Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Ace'

English Word: ace

Key Russian Translations:

• туз [tuz] - [Formal, Used in card games for 'ace']
• ас [as] - [Informal/Formal, Used for 'expert' or 'top performer']

Frequency: Medium (both terms are fairly common in their respective contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for 'туз'); B1 (Intermediate for 'ас' due to metaphorical usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

туз: [tuz]

Note on туз: The stress is on the single syllable. It's a short, sharp sound.

ас: [as]

Note on ас: The stress is also on the single syllable, pronounced with a clear 'a' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Ace as in a playing card

Translation(s) & Context:

• туз - Used exclusively in the context of card games to refer to the 'ace' card.

Usage Examples:

• У меня есть туз пик.

  I have the ace of spades.

• Туз всегда бьёт короля.

  The ace always beats the king.

• Он вытащил туз из колоды.

  He drew an ace from the deck.

2. Ace as in an expert or top performer

Translation(s) & Context:

• ас - Used metaphorically to describe someone who excels in a particular field, e.g., a pilot or athlete.

Usage Examples:

• Он настоящий ас в шахматах.

  He is a real ace at chess.

• Этот лётчик — ас своего дела.

  This pilot is an ace in his field.

• Она ас в программировании.

  She is an ace at programming.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

туз (noun, masculine): This word follows the standard Russian declension for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

ас (noun, masculine): Similar to 'туз', it follows the standard masculine declension pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for туз (card context):

• нет (no direct synonyms, as it is a specific term)

Synonyms for ас (expert context):

• мастер (master - often used for skilled professionals)
• профессионал (professional - more formal)

Antonyms for ас (expert context):

• новичок (novice - someone inexperienced)
• любитель (amateur - less skilled or professional)

Related Phrases:

• туз в рукаве - Literal: 'ace up the sleeve'; Meaning: a hidden advantage or secret plan.
• ас своего дела - Literal: 'ace of one's trade'; Meaning: an expert in one's field.

Usage Notes:

• The Russian word 'туз' is strictly used in the context of card games and does not carry the metaphorical meaning of 'expert' as 'ace' does in English.
• 'ас', on the other hand, is used for a person who excels in a skill or profession, similar to the English usage of 'ace' in contexts like 'ace pilot'.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between 'туз' and 'ас', as they are not interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'туз' to mean an expert. Incorrect: "Он туз в спорте" (He is an ace in sports). Correct: "Он ас в спорте". Explanation: 'туз' only refers to the card, not a person.
• Error: Using 'ас' in card games. Incorrect: "У меня ас пик" (I have the ace of spades). Correct: "У меня туз пик". Explanation: 'ас' is not used for cards.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term 'ас' is often associated with wartime pilots, especially from World War II, where 'ас' denoted a highly skilled fighter pilot with many victories. This historical connotation adds a layer of prestige to the term when used metaphorically.

Related Concepts:

• мастерство (mastery)
• опыт (experience)
• карты (cards)