большая семья
a big family
Я выросла в большой семье, где всегда было шумно.
I grew up in a big family where it was always noisy.
Learning language
Translation language
Noun · A1 · very common
семья
Translation of семья
family
Meaning of семья
Russian
группа людей, связанных кровным родством
English
people related by blood
Transcription and pronunciation of семья
семья́
stress on the 2nd syllable
- Transcription
- [sʲemˈja]
- In Latin letters
- semya
Declension of семья: Russian cases
Green underlined letter = stressed vowel
- Feminine
- Inanimate
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| NominativesubjectЭ́то семья́. — This is the family. | семья́semyá | се́мьиsémi |
| Genitiveof; after «no»нет семьи́ — there is no family | семьи́semí | семе́йseméy |
| Dativeto; towardsк семье́ — towards the family | семье́semyé | се́мьямsémyam |
| Accusativedirect objectви́жу семью́ — I see the family | семью́semyú | се́мьиsémi |
| Instrumentalwith; byс семьёй — with the family | семьёйsemyoy | се́мьямиsémyami |
| Prepositionalabout; in / atо семье́ — about the family | семье́semyé | се́мьяхsémyakh |
The plural is stem-stressed (се́мьи, се́мьям), but the genitive plural is семе́й.
Traps and common mistakes
Моя семья живут or моя семья живёт?
моя семья живёт
семья is singular: семья живёт, семья любит.
Don't say моя семья живут. Say моя семья живёт: the verb is always singular with семья.
Моя семья живёт в небольшом городе.
My family lives in a small town.
Collocations with семья
Common Russian phrases grouped by meaning, with example sentences. Green words open their own page.
9 collocations
What kind of family
дружная семья
a close family
У соседей очень дружная семья, они всё делают вместе.
Our neighbors have a very close family; they do everything together.
- многодетная семьяa family with many children
- молодая семьяa young family
- неполная семьяa single-parent family
Family life
создать семью
start a family
Он хочет сначала встать на ноги, а потом создать семью.
He wants to get on his feet first and then start a family.
в кругу семьи
with the family
Новый год мы всегда встречаем в кругу семьи.
We always see in the New Year with the family.
- содержать семьюsupport a family
- член семьиa family member
Words related to семья
- семе́йныйseméynyyadjective · familyсеме́йное положе́ние = marital status.
- семьяни́нsemyanínnoun · family man
Try translating it yourself
Translate these short sentences from English into Russian using the word you are learning. Then open one possible answer and compare it with yours. This is practice, not a test.
We invited the whole family to the barbecue.
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Мы пригласили всю семью на барбекю.
I call my family every Sunday evening.
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Я звоню своей семье каждое воскресенье вечером.
семья synonyms
Related word breakdowns
What's the difference between семья, родные, семейство, родственники, and близкие
Р
🇷🇺Russian
родные
Warm word for one's family members: мои родные.
С
🇷🇺Russian
семейство
Bookish or joking word for a family group.
Advanced: broader words
Р
🇷🇺Russian
родственники
Relatives: also aunts, cousins, distant relations.
Б
🇷🇺Russian
близкие
Loved ones: family and very close friends.
Learn by topic
семья belongs to the topic "Family Members →". Start with a short set of 7 words so the word is easier to remember in context.
Related words and lists for семья
Questions about this word
What does семья mean?
people related by blood
How do you pronounce семья?
семья is pronounced [sʲemˈja], in Latin letters “semya”.
How is семья used in a sentence?
We invited the whole family to the barbecue. Translation: Мы пригласили всю семью на барбекю.
Is семья part of Family Members vocabulary?
Yes, семья (family) can be learned in the Family Members topic. This semantic link helps build related word lists and topic-based practice.
Is семья part of Family and Relationships vocabulary?
Yes, семья (family) can be learned in the Family and Relationships topic. This semantic link helps build related word lists and topic-based practice.
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