Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'unmarried'

English Word: unmarried

Key Russian Translations:

• незамужняя /nʲɪzɐˈmuʐnəjə/ - [Formal, Feminine]
• неженатый /nʲɪʐɨˈnatɨj/ - [Formal, Masculine]
• холостой /xɐlɐˈstoɨj/ - [Informal, Masculine]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, legal documents, and social contexts, but not as high-frequency as basic adjectives like "big" or "small").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of Russian gender agreement and adjective inflections, which can be challenging for beginners, but straightforward with practice).

Pronunciation (Russian):

незамужняя: /nʲɪzɐˈmuʐnəjə/

неженатый: /nʲɪʐɨˈnatɨj/

холостой: /xɐlɐˈstoɨj/

Note on незамужняя: The stress falls on the third syllable ("mu"), and the soft sign (ь) affects the preceding consonant's pronunciation, making it softer—a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Note on неженатый: Pay attention to the palatalized 'n' sound (/nʲ/), which is softer than in English; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Note on холостой: The 'kh' sound (/x/) is guttural, similar to the Scottish "loch"—a frequent difficulty for non-Slavic language learners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state of not being married (general meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• незамужняя - Used for women in formal or official contexts, such as legal forms or biographical descriptions.
• неженатый - Applied to men in similar formal settings, emphasizing the absence of marriage.
• холостой - More casual, often used for men in everyday speech, implying single status without negative connotations.

Usage Examples:

• Она незамужняя и наслаждается свободой. (Ona nezamuzhnyaya i naslazhdayetsya svobodoy.)

  She is unmarried and enjoys her freedom. (This example shows the adjective in a nominative case, describing a woman's personal life.)

• Мой брат неженатый, но он ищет серьёзные отношения. (Moy brat nezhenatyi, no on ishchet seryoznye otnosheniya.)

  My brother is unmarried, but he is looking for serious relationships. (Illustrates use in a family context, with the adjective agreeing in gender and case.)

• В анкете указано, что он холостой. (V ankete ukazano, chto on kholostoy.)

  It is stated in the questionnaire that he is unmarried. (Demonstrates informal usage in administrative or survey contexts.)

• Многие незамужние женщины в России предпочитают карьеру семье. (Mnogie nezamuzhnie zhenshchiny v Rossii predpochitayut kareru semye.)

  Many unmarried women in Russia prefer career over family. (Shows plural form and broader societal discussion.)

• Он остался неженатым после развода. (On ostalsya nezhenatym posle razvoda.)

  He remained unmarried after the divorce. (Highlights usage in narrative contexts involving life changes.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

These translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard adjective declension patterns, with some irregularities due to their roots. Below is a table for the key forms of "незамужняя" (feminine) and "неженатый" (masculine). "Холостой" follows similar patterns but is less formal.

Note: These adjectives do not change in a completely irregular way but must agree with the noun they modify. "Холостой" has similar inflections but is invariant in some dialects for emphasis.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • одинокий (odinochiy) - Implies loneliness, not just unmarried status; often used in emotional contexts.
  • свободный (svobodnyy) - More general, meaning "free" or "single," with a positive connotation of availability.
• Antonyms:
  • женатый (zhenatyi) - Directly opposite for men, meaning "married."
  • замужняя (zamuzhnyaya) - Opposite for women, meaning "married."

Related Phrases:

• Не в браке (Ne v brake) - Meaning: Not in marriage; used in formal or legal contexts to describe unmarried status.
• Холостяк по жизни (Kholostyak po zhizni) - Meaning: A lifelong bachelor; an idiomatic phrase implying a deliberate choice to remain unmarried.
• Незамужняя женщина (Nezamuzhnyaya zhenshchina) - Meaning: An unmarried woman; a common phrase in social or demographic discussions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, translations for "unmarried" must align with the subject's gender, which is a key grammatical feature unlike in English. For example, use "незамужняя" for females and "неженатый" for males in formal writing. "Холостой" is more colloquial and often carries a neutral or slightly humorous tone, so it's best for informal conversations. When choosing between translations, consider the context: formal documents prefer the "не-" prefixed forms for precision. Additionally, these adjectives must inflect to match the case of the sentence, which can affect word endings in complex sentences.

Common Errors:

• Using the masculine form for feminine subjects, e.g., saying "Она неженатый" instead of "Она незамужняя." Correct: "Она незамужняя." Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in gender; this error stems from English's gender-neutral structure and can make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
• Confusing inflections, such as using "незамужную" (accusative) in a nominative context, e.g., "Она незамужную." Correct: "Она незамужняя." Explanation: Always check the case based on the sentence's structure to avoid sounding unnatural.
• Overusing "холостой" in formal settings, which might imply informality or irony. Correct: Use "неженатый" in official contexts. Explanation: This can lead to misunderstandings about tone or register.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, marital status like "unmarried" often carries social implications, especially for women. Terms like "незамужняя" can sometimes evoke traditional expectations around family and marriage, rooted in historical norms where marriage was a key life milestone. However, in modern contexts, these words are used more neutrally, reflecting changing attitudes toward independence and career focus.

Related Concepts:

• брак (brak) - Marriage
• развод (razvod) - Divorce
• одинокий (odinochiy) - Lonely