Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Ash'

English Word: ash

Key Russian Translations:

• пепел [ˈpʲepʲɪl] - [Neutral, Common]
• зола [zɐˈla] - [Neutral, Often used for ashes from burning wood or coal]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for both translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пепел: [ˈpʲepʲɪl]

Note on пепел: The stress is on the first syllable. The 'п' sound is soft due to the following 'е'.

зола: [zɐˈla]

Note on зола: The stress falls on the second syllable. The 'о' is reduced to a schwa sound in unstressed position.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Residue from burning (e.g., cigarette ash, volcanic ash)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пепел - Commonly used for cigarette ash, volcanic ash, or metaphorical contexts (e.g., "ashes of the past").

Usage Examples:

• Пепел от сигареты упал на стол.

  The ash from the cigarette fell on the table.

• Вулканический пепел покрыл город.

  Volcanic ash covered the city.

• Его мечты превратились в пепел.

  His dreams turned to ashes.

2. Ashes from wood or coal (e.g., fireplace ash)

Translation(s) & Context:

• зола - Typically refers to ashes from burning wood, coal, or other organic material, often used in gardening or industrial contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Зола из камина используется как удобрение.

  Ash from the fireplace is used as fertilizer.

• После костра осталась только зола.

  After the bonfire, only ash remained.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

пепел (Masculine Noun):

Case	Singular
Nominative	пепел
Genitive	пепла
Dative	пеплу
Accusative	пепел
Instrumental	пеплом
Prepositional	о пепле

Note: "пепел" is typically used in the singular form, as it often refers to ash as a collective noun.

зола (Feminine Noun):

Case	Singular
Nominative	зола
Genitive	золы
Dative	золе
Accusative	золу
Instrumental	золой
Prepositional	о золе

Note: Like "пепел", "зола" is generally used in the singular to denote a mass of ash.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for пепел:

• зола (in certain contexts, e.g., residue from burning)

Note: "зола" often implies a practical use (e.g., fertilizer), while "пепел" can carry emotional or metaphorical weight.

Antonyms:

• None directly applicable (as "ash" is a specific concept without a clear opposite in Russian).

Related Phrases:

• пепел прошлого - "ashes of the past" (metaphorical, referring to forgotten or lost things)
• зола и пепел - "ash and ashes" (used together for emphasis on destruction or residue)
• посыпать голову пеплом - "to sprinkle ash on one's head" (idiom meaning to repent or show remorse)

Usage Notes:

• "пепел" is the more versatile term and can be used in both literal (e.g., cigarette ash) and figurative contexts (e.g., "ashes of dreams").
• "зола" is more specific to ashes from organic material like wood or coal and is often associated with practical uses such as fertilizer.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between the two terms, as they are not always interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "зола" for cigarette ash.
  Incorrect: Зола от сигареты.
  Correct: Пепел от сигареты.
  Explanation: "зола" is not typically used for small-scale ash like from a cigarette; "пепел" is the correct choice.
• Error: Misusing "пепел" in practical contexts like gardening.
  Incorrect: Пепел как удобрение.
  Correct: Зола как удобрение.
  Explanation: "зола" is the preferred term when referring to ash as a useful material.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "пепел" often carries a symbolic weight, especially in literature and poetry, where it represents loss, destruction, or the remnants of something once great (e.g., "пепел войны" - "ashes of war"). The phrase "посыпать голову пеплом" (to sprinkle ash on one's head) is a common idiom for expressing regret or repentance, rooted in historical and biblical imagery.

Related Concepts:

• огонь (fire)
• дым (smoke)
• сожжение (burning)