Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Banjo'

English Word: Banjo

Key Russian Translations:

• Банjo [ˈbanʲdʒo] - [Neutral, Borrowed Term]

Frequency: Low (Rarely used in everyday Russian conversation)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate, due to borrowed nature and specific context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Банjo: [ˈbanʲdʒo]

Note on Банjo: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'дж' sound is pronounced like the 'j' in 'jam.' This is a direct transliteration of the English word.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A Stringed Musical Instrument

Translation(s) & Context:

• Банjo - Refers specifically to the banjo as a musical instrument, typically in discussions of American folk or country music.

Usage Examples:

• Он играет на банjo в стиле кантри.

  He plays the banjo in a country style.

• Банjo - это традиционный инструмент американской музыки.

  The banjo is a traditional instrument in American music.

• Где можно купить банjo в Москве?

  Where can one buy a banjo in Moscow?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Банjo is a neuter noun in Russian (borrowed from English) and follows the declension pattern of neuter nouns ending in -о. It does not change in plural form as it is a foreign loanword often treated as invariable in casual speech, though grammatically it can take plural forms.

Note: In practice, many Russian speakers avoid declining foreign loanwords like "Банjo" and use it invariantly across cases.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• Нет прямых синонимов (No direct synonyms, as it is a specific instrument)

Antonyms:

• Нет прямых антонимов (No direct antonyms)

Note: Synonyms or related terms may include other stringed instruments like "гитара" (guitar), though they are not exact equivalents.

Related Phrases:

• Играть на банjo - To play the banjo.
• Звук банjo - The sound of a banjo.
• Американское банjo - American banjo (referring to its cultural origin).

Usage Notes:

• The Russian word "Банjo" is a direct borrowing from English and is used exclusively to refer to the specific musical instrument known as a banjo. It does not have broader or metaphorical meanings in Russian.
• This term is most commonly encountered in contexts related to American culture, music history, or folk/country genres. Outside of these contexts, it may not be widely recognized by all Russian speakers.
• As a loanword, it retains its original spelling and pronunciation as closely as possible within the constraints of the Cyrillic alphabet and Russian phonetics.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing "Банjo" by placing stress on the second syllable (Бан-JO instead of BAN-jo).
  Correction: Always stress the first syllable: [ˈbanʲdʒo].
• Error: Attempting to use a generic term like "гитара" (guitar) to refer to a banjo.
  Correction: Use "Банjo" specifically, as "гитара" refers to a different instrument.

Cultural Notes:

The banjo is not a traditional instrument in Russian culture, so the term "Банjo" is almost exclusively associated with American folk, bluegrass, or country music. It may evoke images of the American South or historical contexts related to African-American musical traditions when mentioned in Russian media or literature. Many Russians may have limited familiarity with the instrument outside of specific cultural references (e.g., American movies or music).

Related Concepts:

• Гитара (Guitar)
• Балалайка (Balalaika - a traditional Russian stringed instrument)
• Домра (Domra - another traditional Russian stringed instrument)