Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'young'

English Word: young

Key Russian Translations:

• молодой [mɐˈlodəj] - [Informal/Formal, Commonly used for people or things in general contexts]
• юный [ˈjunɨj] - [Formal, Often used for children, youth, or in poetic/literary contexts]

Frequency: High (This word and its variants are frequently encountered in everyday Russian speech, media, and literature.)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary) for 'молодой'; B1 (Intermediate) for 'юный', as the latter may require understanding of nuanced contexts in Russian grammar.

Pronunciation (Russian):

молодой: [mɐˈlodəj]

юный: [ˈjunɨj]

Note on молодой: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Note on юный: Pronounced with a palatalized 'й' at the end; this word often appears in formal or literary Russian and has a more emphatic tone.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Describing someone or something as not old, full of youth or vitality (adjective, referring to age or freshness).

Translation(s) & Context:

• молодой - Used in everyday conversations, formal writing, or descriptions of people, animals, or ideas; informal to formal contexts, e.g., in social or professional settings.
• юный - Applied to children, adolescents, or in poetic contexts; more formal and less common in casual speech, often implying innocence or early stages.

Usage Examples:

• Мой друг всё ещё молодой и полон энергии. (My friend is still young and full of energy.)

  Translation: My friend is still young and full of energy. (This example shows 'молодой' in a simple descriptive sentence about a person.)

• Эта юная художница уже выиграла несколько наград. (This young artist has already won several awards.)

  Translation: This young artist has already won several awards. (Here, 'юный' emphasizes youth in a formal or artistic context.)

• В молодом возрасте люди часто совершают ошибки. (At a young age, people often make mistakes.)

  Translation: At a young age, people often make mistakes. (Demonstrates 'молодой' in a general, reflective context.)

• Юные пионеры всегда были символом надежды в советской культуре. (Young pioneers were always a symbol of hope in Soviet culture.)

  Translation: Young pioneers were always a symbol of hope in Soviet culture. (Illustrates 'юный' in a historical or cultural phrase.)

• Молодой вино имеет свежий вкус, в отличие от выдержанного. (Young wine has a fresh taste, unlike aged wine.)

  Translation: Young wine has a fresh taste, unlike aged wine. (Shows 'молодой' applied to objects, not just people.)

Meaning 2: Referring to youth as a group or period (can imply a collective noun or abstract concept).

Translation(s) & Context:

• молодёжь [mɐˈlodʲoʂʲ] - Used as a noun for young people as a group; informal to formal, especially in social, political, or demographic discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Молодёжь сегодня активно использует социальные сети. (Youth today actively use social media.)

  Translation: Youth today actively use social media. (This highlights 'молодёжь' in a modern, collective context.)

• В молодёжи видят будущее нации. (In the youth, they see the future of the nation.)

  Translation: In the youth, they see the future of the nation. (Demonstrates 'молодёжь' in an inspirational or societal phrase.)

• Молодёжь часто протестует против несправедливости. (Youth often protest against injustice.)

  Translation: Youth often protest against injustice. (Shows 'молодёжь' in an active, protest-related context.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'молодой' (adjective), it follows the standard pattern of Russian adjectives, which decline based on gender, number, and case. It is a first-declension adjective and changes accordingly.

For 'юный', it follows a similar adjectival declension pattern as above.

For 'молодёжь' (noun, feminine), it is an indeclinable noun in most cases but can show plural forms in certain contexts: Nominative: молодёжь; Genitive: молодёжи; etc. It remains relatively stable.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • нестарый (neskary) - Less formal, implies not old but not necessarily youthful; used in everyday speech.
  • свежий (svyezhiy) - When referring to ideas or things, implying freshness rather than age.
• Antonyms:
  • старый (stary) - Directly opposite, meaning old or aged.
  • возрастной (vozrastnoy) - More formal, relating to age in a broader sense.

Related Phrases:

• Молодой человек (Molodoy chelovek) - Meaning: Young man; used in formal introductions or descriptions.
• Юная любовь (Yunaya lyubov) - Meaning: Young love; often in romantic or literary contexts, implying puppy love.
• Молодёжный сленг (Molodyozhnyy slang) - Meaning: Youth slang; refers to informal language used by young people.

Usage Notes:

'Молодой' is the most direct equivalent to 'young' in English and can be used flexibly across contexts, but 'юный' carries a more poetic or childlike connotation, so choose based on nuance. In Russian, adjectives like these must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which differs from English. For example, use 'молодая' for feminine nouns. Be mindful of formal vs. informal settings; 'молодой' works in both, while 'юный' is better for written or elevated speech.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'молодой' without proper declension, e.g., saying "молодой женщина" instead of "молодая женщина". Correct: Ensure gender agreement; explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, so this mistake can make sentences sound ungrammatical.

• Error: Confusing 'юный' with 'молодой' in casual speech, e.g., using 'юный' for adults. Correct: Use 'юный' only for children or in literary contexts; explanation: Overgeneralizing can lead to awkward phrasing, as 'юный' implies a specific stage of youth.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'молодой' and 'юный' often evoke themes of vitality and potential, especially in literature and Soviet-era propaganda (e.g., 'юные пионеры' as symbols of the future). They can carry positive connotations of innovation, but in modern contexts, they might highlight generational divides, such as in discussions about youth culture versus tradition.

Related Concepts:

• возраст (vozrast) - Age
• подросток (podrostok) - Teenager
• зрелый (zrelyy) - Mature