, it appears in a context involving time and schedules, highlighting its role in measurements.)

  Translation: She works twenty hours a week.

• Двадцать человек пришло на встречу. (Twenty people came to the meeting. This example illustrates its use with nouns in a plural context.)

  Translation: Twenty people came to the meeting.

• Цена составляет двадцать рублей. (The price is twenty rubles. This shows its application in financial or commercial scenarios.)

  Translation: The price is twenty rubles.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The Russian word "двадцать" is a cardinal numeral and exhibits some inflection based on grammatical case, particularly when used with nouns. It is invariable in gender but changes in case to agree with the nouns it modifies. This follows standard Russian numeral rules, which can be irregular for numbers like this.

Note: "Двадцать" is generally used with plural nouns and follows the pattern for numbers ending in 'two' to 'four' in some contexts, but it is more flexible and often remains unchanged in informal speech.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: There are no exact synonyms for "двадцать" as a specific numeral, but related terms include "два десятка" (two tens) for emphasis in informal contexts. "Два десятка" implies the same value but is less precise and often used poetically.
• Antonyms: десять (ten) - Represents a lower value; тридцать (thirty) - Represents a higher value.

Related Phrases:

• Двадцать первого века - Of the twenty-first century (Refers to a historical or modern era context.)
• Двадцать градусов мороза - Twenty degrees of frost (Used in weather descriptions, indicating extreme cold.)
• Двадцать процентов - Twenty percent (Common in mathematical or financial discussions.)

Usage Notes:

"Двадцать" directly corresponds to the English "twenty" as a cardinal number and is used similarly in sentences for counting, quantities, and measurements. It is neutral in terms of formality and can appear in both spoken and written Russian. Be mindful of case agreement when pairing it with nouns; for example, it often requires the genitive plural for the nouns it modifies. When choosing between translations, "двадцать" is the standard and most versatile option. In informal speech, Russians might abbreviate or combine it in phrases, but always ensure proper inflection for grammatical accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing the soft 'd' sound as a hard 'd', saying something like "dvaht-tsyt" instead of "/ˈdvadʲt͡sʲtʲ/". Correct: Practice the palatalized 'dʲ' to avoid sounding unnatural. Incorrect example: "Dvaht tsyt let" (wrong pronunciation); Correct example: "Двадцать лет" with proper softening.

• Error: Forgetting case changes, such as using the nominative form in all contexts. Correct: Adjust based on sentence structure, e.g., "у меня двадцать рублей" (I have twenty rubles) vs. "без двадцати" (without twenty). Explanation: This can lead to grammatical errors that make the sentence sound awkward or incorrect to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, numbers like "двадцать" don't carry significant symbolic meaning on their own, but they can appear in historical contexts, such as the "Twenty-Second Congress of the CPSU" during the Soviet era, reflecting political history. Generally, numerals are used practically, but awareness of their role in dates (e.g., the 20th century) can enhance understanding of Russian literature and media.

Related Concepts:

• десять (ten)
• тридцать (thirty)
• сто (one hundred)