Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'womanhood'

English Word: womanhood

Key Russian Translations:

• Женственность (ʐɛnskəˈnostʲ) - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (This term is commonly used in literary, philosophical, or formal discussions but less in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of abstract concepts and nominal inflections in Russian, suitable for learners with a solid grasp of vocabulary and grammar.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Женственность: ʐɛnskəˈnostʲ

Note on Женственность: The initial 'Ж' is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English, but more guttural. Stress falls on the third syllable, which can be challenging for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The state or condition of being a woman, often implying maturity, femininity, or social roles.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Женственность - Used in formal or philosophical contexts to discuss feminine qualities or the essence of womanhood, such as in literature or gender studies.

Usage Examples:

• Её женственность проявляется в элегантности и мудрости, накопленной за годы.

  Her womanhood is evident in her elegance and wisdom accumulated over the years.

• В романе автор исследует тему женственности в современном обществе.

  In the novel, the author explores the theme of womanhood in modern society.

• Женственность не сводится только к физическим атрибутам; это состояние души.

  Womanhood is not limited to physical attributes; it is a state of the soul.

• Общество часто ожидает от женщин проявления традиционной женственности.

  Society often expects women to exhibit traditional womanhood.

• Её путь к женственности был полон вызовов и открытий.

  Her journey to womanhood was full of challenges and discoveries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Женственность is a feminine abstract noun in Russian, derived from the adjective "женский" (feminine). It follows the standard first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -ость. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: This noun is invariable in terms of gender but changes with case and number as shown. It does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Женскость (zhenskost') - Similar to женственность but slightly more neutral, often used in scientific or psychological contexts.
  • Феминность (feminost') - A more modern term, borrowed from English, emphasizing feminist aspects.
• Antonyms:
  • Мужскость (muzhskost') - Masculinity, contrasting the essence of manhood.
  • Нейтральность (neytral'nost') - Neutrality, in gender-related discussions.

Related Phrases:

• Женская эмансипация - Women's emancipation; a phrase used in historical or social contexts to discuss gender equality.
• Идеалы женственности - Ideals of womanhood; often appears in cultural or literary analyses.
• Путь к женственности - Path to womanhood; refers to personal growth or rites of passage.

Usage Notes:

Женственность directly corresponds to the English "womanhood" as an abstract concept, but it carries a more poetic or philosophical connotation in Russian. It is typically used in formal writing, literature, or discussions on gender roles, rather than everyday speech. When choosing between synonyms like женскость, opt for женственность if emphasizing emotional or cultural aspects. Be mindful of grammatical agreement: it must align with feminine nouns in sentences. For example, in plural forms, it can refer to multiple instances or broader societal concepts.

Common Errors:

• Confusing it with "женщина" (woman): Learners might incorrectly use "женщина" to mean womanhood, but "женщина" is a concrete noun for an individual woman. Error: "Её женщина очень сильная" (Her woman is very strong). Correct: "Её женственность очень сильная" (Her womanhood is very strong). Explanation: "Женственность" is abstract and requires proper contextual usage to avoid literal interpretations.

• Improper inflection: Forgetting case changes, e.g., using nominative in all contexts. Error: "О женственность" instead of "О женственности" in genitive contexts. Correct: Always adjust for case as per the table above. Explanation: Russian nouns inflect based on sentence role, so practice with examples to master this.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "женственность" often evokes traditional ideals of femininity tied to historical literature like Tolstoy's works, where women are portrayed with grace and resilience. However, in contemporary contexts, it intersects with feminist discourse, reflecting evolving gender norms in post-Soviet society. This term can carry subtle connotations of societal expectations, making it a rich topic for cultural analysis.

Related Concepts:

• Феминизм (feminism)
• Гендерные роли (gender roles)
• Материнство (motherhood)