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B2 adjective 7 min read

совершеннолетний

Examples
Explanation совершеннолетний in your Level:
At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn Russian. The word совершеннолетний is very long and might look scary! It has 16 letters. But don't worry, you don't need to use it perfectly right now. You just need to know what it means when you see it. It means 'adult' or someone who is 18 years old or older. You might see this word on signs in stores. If you want to buy something like a lottery ticket, the sign will say this word. It tells you that only adults can buy it. You can think of the shorter word 'взрослый', which also means adult. For now, just practice recognizing the shape of the word. If you see 'совершеннолетний', think 'Ah, this means 18+!'. You can practice saying it slowly: so-ver-shen-no-let-niy. It is a good word to know if you travel to Russia and see warning signs or rules on doors. You might not write it often, but reading it is very useful for a beginner.
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At the A2 level, you are building more vocabulary. The word совершеннолетний is an adjective. It means 'of age' or 'adult'. In Russia, this means being 18 years old. You will start to use this word in simple sentences. For example, you can say 'Я совершеннолетний' (I am an adult) if you are a man, or 'Я совершеннолетняя' if you are a woman. You will also learn its opposite: несовершеннолетний (underage). This is very helpful when talking about your family. You can say 'Мой брат уже совершеннолетний' (My brother is already of age) or 'Моя сестра несовершеннолетняя' (My sister is underage). At this level, pay attention to the gender endings. Remember that it ends in -ий, not -ый, because it is a soft adjective. You might hear this word in basic conversations about rules, like 'Can I go to the club?' and the answer might be 'Yes, if you are совершеннолетний'. Keep practicing the pronunciation and the basic masculine and feminine forms.
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At the B1 level, you can handle more complex grammar and longer conversations. The word совершеннолетний becomes very useful when discussing society, laws, and personal milestones. You know that it means reaching the legal age of majority. At this stage, you should practice using it in different cases. For example, in the instrumental case: 'Он стал совершеннолетним' (He became an adult). You will also start using the plural form: 'совершеннолетние' to talk about people in general. For example, 'Все совершеннолетние могут голосовать' (All adults can vote). You can start comparing it with synonyms like 'взрослый'. Remember that 'взрослый' is more about general adulthood, while 'совершеннолетний' is strictly about the legal age of 18. You might read short news articles or watch videos where they talk about rights and responsibilities. Understanding this word helps you grasp the cultural importance of turning 18 in Russia, which is a big celebration. Focus on spelling it correctly with the double 'н'.
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At the B2 level, your Russian is quite advanced, and you can understand nuances. The word совершеннолетний is firmly in your active vocabulary. You understand its etymology: a combination of 'совершенный' (complete) and 'лета' (years). You use it effortlessly in abstract discussions about legal rights, civic duties, and societal norms. You can comfortably decline it in all cases, recognizing it as a substantive adjective when used as a noun (e.g., 'права совершеннолетних' - the rights of adults). You use it in formal writing, such as essays about the legal drinking age or voting rights. You also understand related terms like 'совершеннолетие' (the noun for 'majority'). You can easily switch between 'взрослый' for informal maturity and 'совершеннолетний' for strict legal contexts. You are aware of the common mistakes, such as forgetting the double 'н' or using hard endings, and you avoid them. You can debate topics like 'Should the age of majority be raised?' using this exact terminology with confidence.
At the C1 level, you possess near-native fluency. You use совершеннолетний with complete naturalness in highly formal, legal, and academic contexts. You understand its precise legal definitions in the Russian Civil Code (Гражданский кодекс), where 'совершеннолетие' is strictly defined as reaching 18 years of age, granting full 'дееспособность' (legal capacity). You can read complex legal documents, contracts, and terms of service where this word appears frequently. You can also use it stylistically in literature or journalism to emphasize legal boundaries versus emotional maturity. You might write complex sentences like 'Несмотря на то, что юридически он является совершеннолетним, его поступки говорят об обратном' (Despite being legally of age, his actions suggest otherwise). You effortlessly navigate all declensions, including complex plural forms in oblique cases. You understand the historical context of the word and how the concept of the age of majority has evolved in Russian society. Your usage is indistinguishable from an educated native speaker.
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At the C2 level, your mastery of the Russian language is absolute. The word совершеннолетний is just one piece of your vast lexical repertoire. You can dissect its morphological structure and explain its historical evolution to other learners. You are comfortable with archaic or highly specialized variations of the root words. In legal discourse, you can distinguish between 'эмансипация' (emancipation of a minor) and standard 'совершеннолетие'. You can read classic Russian literature and understand how the concept of coming of age was expressed before modern legal definitions were established. You can write comprehensive academic papers on sociology or law using this term extensively without repetition, skillfully employing synonyms, participles (достигший совершеннолетия), and related idiomatic expressions. You understand the deepest cultural nuances, such as the specific societal expectations placed upon a 'совершеннолетний гражданин' in contemporary Russia compared to other nations, and can articulate these differences eloquently in spontaneous, high-level debates.
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Examples
The Russian word совершеннолетний is an incredibly important adjective that translates to 'of age', 'adult', or 'mature' in English. It is a compound word derived from 'совершенный' meaning perfect, complete, or absolute, and 'лета' meaning years or summers. Therefore, it literally means someone who has completed their required years. In Russian society, this word is legally and culturally significant because it denotes the transition from childhood to adulthood, which typically occurs at the age of eighteen.
Legal Age
In Russia, the legal age of majority is eighteen, at which point a person is legally considered совершеннолетний.

Вчера мой брат стал совершеннолетний.

When people use this word, they are usually referring to legal rights, such as the ability to vote, buy alcohol, purchase cigarettes, or sign binding contracts. It is used in formal documents, news reports, and everyday conversations when discussing someone's eligibility for adult activities. You will often hear it in stores when a cashier asks for identification, or in legal contexts where minors are distinguished from adults.
Antonym Context
The opposite is несовершеннолетний, which means minor or underage.

Этот фильм только для совершеннолетний зрителей.

The concept of being an adult is universal, but the specific legal boundaries can vary. In Russia, turning eighteen is a major milestone celebrated with family and friends, marking the moment one becomes completely responsible for their own actions under the law.

Он уже совершеннолетний и может голосовать.

Furthermore, the adjective must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For a female, it is совершеннолетняя; for plural, совершеннолетние. The root 'лет' is also found in many other age-related words, such as малолетний (young, underage) or многолетний (perennial, many years old).
Grammar Rule
Adjectives ending in -ний are soft-stem adjectives, so they take soft endings in declensions.

Мы пригласили всех совершеннолетний гостей.

Knowing this word is crucial for navigating Russian society, understanding news broadcasts, reading legal notices, and even watching movies where age restrictions are mentioned.

Теперь ты совершеннолетний, поздравляю!

By mastering this vocabulary, learners can more accurately describe people's life stages and understand the societal expectations placed upon adults in the Russian-speaking world.
Using совершеннолетний correctly requires a solid understanding of Russian adjective declension, particularly the soft-stem declension pattern. Because it ends in -ний, the endings will feature soft vowels like -ее, -яя, and -ие instead of the hard vowels found in words ending in -ный.
Masculine Form
The masculine nominative is совершеннолетний. Used for men or masculine nouns.

Мой сын теперь совершеннолетний.

You can use it both attributively (before a noun) and predicatively (after the verb 'to be', which is often omitted in the present tense). When used attributively, it describes the noun directly, such as 'совершеннолетний гражданин' (an adult citizen).
Feminine Form
The feminine nominative is совершеннолетняя. Used for women or feminine nouns.

Она уже совершеннолетняя девушка.

It is also very common to use the plural form 'совершеннолетние' when talking about groups of adults, especially in the context of rules, regulations, or demographics. For example, 'Только совершеннолетние могут участвовать в лотерее' means 'Only adults can participate in the lottery.'

Все совершеннолетние граждане имеют право голоса.

Instrumental Case
Often used with the verb стать (to become), requiring the instrumental case: стать совершеннолетним.
In negative contexts, the prefix 'не-' is added directly to the word to form 'несовершеннолетний', which follows the exact same grammatical rules.

Он стал совершеннолетний в прошлом году.

When writing complex sentences, you might encounter it in the genitive case, such as 'достижение совершеннолетнего возраста' (reaching the age of majority). This shows the versatility of the word across different syntactic structures.

Для совершеннолетний вход свободный.

Practice declining this adjective with various nouns to build muscle memory for soft-stem endings, which are less common than hard-stem endings but equally important for fluency.
The word совершеннолетний is ubiquitous in Russian daily life, particularly in situations involving commerce, law, and entertainment. One of the most common places you will hear or read this word is at the supermarket or convenience store.
Retail Context
Cashiers frequently ask for passports to verify if a customer is of age before selling restricted goods.

Вы уже совершеннолетний? Покажите паспорт.

In Russia, the sale of alcohol and tobacco is strictly regulated, and signs stating that these products are only for adults are prominently displayed. Another frequent context is the entertainment industry. Movies, video games, and certain events have age ratings. If an event is rated 18+, the promotional materials will often specify that entry is restricted to adults.
Entertainment
Clubs and late-night venues strictly enforce entry for adults only.

В этот клуб пускают только совершеннолетний.

You will also hear this word frequently in legal and bureaucratic settings. When applying for a driver's license, opening a bank account, or signing a lease, the individual must be of legal age.

Кредит выдается только совершеннолетний лицам.

News broadcasts use the term when discussing demographics, crime, or social policies, often distinguishing between adult offenders and juvenile delinquents (несовершеннолетние).
Family Discussions
Parents often say 'when you are an adult' to set boundaries for teenagers.

Когда станешь совершеннолетний, будешь решать сам.

In educational institutions, reaching the age of majority might change a student's legal status regarding consent forms and privacy rights.

Он уже совершеннолетний студент.

Understanding these contexts helps learners anticipate when they might need to use or understand this critical vocabulary word in real-life Russian environments.
When learning the word совершеннолетний, English speakers often make a few predictable mistakes due to the complexity of the word's structure and Russian grammar rules. One of the most frequent errors is misspelling the word by forgetting the double 'н' in the middle.
Spelling Error
It is 'совершеннолетний', not 'совершенолетний'. The double 'н' is required.

Пишите правильно: совершеннолетний.

Another common mistake involves incorrect declension. Because it is a soft-stem adjective ending in -ний, learners sometimes mistakenly apply hard-stem endings like -ный or -ные.
Declension Error
Saying 'совершеннолетный' is incorrect and sounds very unnatural to native speakers.

Он совершеннолетний, а не совершеннолетный.

Learners also confuse the adjective 'совершеннолетний' with the noun 'совершеннолетие'. While the adjective describes a person, the noun refers to the state or event of coming of age. You cannot say 'Он достиг совершеннолетний', you must say 'Он достиг совершеннолетия'.

Праздник в честь его совершеннолетний статуса.

A syntactic mistake is failing to use the instrumental case when appropriate. For example, saying 'Он стал совершеннолетний' instead of the correct 'Он стал совершеннолетним'.
Case Usage
Verbs of becoming or seeming often trigger the instrumental case for adjectives.

Она стала совершеннолетний гражданкой.

Finally, some learners try to use 'взрослый' (adult) and 'совершеннолетний' completely interchangeably. While related, 'взрослый' can mean adult in a biological or maturity sense, whereas 'совершеннолетний' is strictly a legal term regarding the age of majority.

Юридически он совершеннолетний.

Being aware of these distinctions will elevate your Russian proficiency and prevent awkward misunderstandings in formal situations.
While совершеннолетний is the most precise legal term for 'of age', there are several similar words and alternatives in Russian that you can use depending on the context. The most common synonym is 'взрослый', which translates directly to 'adult' or 'grown-up'.
Взрослый
Used for physical or emotional maturity, and generally for anyone who is grown up, regardless of exact legal age.

Он ведет себя как совершеннолетний мужчина.

If you are talking to a child, you might say 'когда ты станешь взрослым' (when you grow up) rather than the more formal 'когда ты станешь совершеннолетним'. Another related concept is 'зрелый', which means mature or ripe. This is used more for emotional maturity or biological readiness rather than a strict age limit.
Зрелый
Focuses on the psychological or physical development rather than the legal status.

Хотя он совершеннолетний, он еще не очень зрелый.

You might also encounter the phrase 'достигший восемнадцатилетия' which literally means 'having reached the age of eighteen'. This is a highly formal participial phrase used in legal documents as a direct substitute for our main word.
Antonyms
Words like 'малолетний' (young child) or 'подросток' (teenager) represent the stages before becoming of age.

Подросток мечтает стать совершеннолетний.

Understanding these nuances allows for richer expression. You can describe someone who is legally an adult but acts childishly, or a teenager who is remarkably mature.

Каждый совершеннолетний человек должен быть ответственным.

Он законный совершеннолетний представитель.

Choosing the right word demonstrates advanced proficiency and cultural awareness.
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Examples by Level

1

Он совершеннолетний.

He is an adult.

Nominative masculine.

2

Она совершеннолетняя.

She is an adult.

Nominative feminine.

3

Я совершеннолетний.

I am of age. (Male speaker)

Nominative masculine.

4

Этот фильм для совершеннолетних.

This movie is for adults.

Genitive plural after 'для'.

5

Ты совершеннолетний?

Are you an adult?

Question form.

6

Мы совершеннолетние.

We are adults.

Nominative plural.

7

Он не совершеннолетний.

He is not an adult.

Negative particle 'не'.

8

Где совершеннолетний брат?

Where is the adult brother?

Attributive adjective.

1

Мой старший брат уже совершеннолетний.

My older brother is already of age.

Adjective modifying 'брат'.

2

Только совершеннолетние могут купить это.

Only adults can buy this.

Used as a plural noun.

3

В России совершеннолетние имеют паспорт.

In Russia, adults have a passport.

Plural nominative.

4

Ей восемнадцать лет, она совершеннолетняя.

She is eighteen years old, she is an adult.

Feminine nominative.

5

Вход в клуб только для совершеннолетних.

Club entry is only for adults.

Genitive plural.

6

Он стал совершеннолетним вчера.

He became an adult yesterday.

Instrumental case after 'стал'.

7

Вы совершеннолетняя девушка?

Are you an adult girl?

Feminine question.

8

Дети и совершеннолетние живут вместе.

Children and adults live together.

Plural forms.

1

После того как он стал совершеннолетним, он получил водительские права.

After he came of age, he got his driver's license.

Instrumental masculine.

2

Продажа алкоголя несовершеннолетним запрещена законом.

The sale of alcohol to minors is forbidden by law.

Dative plural (antonym).

3

Все совершеннолетние граждане обязаны соблюдать закон.

All adult citizens are obliged to obey the law.

Nominative plural attributive.

4

Мы празднуем его совершеннолетие завтра.

We are celebrating his coming of age tomorrow.

Noun form 'совершеннолетие'.

5

Она выглядит как совершеннолетняя, но ей всего шестнадцать.

She looks like an adult, but she is only sixteen.

Nominative feminine comparison.

6

Для получения кредита вы должны быть совершеннолетним.

To get a loan, you must be of age.

Instrumental case after 'быть'.

7

Родители несут ответственность за несовершеннолетних детей.

Parents bear responsibility for underage children.

Accusative plural animate.

8

Совершеннолетние имеют право голосовать на выборах.

Adults have the right to vote in elections.

Substantive plural noun.

1

Достигнув совершеннолетнего возраста, молодой человек приобретает полную дееспособность.

Having reached the age of majority, a young person acquires full legal capacity.

Genitive case in a formal phrase.

2

Статус совершеннолетнего дает не только права, но и налагает серьезные обязанности.

The status of an adult not only grants rights but also imposes serious duties.

Genitive singular substantive.

3

Закон строго разделяет ответственность совершеннолетних и несовершеннолетних правонарушителей.

The law strictly separates the responsibility of adult and minor offenders.

Genitive plural comparison.

4

Эмансипация позволяет подростку стать совершеннолетним до достижения восемнадцати лет.

Emancipation allows a teenager to become an adult before reaching eighteen years of age.

Instrumental case in legal context.

5

Большинство совершеннолетнего населения поддерживает эту инициативу.

The majority of the adult population supports this initiative.

Genitive singular modifying a collective noun.

6

Будучи совершеннолетней, она имеет полное право самостоятельно распоряжаться своим имуществом.

Being of age, she has every right to independently manage her property.

Instrumental feminine with gerund 'будучи'.

7

Требования к совершеннолетним кандидатам на эту должность весьма высоки.

The requirements for adult candidates for this position are quite high.

Dative plural attributive.

8

Суд признал его полностью дееспособным и совершеннолетним гражданином.

The court recognized him as a fully capable and adult citizen.

Instrumental masculine after 'признал'.

1

Юридическая фикция совершеннолетия служит краеугольным камнем современного гражданского права.

The legal fiction of the age of majority serves as the cornerstone of modern civil law.

Noun form in genitive.

2

Вопрос о снижении планки совершеннолетнего возраста до шестнадцати лет вызывает бурные дискуссии в обществе.

The issue of lowering the threshold of the age of majority to sixteen causes heated debates in society.

Genitive attributive in complex syntax.

3

Привлечение совершеннолетних лиц к уголовной ответственности осуществляется на общих основаниях.

The bringing of adult persons to criminal responsibility is carried out on general grounds.

Genitive plural formal.

4

Концепция совершеннолетия варьируется в различных юрисдикциях, отражая культурные и исторические особенности.

The concept of the age of majority varies in different jurisdictions, reflecting cultural and historical specificities.

Abstract noun usage.

5

Несмотря на формальное признание его совершеннолетним, уровень его социальной зрелости оставлял желать лучшего.

Despite his formal recognition as an adult, his level of social maturity left much to be desired.

Instrumental case in concessive clause.

6

Опека над несовершеннолетними прекращается автоматически по достижении ими совершеннолетнего статуса.

Guardianship over minors terminates automatically upon their reaching adult status.

Prepositional case 'по достижении'.

7

В контексте избирательного права, каждый совершеннолетний гражданин обладает активным избирательным правом.

In the context of electoral law, every adult citizen possesses active suffrage.

Nominative masculine formal.

8

Законодатель четко разграничивает правовой статус малолетних и совершеннолетних субъектов права.

The legislator clearly distinguishes the legal status of infant and adult subjects of law.

Genitive plural subjects.

1

Институт совершеннолетия, уходящий корнями в римское право, претерпел сущ

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