Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Ammunition'

English Word: Ammunition

Key Russian Translations:

• боеприпасы [bəɪprʲɪˈpasɨ] - [Plural, Formal]
• патроны [pɐˈtronɨ] - [Plural, Often used for bullets or cartridges]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

боеприпасы: [bəɪprʲɪˈpasɨ]

Note on боеприпасы: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "ы" sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced as a short, unrounded "i".

патроны: [pɐˈtronɨ]

Note on патроны: Stress on the second syllable. The "о" is reduced to a schwa-like sound due to unstressed position.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General term for military supplies like bullets, shells, etc.

Translation(s) & Context:

• боеприпасы - Used as a general term for ammunition in military or formal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Армия закупила новые боеприпасы для учений.

  The army purchased new ammunition for training exercises.

• Склад боеприпасов был уничтожен взрывом.

  The ammunition depot was destroyed by an explosion.

• У нас закончились боеприпасы во время боя.

  We ran out of ammunition during the battle.

2. Specific term for bullets or cartridges (often for firearms)

Translation(s) & Context:

• патроны - Commonly refers to bullets or cartridges for guns.

Usage Examples:

• Он зарядил ружьё новыми патронами.

  He loaded the rifle with new cartridges.

• В магазине осталось только десять патронов.

  There are only ten bullets left in the magazine.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

боеприпасы: This is a plural-only noun in Russian (no singular form). It follows the standard declension for plural masculine nouns.

патроны: This is also a plural noun, often used without a singular form in the context of ammunition. It follows the standard plural masculine declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for боеприпасы:

• снаряды (shells, often for artillery)
• вооружение (armament, broader term)

Note: "снаряды" is more specific to larger projectiles, while "вооружение" is broader and includes weapons.

Synonyms for патроны:

• пули (bullets, less formal)

Antonyms: None directly applicable for "ammunition".

Related Phrases:

• запас боеприпасов - Stock of ammunition (refers to a reserve or supply).
• боевые патроны - Live ammunition (used for real combat, not training).
• холостые патроны - Blank cartridges (used for training or ceremonial purposes).

Usage Notes:

• "боеприпасы" is the more formal and general term for ammunition, suitable for military or official contexts. It encompasses all types of ammunition, including bullets, shells, and missiles.
• "патроны" is more specific and conversational, often referring to bullets or cartridges for firearms. It is less formal and more common in everyday discussions about hunting or personal weapons.
• Both terms are typically used in the plural form, as ammunition is rarely referred to as a singular item in Russian.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "патроны" to refer to large military ammunition like artillery shells.
  Incorrect: У нас есть патроны для танков. (We have cartridges for tanks.)
  Correct: У нас есть боеприпасы для танков. (We have ammunition for tanks.)
  Explanation: "патроны" is inappropriate for large-scale military ammunition; use "боеприпасы" instead.
• Error: Attempting to use singular forms for these nouns.
  Incorrect: Один боеприпас. (One ammunition.)
  Correct: Use specific terms like "одна пуля" (one bullet) or "один снаряд" (one shell) if referring to a single item.
  Explanation: Both "боеприпасы" and "патроны" are plural-only in this context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussions about "боеприпасы" often carry a strong military connotation due to the country's historical focus on defense and military history. The term is frequently encountered in contexts related to World War II (known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia), where ammunition shortages were a significant theme in literature and film.

Related Concepts:

• оружие (weapon)
• война (war)
• армия (army)