Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'brake'

English Word: brake

Key Russian Translations:

• тормоз [ˈtorməs] - [Singular, Common Usage]
• тормоза [tərˈmoza] - [Plural, Often Used for Vehicle Brakes]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner to Intermediate)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тормоз: [ˈtorməs]

Note on тормоз: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'o' is pronounced as a short 'o' sound.

тормоза: [tərˈmoza]

Note on тормоза: Stress shifts to the second syllable in the plural form.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A device for slowing or stopping (e.g., in vehicles)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тормоз - General term for a brake mechanism.
• тормоза - Commonly used in plural for vehicle brakes (e.g., car brakes).

Usage Examples:

• Нажми на тормоз, машина едет слишком быстро!

  Press the brake, the car is going too fast!

• Тормоза в этой машине не работают.

  The brakes in this car don’t work.

• У велосипеда сломался тормоз.

  The brake on the bicycle broke.

• Ты проверил тормоза перед поездкой?

  Did you check the brakes before the trip?

• Этот поезд имеет мощные тормоза.

  This train has powerful brakes.

2. Figurative use (e.g., something that hinders or slows down)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тормоз - Used metaphorically to describe a hindrance or a slow person.

Usage Examples:

• Он такой тормоз, никогда ничего не понимает быстро.

  He’s such a brake, he never understands anything quickly.

• Бюрократия — это тормоз для развития бизнеса.

  Bureaucracy is a brake on business development.

• Не будь тормозом, давай решай быстрее!

  Don’t be a brake, make a decision faster!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

тормоз (Singular, Masculine Noun)

тормоза (Plural, Masculine Noun)

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for тормоз (brake mechanism):

Note: "замедлитель" is less common and often used in technical contexts, while "стопор" can imply a complete stop or blockage.

Antonyms for тормоз (brake mechanism):

• ускоритель

Related Phrases:

• нажать на тормоз - To press the brake (literal or figurative, to slow down).
• тормозная система - Braking system (technical term for vehicle brakes).
• быть тормозом - To be a brake (figurative, to hinder progress).

Usage Notes:

• The word "тормоз" can refer to both a single brake mechanism and be used metaphorically to describe someone slow or something hindering progress. Be mindful of context to avoid unintended offense.
• "тормоза" in plural is almost exclusively used for vehicle brakes or in technical contexts.
• When using "тормоз" in a figurative sense, it carries a negative connotation and is informal. Avoid using it in formal or polite settings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "тормоз" in formal writing or speech to describe a person.
  Incorrect Example: Мой начальник — настоящий тормоз. (My boss is a real brake.)
  Correct Usage: Use a more neutral term like "медлительный" (slow) in formal contexts: Мой начальник иногда медлительный. (My boss is sometimes slow.)
• Error: Confusing singular and plural forms when referring to vehicle brakes.
  Incorrect Example: У машины сломался тормоз. (The car’s brake broke - implying just one.)
  Correct Usage: У машины сломались тормоза. (The car’s brakes broke.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, calling someone a "тормоз" (brake) in a figurative sense is a common informal insult implying slowness or stupidity. It is widely understood but should be used with caution as it can be offensive, especially among strangers or in professional settings.

Related Concepts:

• скорость (speed)
• остановка (stop)
• механизм (mechanism)