If you’re learning Russian or planning to visit Russia, knowing how to say decimals in Russian is essential. Whether you need to talk about money, measurements, or any other numerical values, this guide will provide you with both the formal and informal ways to express decimals in Russian. We’ll also discuss any regional variations that may exist. So, let’s dive in and explore the wonderful world of Russian decimals!
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Formal Ways to Express Decimals in Russian
In formal settings or when you need to express decimals with utmost precision, you can follow these guidelines:
1. The “Separate Thousands and Decimals” Method
In this method, Russian decimals are expressed by separating thousands and decimals with a comma (,).
Example: 3,14159 – read as “три целых, четыре десятых, одна сотая, пятьдесят девятых.”
Breaking it down, “три целых” means “three whole,” “четыре десятых” means “four tenths,” “одна сотая” means “one hundredth,” and “пятьдесят девятых” means “fifty-ninths.”
2. The “Fractional Number” Method
Another formal way to express decimals is by using the word “дробь” (fraction) after the whole number and then stating the fraction.
Example: 2 + 3/4 = 2 целых и 3 дроби четвертых – read as “две целых и три дроби четвертых.”
Here, “две целых” means “two whole” and “три дроби четвертых” means “three fourths.”
Informal Ways to Express Decimals in Russian
Russian language, like any other, has informal ways to express decimals. These are commonly used in everyday conversations, and even though they might not be suitable for formal settings, they are worth knowing:
1. The “Point” Method
The most common way to express decimals informally is by using the decimal point (.) just like in English. However, it is important to note that Russian uses a comma for thousands separation instead of a point.
Example: 2.5 – read as “два с половиной.”
In this case, “два” means “two,” and “с половиной” means “and a half.”
2. The “Simple Fraction” Method
Another way to express decimals informally is by stating the whole number and the fraction separately.
Example: 3.75 – read as “три целых и три четверти.”
Here, “три целых” means “three whole” and “три четверти” means “three quarters.”
Regional Variations
Russian is widely spoken across various regions, and while the above methods are understood universally, some regional variations exist. Here are a few examples:
1. St. Petersburg Variation
In St. Petersburg, instead of using “четверть” (quarter), they commonly use the word “одна четвёртая” (one fourth) or “одна четвёртая доля” (one fourth part).
2. Southern Russia Variation
In some southern regions of Russia, especially in the Caucasus, they use the term “процент” (percent) to express decimals, which is influenced by their cultural practices.
Additional Tips for Saying Decimals in Russian
To help you further, here are some additional tips when expressing decimals in Russian:
- Remember to pronounce the decimal point (.) as “и” (and). For example, 3.25 should be read as “три и двадцать пять.”
- When expressing tenths (десятые), use the feminine form of the ordinal number. For example, “пятнадцать десятых” (fifteen tenths).
- If you’re unsure how to say a particular decimal, you can always resort to the formal method by separating thousands and decimals with a comma.
Now that you have a comprehensive understanding of how to say decimals in Russian, you’ll be able to confidently handle conversations involving numerical values in various contexts. Remember to practice regularly, as it will help you improve your fluency and accuracy with expressing decimals. Enjoy your journey into the fascinating world of the Russian language!
