Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'vacation'

English Word: vacation

Key Russian Translations:

• Отпуск (/ɐtˈpʊsk/) - [Formal, used for work-related leave]
• Каникулы (/kəˈnʲikʊlɨ/) - [Informal, typically for school or academic breaks]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations, professional contexts, and media)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and contexts; for 'Каникулы', it may be easier at A2 level due to its association with student life)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Отпуск: /ɐtˈpʊsk/

Note on Отпуск: The stress falls on the second syllable ('pʊsk'). Be mindful of the soft 'т' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its dental pronunciation.

Каникулы: /kəˈnʲikʊlɨ/

Note on Каникулы: The word has a palatalized 'нʲ' sound, and the final 'ы' is a reduced vowel; it's often pronounced more fluidly in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Vacation as a period of rest from work or school

Translation(s) & Context:

• Отпуск - Used in formal or professional settings, such as employee leave or annual holidays, often implying paid time off.
• Каникулы - Applied to educational breaks, like summer or winter holidays for students, and can be more casual in everyday talk.

Usage Examples:

• Я планирую взять отпуск в июле, чтобы поехать в горы.

  I'm planning to take a vacation in July to go to the mountains.

• Её каникулы начинаются на следующей неделе, так что она уедет из города.

  Her vacation starts next week, so she'll leave the city.

• После долгого года работы, наконец, пришло время для отпуска.

  After a long year of work, it's finally time for vacation.

• Дети с нетерпением ждут летних каникул, чтобы играть на улице.

  Kids are eagerly waiting for summer vacation to play outside.

• Мой отпуск был прерван из-за срочной работы, но я надеюсь продолжить позже.

  My vacation was interrupted due to urgent work, but I hope to continue it later.

Vacation as a break for leisure or travel

Translation(s) & Context:

• Отпуск - Often paired with travel plans, emphasizing relaxation from daily routines.
• Каникулы - Frequently used in family or youth contexts, like holiday trips.

Usage Examples:

• Во время отпуска мы посетим несколько европейских стран.

  During vacation, we'll visit several European countries.

• Его каникулы прошли на пляже, где он научился серфингу.

  His vacation was spent at the beach, where he learned surfing.

• Отпуск в России часто включает поездки на дачу или в национальные парки.

  Vacation in Russia often involves trips to a dacha or national parks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Отпуск' and 'Каникулы' are nouns. 'Отпуск' is a masculine noun of the second declension, which follows regular patterns. 'Каникулы' is a plural-only noun (feminine plural) and does not inflect for singular forms.

Note: 'Отпуск' changes regularly across cases, while 'Каникулы' is invariant in plural form and does not have singular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Праздник (prazdnik) - More general for holidays, but less formal than отпуск; often implies celebration.
  • Выходные (výkhodnyye) - For weekends or short breaks, differing from longer vacations.
• Antonyms:
  • Работа (rabota) - Work, directly contrasting with rest periods.
  • Дежурство (dezhurstvo) - Duty or on-call shifts, emphasizing obligation over leisure.

Related Phrases:

• Летний отпуск (Letniy otpusk) - Summer vacation; refers to seasonal breaks for relaxation.
• Школьные каникулы (Shkol'nyye kanikuly) - School holidays; commonly used for academic terms.
• Платный отпуск (Platnyy otpusk) - Paid vacation; highlights employment benefits.
• Отпуск по уходу за ребенком (Otpusk po ukhodu za rebenkom) - Parental leave; a specific type of vacation for childcare.

Usage Notes:

'Отпуск' is the most direct equivalent to 'vacation' in professional contexts, such as in job discussions, and is often used with verbs like 'взять' (to take). 'Каникулы' is better for educational or youthful scenarios. English speakers should note that Russian vacations can imply more structured time off, like state-mandated holidays. When choosing between translations, consider the formality: use 'отпуск' for work-related talks and 'каникулы' for casual or family settings. Grammatically, always check noun cases for correct sentence flow, e.g., 'в отпуске' (on vacation).

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'отпуск' with 'праздник': English learners might use 'праздник' for any break, but it's more for festivals. Correct: "Я в отпуске" (I'm on vacation) vs. Error: "Я в празднике" (incorrect, implies a celebration).
• Overlooking plural forms: For 'каникулы', it's always plural, so avoid singular usage like "одна каникула" (wrong); instead, say "каникулы" in all contexts.
• Misplacing stress in pronunciation: Stressing the wrong syllable in 'отпуск' can lead to misunderstandings; practice with native audio to avoid this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'отпуск' often involves traveling to a dacha (country house) or taking advantage of long summer breaks, reflecting the importance of nature and family time. 'Каникулы' for students might include traditional activities like reading or outdoor camps, influenced by Soviet-era emphasis on structured leisure for youth development.

Related Concepts:

• Путешествие (Travel)
• Отдых (Rest)
• Дача (Country house or vacation home)
• Пляжный сезон (Beach season)