Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Bottle'

English Word: Bottle

Key Russian Translations:

• бутылка [bʊˈtɨlkə] - [General, Most Common]
• флакон [flɐˈkon] - [Formal, Often for Small Bottles or Perfume]

Frequency: High (for бутылка), Medium (for флакон)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for бутылка, B1 (Intermediate) for флакон

Pronunciation (Russian):

бутылка: [bʊˈtɨlkə]

Note on бутылка: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ы' sound is unique to Russian and may be challenging for English speakers; it’s a short, unrounded vowel sound.

флакон: [flɐˈkon]

Note on флакон: Stress on the second syllable. The 'а' is pronounced as a short 'a' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Container for Liquids (General)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бутылка - Used for any general bottle, especially for water, soda, or alcohol.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил бутылку воды в магазине.

  I bought a bottle of water at the store.

• На столе стоит пустая бутылка.

  There is an empty bottle on the table.

• Дай мне бутылку пива, пожалуйста.

  Give me a bottle of beer, please.

2. Small Container (e.g., Perfume or Medicine)

Translation(s) & Context:

• флакон - Refers to smaller bottles, often for perfume, medicine, or cosmetics.

Usage Examples:

• У неё на полке стоит красивый флакон духов.

  She has a beautiful bottle of perfume on her shelf.

• В аптеке я купил флакон лекарства.

  I bought a small bottle of medicine at the pharmacy.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

бутылка (Feminine Noun): Follows the standard feminine declension pattern in Russian.

флакон (Masculine Noun): Follows the standard masculine declension pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for бутылка:

• ёмкость (container, broader term)
• тара (packaging, more technical)

Note: 'ёмкость' is broader and can refer to any container, while 'тара' is often used in industrial contexts.

Antonyms for бутылка:

• банка (jar, can)

Related Phrases:

• бутылка вина - A bottle of wine
• открыть бутылку - To open a bottle
• флакон духов - A bottle of perfume

Usage Notes:

• 'бутылка' is the default term for most bottles and is widely used in everyday speech. It is the safest choice for beginners.

• 'флакон' is more specific and formal, typically used for smaller or specialized bottles. Avoid using it for everyday items like water or beer bottles.

• In Russian, the noun must agree in case and number with other elements in the sentence, so learning declensions is crucial.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'флакон' for a beer bottle (e.g., *флакон пива*).

  Correction: Use 'бутылка пива'. 'флакон' is inappropriate for large or casual bottles.

• Error: Incorrect case usage, e.g., saying *Я купил бутылка* (nominative instead of accusative).

  Correction: Use the accusative case: 'Я купил бутылку'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'бутылка' often appears in social contexts, especially related to drinking vodka or beer, which are culturally significant. Offering or sharing a bottle can be seen as a gesture of hospitality.

Related Concepts:

• стакан (glass)
• банка (jar, can)
• напиток (drink, beverage)