Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Avalanche'

English Word: Avalanche

Key Russian Translations:

• лавина [ˈlavʲɪnə] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• снежный обвал [ˈsnʲeʐnɨj ɐbˈval] - [Formal, Specific to Snow]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "лавина"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "снежный обвал"

Pronunciation (Russian):

лавина: [ˈlavʲɪnə]

Note on лавина: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "в" sounds like a soft "v" due to palatalization.

снежный обвал: [ˈsnʲeʐnɨj ɐbˈval]

Note on снежный обвал: Stress is on the first syllable of "снежный" and the second syllable of "обвал". The "ж" is a voiced fricative, similar to "zh" in "measure".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling down a mountainside

Translation(s) & Context:

• лавина - Commonly used for snow avalanches in both literal and figurative contexts.
• снежный обвал - More technical or formal, often used in scientific or detailed descriptions of snow collapses.

Usage Examples:

• Лавина сошла с горы и накрыла деревню.

  An avalanche descended from the mountain and covered the village.

• После сильного снегопада произошёл снежный обвал.

  After a heavy snowfall, a snow avalanche occurred.

• Лавина эмоций захлестнула её после этой новости.

  An avalanche of emotions overwhelmed her after this news.

• Спасатели предупреждали о возможной лавине в этом районе.

  Rescuers warned of a possible avalanche in this area.

• Снежный обвал заблокировал дорогу в горах.

  A snow avalanche blocked the road in the mountains.

2. A sudden, overwhelming amount (figurative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• лавина - Used metaphorically to describe a flood or overwhelming amount of something (e.g., information, emotions).

Usage Examples:

• На нас обрушилась лавина критики после презентации.

  An avalanche of criticism hit us after the presentation.

• Лавина вопросов последовала за его заявлением.

  An avalanche of questions followed his statement.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

лавина (feminine noun, 1st declension)

снежный обвал (compound phrase: "снежный" - adjective, "обвал" - masculine noun, 2nd declension)

Note: "снежный" agrees with "обвал" in gender, number, and case. "обвал" declines as a standard masculine noun.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "лавина":

• обвал
• оползень (more general, can refer to landslides)

Note: "оползень" is broader and often refers to landslides rather than strictly snow avalanches.

Antonyms:

• стабильность (stability, in a figurative sense)

Related Phrases:

• лавина снега - An avalanche of snow (literal).
• лавина информации - An avalanche of information (figurative, overwhelming amount).
• снежный обвал в горах - A snow avalanche in the mountains (specific context).

Usage Notes:

• "лавина" is the most common and versatile term for "avalanche", used in both literal (snow/rock fall) and figurative (overwhelming amount) senses. It is the go-to word for most contexts.
• "снежный обвал" is more formal and specific to snow avalanches. It is often used in technical or scientific discussions.
• Be cautious when using "лавина" in figurative contexts, as it implies an uncontrollable or overwhelming force, which may not always fit the intended tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "обвал" alone to mean "avalanche" without specifying "снежный". "обвал" by itself often means a collapse or landslide, not necessarily snow-related.
  Incorrect: Обвал сошёл с горы.
  Correct: Снежный обвал сошёл с горы. or Лавина сошла с горы.
• Error: Misplacing stress in "лавина". English speakers might stress the second syllable, but the correct stress is on the first: [ˈlavʲɪnə].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian-speaking regions, especially in mountainous areas like the Caucasus or Siberia, avalanches ("лавина") are a significant natural hazard. The term often carries a sense of danger or unpredictability in both literal and figurative usage. In literature or media, "лавина" is frequently used metaphorically to describe overwhelming events or emotions, reflecting the cultural perception of nature's uncontrollable power.

Related Concepts:

• снегопад (snowfall)
• оползень (landslide)
• горы (mountains)