Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'boulder'

English Word: boulder

Key Russian Translations:

• валун /vɐˈlun/ - [Formal, Singular, Used in geological or natural contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific, outdoor, or descriptive contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, per CEFR; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and basic vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

валун: /vɐˈlun/

Note on валун: The stress is on the second syllable (/ˈlun/), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the Russian vowel reduction in unstressed positions. Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A large rock or detached mass of stone, typically found in nature

Translation(s) & Context:

• валун - Used in formal or technical descriptions, such as geology, hiking, or environmental discussions; appropriate for written and spoken Russian in educational or scientific settings.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу лежит огромный валун, который образовался во время ледникового периода.

  In the forest lies a huge boulder that formed during the Ice Age. (Demonstrates use in a historical or natural description.)

• Альпинисты осторожно обходили валун на склоне горы.

  The climbers carefully went around the boulder on the mountain slope. (Shows use in an adventurous or outdoor context.)

• Этот валун используется в парке как элемент ландшафтного дизайна.

  This boulder is used in the park as an element of landscape design. (Illustrates use in urban or artificial settings.)

• Во время экскурсии гид показал нам валун с древними наскальными рисунками.

  During the tour, the guide showed us a boulder with ancient rock carvings. (Highlights cultural or historical applications.)

• Валун на дороге заставил водителя остановиться и обойти препятствие.

  The boulder on the road forced the driver to stop and go around the obstacle. (Demonstrates use in everyday problem-solving scenarios.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Валун" is a masculine noun in the second declension. It follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns, with changes based on case, number, and gender. As a singular noun, it does not have plural forms in most contexts, but can be pluralized irregularly in some descriptive uses.

Note: The word is invariant in terms of gender but changes predictably with case, which is typical for Russian masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: камень (stone, more general); скала (rock, larger formation; differs as it's often used for cliffs or mountains)
• Antonyms: песок (sand; implies a opposite texture and size in geological contexts)

Related Phrases:

• валун на дороге - A boulder on the road (used to describe obstacles in travel or nature)
• древний валун - Ancient boulder (often in historical or archaeological contexts)
• валун в реке - Boulder in the river (common in descriptions of waterways or erosion)

Usage Notes:

"Валун" directly corresponds to "boulder" in English as a specific type of large, detached rock, but it's more formal in Russian and less common in casual speech. Use it in contexts where precision is needed, such as scientific writing or outdoor activities. When choosing between translations like "валун" and "камень", opt for "валун" if the rock is notably large and naturally occurring. Be mindful of Russian case requirements; for example, in prepositional phrases, it must be inflected (e.g., "на валуне" for "on the boulder"). This word is gender-neutral in application but always masculine in grammar.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "валун" interchangeably with "камень" without considering size or context. Incorrect: "Бери камень" for a large boulder. Correct: "Бери валун" if it's specifically a boulder. Explanation: "Камень" is more general and can refer to any stone, leading to imprecision in geological descriptions.
• Error: Forgetting to inflect the noun in sentences. Incorrect: "Рядом валун" (should be in the correct case). Correct: "Рядом с валуном" (prepositional case). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, boulders like "валун" often appear in folklore and literature as symbols of endurance or ancient history, such as in fairy tales where they might hide treasures or serve as meeting points. For instance, in some regions, large boulders are associated with pagan rituals or as landmarks in rural areas, reflecting Russia's vast natural landscape.

Related Concepts:

• скала (rock formation)
• камень (stone)
• ледник (glacier, as boulders are often linked to glacial movement)