Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ankle'

English Word: ankle

Key Russian Translations:

• лодыжка [ˈɫodɨʂkə] - [Formal, Common]
• щиколотка [ɕɨkɐˈɫotkə] - [Informal, Common]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лодыжка: [ˈɫodɨʂkə]

Note on лодыжка: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ды" sound is a soft 'd' followed by a short 'i' sound.

щиколотка: [ɕɨkɐˈɫotkə]

Note on щиколотка: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "щи" sound is a soft 'shch' blend, which may be challenging for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Anatomical Part (Joint between foot and leg)

Translation(s) & Context:

• лодыжка - Commonly used in formal or medical contexts to refer to the ankle joint.
• щиколотка - More conversational, often used in everyday speech to refer to the ankle area.

Usage Examples:

• Я подвернул лодыжку, играя в футбол.

  I twisted my ankle while playing football.

• У неё тонкие щиколотки, как у балерины.

  She has slender ankles, like a ballerina.

• Лодыжка болит после долгой прогулки.

  My ankle hurts after a long walk.

• Он носит браслет на щиколотке.

  He wears a bracelet on his ankle.

• Врач осмотрел мою лодыжку и сказал, что это растяжение.

  The doctor examined my ankle and said it’s a sprain.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

лодыжка (feminine noun):

щиколотка (feminine noun): Follows similar declension patterns to "лодыжка." Stress remains on the third syllable in all forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• лодыжка
• щиколотка

Note: Both terms are interchangeable in most contexts, though "лодыжка" is slightly more formal or medical, while "щиколотка" is more colloquial.

Antonyms:

• (No direct antonyms for "ankle" in Russian)

Related Phrases:

• подвернуть лодыжку - To twist one's ankle.
• тонкие щиколотки - Slender ankles (often a compliment about someone's appearance).
• растяжение лодыжки - Ankle sprain.

Usage Notes:

• Both "лодыжка" and "щиколотка" refer to the ankle, but "лодыжка" is more often used in medical or formal contexts, while "щиколотка" is more common in casual speech.
• When discussing injuries or anatomy, "лодыжка" is generally preferred.
• Be mindful of the gender of these nouns (feminine) when using adjectives or pronouns to agree with them.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing "щиколотка" by stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., stressing the first instead of the third syllable). Wrong: [ˈɕɨkɐɫotkə]; Correct: [ɕɨkɐˈɫotkə].
• Error: Using "лодыжка" in overly casual contexts where "щиколотка" would sound more natural. Wrong: "У тебя красивые лодыжки" (sounds overly formal); Correct: "У тебя красивые щиколотки".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, slender ankles ("тонкие щиколотки") are often associated with grace and beauty, especially in descriptions of dancers or elegant figures. Compliments about ankles might appear in literature or everyday conversation as a sign of admiration for someone's physique.

Related Concepts:

• нога (leg)
• стопа (foot)
• голень (shin)