Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'windfall'

English Word: windfall

Key Russian Translations:

• Неожиданный доход (nʲɪɐˈʐɪdkənnɨj dɐˈxot) - [Informal, Common in financial contexts]
• Манна небесная (ˈmanə nʲɪbʲɪsˈnəjə) - [Informal, Idiomatic, Used for miraculous gains]

Frequency: Medium (The term is encountered in everyday conversations about finances or luck, but not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of compound phrases and contextual nuances, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of Russian grammar.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Неожиданный доход: nʲɪɐˈʐɪdkənnɨj dɐˈxot

Манна небесная: ˈmanə nʲɪbʲɪsˈnəjə

Note on Неожиданный доход: The stress on "нео-жи-дан-ный" can vary slightly in fast speech; pay attention to the soft 'н' sound in "неожиданный" for accurate pronunciation.

Note on Манна небесная: This phrase is often pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable of "манна" to highlight its idiomatic nature.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: An unexpected financial gain or windfall profit

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неожиданный доход - Used in informal or business contexts to describe sudden money, such as from an inheritance or lottery.
• Манна небесная - Applied in more poetic or everyday idiomatic speech for something that feels miraculously provided.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: "После выигрыша в лотерею, он получил неожиданный доход, который позволил ему купить дом."

  English: "After winning the lottery, he received a windfall that allowed him to buy a house."

• Русский: "Эта премия была для неё манной небесной в трудные времена."

  English: "This bonus was a windfall for her during hard times."

• Русский: "Благодаря неожиданному доходу от инвестиций, семья смогла отправиться в отпуск."

  English: "Thanks to the windfall from investments, the family could go on vacation."

• Русский: "Манна небесная в виде наследства изменила его жизнь навсегда."

  English: "The windfall in the form of an inheritance changed his life forever."

• Русский: "Неожиданный доход от продажи акций помог покрыть непредвиденные расходы."

  English: "The windfall from selling stocks helped cover unexpected expenses."

Meaning 2: A metaphorical unexpected benefit or stroke of luck

Translation(s) & Context:

• Неожиданный доход - In broader contexts, like career advancements, to imply an unforeseen positive outcome.
• Манна небесная - Often used metaphorically in literature or casual talk for any fortuitous event.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: "Его продвижение по службе было неожиданным доходом после многих лет труда."

  English: "His promotion was a windfall after years of hard work."

• Русский: "Манна небесная в виде дружеской помощи спасла проект от провала."

  English: "The windfall of friendly help saved the project from failure."

• Русский: "Неожиданный доход от случайной встречи открыл новые возможности."

  English: "The windfall from a chance meeting opened new opportunities."

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Неожиданный доход" is a noun phrase where "доход" (income) is a masculine noun that follows standard Russian declension patterns. "Неожиданный" is an adjective that agrees with the noun in case, number, and gender.

For "доход" (masc. noun, 2nd declension):

"Манна небесная" is an idiomatic phrase and does not inflect as a single unit; "манна" (feminine noun) inflects normally, but in this context, it's often used in fixed form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Случайная удача (slucháynaya udáchá) - More general for any lucky break, often interchangeable in casual speech.
  • Непредвиденная прибыль (nepredvídennaya príbyľ) - Emphasizes unforeseen financial aspects, with a slight formal tone.
• Antonyms:
  • Потеря (poteryá) - Loss, directly contrasting with any gain.
  • Убыток (ubýtok) - Financial loss, specific to economic contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Случайная удача - A stroke of luck; used to describe unforeseen positive events in daily life.
• Небесный дар - Heavenly gift; implies a divine or miraculous windfall, often in literary contexts.
• Внезапный выигрыш - Sudden win; common in gambling or competitive scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Windfall" translates most accurately to "неожиданный доход" in financial contexts, but "манна небесная" adds a cultural or idiomatic flavor, making it ideal for storytelling. English speakers should note that Russian requires adjective agreement, so "неожиданный" changes based on the noun's gender and case. In formal writing, prefer "неожиданный доход" over idiomatic options. When choosing between translations, consider the context: use "манна небесная" for emotional or miraculous tones, and "неожиданный доход" for straightforward economic discussions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Forgetting to decline the adjective "неожиданный" with the noun, e.g., saying "неожиданный дохода" instead of "неожиданного дохода" in genitive case. Correct: Use proper declension as shown in the inflections table. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree in case, number, and gender, which can confuse English learners used to invariable adjectives.
• Mistake: Overusing "манна небесная" in non-idiomatic contexts, e.g., in business reports. Correct: Reserve it for casual or narrative speech; use "неожиданный доход" for professional settings. Explanation: This leads to a mismatch in tone, making the language feel overly dramatic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "манна небесная" draw from biblical references (e.g., manna from heaven in the Exodus story), symbolizing divine provision. This adds a layer of fatalism or spirituality to the concept of a "windfall," reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on resilience and unexpected fortunes amid hardship.

Related Concepts:

• Удача (luck)
• Прибыль (profit)
• Наследство (inheritance)