Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Alloy'

English Word: alloy

Key Russian Translations:

• сплав [ˈsplaf] - [Formal, Commonly Used]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сплав: [ˈsplaf]

Note on сплав: The stress falls on the first syllable. The "с" is pronounced as a soft [s], and the "п" is unaspirated.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A mixture of metals or a metal combined with another element

Translation(s) & Context:

• сплав - Used in technical, scientific, or industrial contexts to refer to a metallic alloy.

Usage Examples:

• Этот сплав состоит из меди и олова.

  This alloy consists of copper and tin.

• Сплавы используются в производстве автомобилей.

  Alloys are used in car manufacturing.

• Какой сплав лучше всего подходит для ювелирных изделий?

  Which alloy is best suited for jewelry?

• Сплав железа и углерода называется сталью.

  The alloy of iron and carbon is called steel.

• Инженеры разработали новый прочный сплав.

  Engineers developed a new durable alloy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сплав is a masculine noun. It follows the regular declension pattern for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• смесь (mixture, though less specific and not always used for metals)
• комбинация (combination, used in broader contexts)

Note: "смесь" can refer to any mixture, not just alloys, so it is less precise in technical contexts.

Antonyms:

• чистый металл (pure metal)

Related Phrases:

• металлический сплав - metallic alloy
• сплав для литья - casting alloy
• жаропрочный сплав - heat-resistant alloy

Usage Notes:

• The Russian word "сплав" is the most direct and commonly used translation for "alloy" in technical and everyday contexts. It specifically refers to a mixture of metals or a metal with another element.
• Unlike in English, where "alloy" might occasionally be used metaphorically, "сплав" is rarely used outside of its literal meaning in Russian.
• Be mindful of the context: in non-technical speech, Russians might not frequently use "сплав" unless discussing materials or metallurgy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "смесь" instead of "сплав" when referring to metallic alloys.

  Incorrect: Это смесь меди и цинка. (This is a mixture of copper and zinc.)

  Correct: Это сплав меди и цинка. (This is an alloy of copper and zinc.)

  Explanation: "Смесь" is a general term for mixture and does not convey the specific metallurgical meaning of "alloy."

• Error: Incorrect case usage after prepositions or verbs requiring specific cases.

  Incorrect: Я сделал из сплав. (I made from alloy.)

  Correct: Я сделал из сплава. (I made from alloy.)

  Explanation: The preposition "из" requires the genitive case, so "сплав" must change to "сплава."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking countries, discussions about alloys ("сплав") often relate to industrial or historical contexts, such as the development of Soviet metallurgy or the production of specific alloys for military or aerospace applications. The term might evoke associations with engineering achievements.

Related Concepts:

• металл (metal)
• сталь (steel)
• бронза (bronze)
• латунь (brass)