Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'twin'

English Word: twin

Key Russian Translations:

• близнец /blʲɪznʲɛts/ - [Formal, Singular, Used for one of a pair of siblings born at the same time]
• двойняшка /dvɐjnʲaʂkə/ - [Informal, Plural or general reference, Often used in casual conversation about twins]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations about family or biology, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and basic family-related vocabulary; for "близнец", it's straightforward, but "двойняшка" may vary slightly in context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

близнец: /blʲɪznʲɛts/

двойняшка: /dvɐjnʲaʂkə/

Note on близнец: The 'ц' is a voiceless alveolar affricate, pronounced like 'ts' in "bits". Pay attention to the soft sign 'ь' which palatalizes the preceding consonant.

Note on двойняшка: The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to 'sh' in "shine", and the word often has a diminutive connotation.

Audio: Play Pronunciation Audio [Here, insert an audio player or link placeholder for /blʲɪznʲɛts/ and /dvɐjnʲaʂkə/]

Meanings and Usage:

A twin as a person or thing exactly like another (e.g., siblings born at the same time)

Translation(s) & Context:

• близнец - Used in formal or neutral contexts when referring to one twin in a pair, especially in biological or familial discussions.
• двойняшка - Applied in informal settings, often with affection, to describe twins collectively or individually in everyday talk.

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть брат-близнец.

  I have a twin brother. (This example shows the word in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting family relationships.)

• Эти двойняшки выглядят одинаково.

  These twins look identical. (Demonstrates use in a descriptive context, emphasizing physical similarity.)

• Близнецы часто имеют схожие интересы.

  Twins often have similar interests. (Illustrates the plural form and its use in generalizations about behavior.)

• Моя подруга — двойняшка, и она очень весёлая.

  My friend is a twin, and she is very cheerful. (Shows informal usage in personal anecdotes.)

• В фильме главные герои — идентичные близнецы.

  In the movie, the main characters are identical twins. (Contextualizes the word in narrative or media discussions.)

A twin as a duplicate or pair (e.g., in objects or concepts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• близнец - Metaphorically used for objects that are exact copies, such as in literature or science.

Usage Examples:

• Эта звезда имеет близнеца в другой галактике.

  This star has a twin in another galaxy. (Applies the word to astronomical contexts, showing metaphorical extension.)

• Двойняшки в этом наборе ключей — запасные.

  The twins in this set of keys are spares. (Informal use for everyday objects, emphasizing duplication.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "близнец" and "двойняшка" are nouns. "Близнец" is a masculine noun of the second declension, which follows regular patterns. "Двойняшка" is a feminine noun with diminutive suffixes and also follows standard declensions.

Note: These forms are regular, but always check for context-specific variations in spoken Russian.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • близок (close or similar, but less specific) - Used when emphasizing resemblance rather than identical twins.
  • парный (paired) - For objects, indicating a set.
• Antonyms:
  • одиночка (singleton) - Refers to something or someone without a pair.
  • непохожий (dissimilar) - Highlights lack of similarity.

Related Phrases:

• Идентичные близнецы - Identical twins (Used in contexts discussing genetics or appearance).
• Разновозрастные двойняшки - Fraternal twins (Refers to twins of different ages or non-identical pairs).
• Близнецы по судьбе - Twins by fate (A metaphorical phrase for people with similar life paths).

Usage Notes:

"Близнец" directly corresponds to the English "twin" in familial contexts and is gender-neutral in plural forms, but singular forms assume masculine default. Use "двойняшка" for a more affectionate or informal tone, especially with children. Be cautious with declensions in sentences; for example, in prepositional phrases, it changes to adapt to case. When choosing between translations, opt for "близнец" in formal writing and "двойняшка" in casual speech to match the English word's versatility.

Common Errors:

• Incorrect declension: Learners often say "близнец" in all cases, e.g., "Я видел близнец" instead of "Я видел близнеца" (accusative). Correct: Use the proper case to avoid grammatical errors; this changes the word's ending based on its role in the sentence.

• Misusing synonyms: Confusing "близнец" with "брат" (brother), leading to "Мой близнец" when meaning just a sibling. Correct: Specify "близнец" only for twins to maintain precision.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, twins (близнецы) are often seen as symbols of good fortune or unity, as reflected in folklore and literature, such as in stories where twins represent mirrored fates. This can add a layer of poetic meaning beyond the literal translation.

Related Concepts:

• семья (family)
• родственники (relatives)
• генетика (genetics)