Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'who'

English Word: who

Key Russian Translations:

• кто [kto] - [Informal, Interrogative for persons]

Frequency: High (Very commonly used in everyday Russian conversations and written language).

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level; straightforward for English speakers as it functions similarly to interrogative pronouns in English).

Pronunciation (Russian):

кто: /ktɔ/ (The 'k' is unaspirated, and the 'o' is an open back vowel, similar to the 'o' in "cot" in American English).

Note on кто: Be mindful of the hard 't' sound, which can be challenging for speakers of languages with aspirated stops. In fast speech, it may blend with surrounding sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Interrogative pronoun for identifying persons

Translation(s) & Context:

• кто - Used in questions to ask about the identity of a person, in informal or formal settings, such as daily conversations or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Кто ты? (Who are you?)

  This example shows "кто" in a simple interrogative sentence for personal introduction, commonly used in casual meetings.

• Кто звонит? (Who is calling?)

  Here, "кто" is used in a phone conversation context, which is a standard phrase when answering calls in Russian culture.

• Кто написал эту книгу? (Who wrote this book?)

  This demonstrates "кто" in a question about authorship, applicable in literary or educational discussions.

• Кто из вас знает ответ? (Who among you knows the answer?)

  This example illustrates "кто" in a group setting, such as a classroom or meeting, to single out individuals.

• Кто будет на вечеринке? (Who will be at the party?)

  Used to inquire about attendees in social planning, highlighting its role in everyday informal planning.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The word "кто" is an interrogative pronoun in Russian and does not undergo typical inflections for case, number, or gender. It remains invariant in all contexts, which simplifies its use compared to nouns or adjectives.

For example:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Который (which one, in relative clauses) - Often used in more formal or descriptive contexts, but not a direct synonym.
  • Кого (genitive form, but not exact) - Used in specific cases like "кого" for "whom," with a subtle difference in object usage.
• Antonyms:
  • None direct, as "кто" is an interrogative. However, in contrast, "что" (what) could be seen as contextually opposite when asking about things rather than people.

Related Phrases:

• Кто-нибудь (Anybody) - Used to express uncertainty or possibility in questions, e.g., in informal inquiries.
• Кто-то (Someone) - A common phrase for indefinite references, often in narratives.
• Кто из них (Who among them) - Implies selection from a group, with a brief explanation: Used in stories or group discussions to specify individuals.

Usage Notes:

"Кто" directly corresponds to the English "who" as an interrogative pronoun for persons, making it intuitive for English learners. However, it is only used for people and not for things (use "что" for that). In formal writing, it pairs well with verbs in various tenses, but in spoken Russian, it's flexible across informal and formal domains. When choosing between translations, stick with "кто" for straightforward questions; avoid overusing it in relative clauses where "который" might be more appropriate.

• Grammar note: "Кто" does not change form, so it's easy to integrate into sentences without worrying about agreement.
• Context tip: In Russian culture, "Кто?" is a common opener in phone calls, similar to English, but it can sound abrupt if not softened with politeness.

Common Errors:

One common mistake for English learners is confusing "кто" (who) with "что" (what), especially in questions about objects. For example:

• Incorrect: Кто это? (when meaning "What is this?" – This implies "Who is this?" which is wrong for objects.)
• Correct: Что это? (What is this?)
• Explanation: Use "кто" exclusively for people to avoid semantic errors; mixing them can lead to confusion in communication.
• Another error: Omitting "кто" in compound sentences, e.g., saying "Ты?" instead of "Кто ты?" – Always include it for clarity in interrogatives.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, questions starting with "Кто?" are prevalent in everyday interactions, such as introductions or inquiries about social events. This reflects a direct communication style, but in formal settings, it's often preceded by polite phrases like "Извините" (Excuse me) to soften the tone, highlighting the importance of context in Russian etiquette.

Related Concepts:

• Что (what)
• Какой (which)
• Где (where)