Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'weight'

English Word: weight

Key Russian Translations:

• вес [vʲes] - [Neutral, commonly used in everyday and scientific contexts]
• весовой [vʲɪsəˈvoj] - [Adjective form, Formal, used to describe something related to weight]

Frequency: High (This word and its forms are frequently used in daily conversations, scientific discussions, and health contexts in Russian.)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner level; straightforward for English learners familiar with basic nouns, but the adjective form may vary to B1 for inflection practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вес: [vʲes]

весовой: [vʲɪsəˈvoj]

Note on вес: The initial 'в' is a voiced labiodental fricative, similar to 'v' in English 'victory'. The 'е' is a front mid vowel, pronounced like 'ye' in 'yes'. Stress falls on the first syllable, which is common in Russian nouns.

Note on весовой: This is an adjective with stress on the second syllable; be cautious with the soft sign 'й' which affects the preceding vowel's pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. The force exerted on a mass by gravity (e.g., the weight of an object).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вес - Used in scientific, everyday, or health-related contexts to refer to the gravitational force or mass measurement.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Вес этого рюкзака составляет пять килограммов.

  English: The weight of this backpack is five kilograms.

• Русский: Она всегда следит за своим весом, чтобы оставаться в форме.

  English: She always monitors her weight to stay in shape.

• Русский: В лаборатории мы измеряем вес образца с помощью точных весов.

  English: In the lab, we measure the weight of the sample using precise scales.

• Русский: Из-за гравитации вес на Луне меньше, чем на Земле.

  English: Due to gravity, weight on the Moon is less than on Earth.

2. Figurative or metaphorical weight (e.g., importance or burden).

Translation(s) & Context:

• вес - Used metaphorically in informal or literary contexts to imply significance or emotional burden.
• весовой - Less common, but can describe something with weighted importance.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Его слова имеют большой вес в этой дискуссии.

  English: His words carry great weight in this discussion.

• Русский: Финансовый вес семьи увеличился после удачной инвестиции.

  English: The financial weight of the family increased after a successful investment.

• Русский: Эмоциональный вес потери тяжело отразился на ней.

  English: The emotional weight of the loss had a heavy impact on her.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"вес" is a masculine noun in the third declension. It follows standard Russian noun inflections for cases and numbers. "весовой" is an adjective that agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.

For "весовой" (adjective): It changes based on the noun, e.g., весовой контроль (nominative masculine), весовой контролью (instrumental). This follows regular adjective patterns without irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • масса (mass) - Often interchangeable in scientific contexts, but more precise for physical mass.
  • тяжесть (heaviness) - Used for the sensation of weight, especially in everyday language.
• Antonyms:
  • лёгкость (lightness) - Refers to the opposite of weight or burden.
  • невесомость (weightlessness) - Specifically for the absence of gravity's effect.

Related Phrases:

• лишний вес - Excess weight; often used in health and fitness contexts.
• вес в кг - Weight in kg; a common phrase for measurements.
• нормальный вес - Normal weight; refers to healthy body weight standards.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "вес" directly corresponds to the English "weight" in most contexts, but English speakers should note that it can imply both physical mass and metaphorical importance. Use "вес" in neutral or formal settings; for adjectives, pair it with "весовой" to describe related attributes. Be mindful of case agreements, as Russian requires nouns to change based on their role in the sentence. When multiple translations exist, choose "вес" for general use and "масса" for scientific precision.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "вес" without proper case inflection, e.g., saying "Я имею вес пять кг" instead of "Я имею вес в пять кг" (correct: "Мой вес составляет пять кг").
  Explanation: Russian requires prepositions or context to indicate measurement, unlike English. Correct usage: Always check the genitive case for measurements.
• Mistake: Confusing "вес" with "масса" in scientific contexts, e.g., using "вес" when "масса" is more accurate for invariant mass.
  Explanation: In physics, "масса" refers to mass without gravity, while "вес" includes gravitational force. English learners often overuse "вес" due to direct translation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussions around "вес" (weight) often tie into health and beauty standards, influenced by historical contexts like Soviet-era physical fitness programs. For instance, phrases like "лишний вес" are commonly used in media to promote wellness, reflecting a cultural emphasis on practicality and resilience rather than idealized body images.

Related Concepts:

• гравитация (gravity)
• масса (mass)
• баланс (balance)