Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Altitude'

English Word: altitude

Key Russian Translations:

• высота [ˈvɨsətə] - [Formal, Commonly Used]
• вышина [vɨˈʂɨnə] - [Literary, Less Common]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "высота"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "вышина"

Pronunciation (Russian):

высота: [ˈvɨsətə]

Note on высота: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ы" sound is unique to Russian and has no direct English equivalent; it’s a central vowel sound.

вышина: [vɨˈʂɨnə]

Note on вышина: Stress on the second syllable. The "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, similar to "sh" in English but harder.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Height above sea level or ground (Physical Altitude)

Translation(s) & Context:

• высота - Used in scientific, aviation, and geographical contexts to denote altitude or height.

Usage Examples:

• Самолёт летит на высоте 10 000 метров.

  The plane is flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters.

• Высота горы составляет 2 500 метров над уровнем моря.

  The altitude of the mountain is 2,500 meters above sea level.

• На такой высоте воздух очень разрежён.

  At such an altitude, the air is very thin.

2. Height in a more poetic or abstract sense

Translation(s) & Context:

• вышина - Used in literary or poetic contexts to describe height or loftiness, often with an emotional or abstract connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Он смотрел в небесную вышину с тоской.

  He looked into the heavenly heights with longing.

• В вышине парили орлы.

  Eagles soared in the heights above.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

высота (feminine noun): Follows the standard Russian declension for feminine nouns ending in -а.

вышина (feminine noun): Similar declension pattern to "высота," but less frequently used in plural forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "высота":

• вышина (more poetic)
• возвышенность (elevation, often for landforms)

Antonyms for "высота":

• низ
• глубина (depth)

Related Phrases:

• на высоте - "at a height" or figuratively "at a high level" (e.g., performance).
• высота полёта - "flight altitude" (specific to aviation).
• в вышине - "in the heights" (poetic, often referring to the sky).

Usage Notes:

• "Высота" is the standard and most versatile term for "altitude" and should be your default choice in most contexts, especially technical or everyday speech.
• "Вышина" is more literary and often used in poetic or abstract contexts. It is rarely used in modern spoken Russian for physical altitude.
• Be mindful of prepositional phrases when using these words; "на высоте" is a common construction meaning "at an altitude of."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "вышина" in technical contexts. Incorrect: Самолёт летит на вышине 10 000 метров. Correct: Самолёт летит на высоте 10 000 метров. Explanation: "Вышина" is poetic and inappropriate for technical descriptions.
• Error: Incorrect case usage after prepositions. Incorrect: На высота (nominative). Correct: На высоте (prepositional). Explanation: Russian requires the correct case after prepositions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature and poetry, "вышина" often carries a spiritual or emotional connotation, symbolizing aspiration or transcendence. It is frequently used in descriptions of the sky or divine heights, unlike the more neutral "высота."

Related Concepts:

• уровень (level)
• глубина (depth)
• возвышенность (elevation)