Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Blanket'

English Word: blanket

Key Russian Translations:

• одеяло [ɐdʲɪˈjaɫə] - [Neutral, Most Common]
• плед [plʲɛt] - [Informal, Often for Decorative or Travel Blankets]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday contexts)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "одеяло"; A2 (Elementary) for "плед" due to nuanced usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

одеяло: [ɐdʲɪˈjaɫə]

Note on одеяло: Stress falls on the third syllable. The "я" sound is a distinct Russian vowel, pronounced as "ya".

плед: [plʲɛt]

Note on плед: The "п" is soft due to the following "лʲ", a common feature in Russian palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A piece of fabric used for warmth (bedding)

Translation(s) & Context:

• одеяло - Primarily used for bedding blankets, especially thicker ones used for sleeping.

Usage Examples:

• Я укрылся тёплым одеялом.

  I covered myself with a warm blanket.

• Где моё одеяло? На кровати холодно.

  Where is my blanket? The bed is cold.

• Она купила новое шерстяное одеяло.

  She bought a new woolen blanket.

2. A lighter or decorative fabric (throw blanket)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плед - Refers to lighter blankets, often used as throws for sofas or during travel.

Usage Examples:

• Возьми плед, на улице прохладно.

  Take a blanket, it’s chilly outside.

• На диване лежит красивый клетчатый плед.

  There’s a beautiful plaid blanket on the couch.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

одеяло (neuter noun): Follows the standard neuter noun declension in Russian.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	одеяло	одеяла
Genitive	одеяла	одеял
Dative	одеялу	одеялам
Accusative	одеяло	одеяла
Instrumental	одеялом	одеялами
Prepositional	об одеяле	об одеялах

плед (masculine noun): Follows the standard masculine noun declension with a soft stem.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	плед	пледы
Genitive	пледа	пледов
Dative	пледу	пледам
Accusative	плед	пледы
Instrumental	пледом	пледами
Prepositional	о пледе	о пледах

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for одеяло:

• покрывало (more general, can mean bedspread)
• ковёр (rare, archaic for blanket-like covering)

Note: "покрывало" often implies a decorative or lighter covering compared to "одеяло".

Synonyms for плед:

• накидка (can mean a shawl or light blanket)

Antonyms:

• простыня (bedsheet, as opposed to a blanket)

Related Phrases:

• тёплое одеяло - a warm blanket (used for comfort or winter)
• укрыться одеялом - to cover oneself with a blanket (common expression for going to sleep)
• плед для пикника - a picnic blanket (specific usage of плед)

Usage Notes:

• "одеяло" is the default and most common term for a blanket used in bedding, while "плед" is more specific to lighter or decorative blankets, often associated with travel or casual use.
• Be mindful of the context: using "плед" for a heavy winter blanket might sound odd to native speakers.
• Both words are frequently used with adjectives describing material or warmth (e.g., шерстяное одеяло - woolen blanket).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "плед" for all types of blankets. Wrong: "У меня толстый плед на кровати." Correct: "У меня толстое одеяло на кровати." (Explanation: "плед" implies a lighter blanket, not suitable for heavy bedding.)
• Error: Mispronouncing "одеяло" by stressing the wrong syllable. Stress should be on "я" (o-de-YA-lo), not the first "о".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, blankets (especially "одеяло") are strongly associated with warmth and coziness, particularly during harsh winters. Offering a blanket to a guest is a common gesture of hospitality. Additionally, "плед" often evokes imagery of relaxation, such as reading on a couch or picnicking.

Related Concepts:

• подушка (pillow)
• простыня (bedsheet)
• матрас (mattress)