Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'bulb'

English Word: bulb

Key Russian Translations:

• лампочка [ˈlampətʃkə] - [Informal, Commonly used for light bulb]
• луковица [luˈkovɪtsə] - [Formal/Neutral, Used for plant bulb]

Frequency: Medium (both terms are used depending on context)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "лампочка"); B1 (Intermediate for "луковица")

Pronunciation (Russian):

лампочка: [ˈlampətʃkə]

Note on лампочка: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "ч" sound is a soft "ch" as in "church."

луковица: [luˈkovɪtsə]

Note on луковица: Stress on the second syllable. The "ц" sound is like "ts" in "cats."

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Light Bulb (Electrical Device)

Translation(s) & Context:

• лампочка - Commonly used in everyday speech for a light bulb in a lamp or fixture.

Usage Examples:

• Лампочка перегорела, нужно купить новую.

  The light bulb burned out; we need to buy a new one.

• Ты можешь вкрутить лампочку в люстру?

  Can you screw the light bulb into the chandelier?

• Эта лампочка слишком яркая для спальни.

  This light bulb is too bright for the bedroom.

2. Plant Bulb (Botanical Context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• луковица - Used for the bulb of a plant, such as tulips or onions, often in gardening or cooking contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я посадил луковицы тюльпанов в саду.

  I planted tulip bulbs in the garden.

• Эта луковица лука очень большая.

  This onion bulb is very large.

• Луковицы нужно хранить в прохладном месте.

  Bulbs should be stored in a cool place.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

лампочка (feminine noun): Follows the standard feminine declension pattern in Russian.

луковица (feminine noun): Also follows the standard feminine declension pattern.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for лампочка:

• лампа (more general term for lamp or bulb)

Note: "лампа" can refer to the entire lamp fixture, while "лампочка" specifically means the bulb.

Synonyms for луковица:

• головка (used for onion bulb in some contexts)

Antonyms: None directly applicable for either term.

Related Phrases:

• перегоревшая лампочка - A burned-out light bulb.
• вкрутить лампочку - To screw in a light bulb.
• луковица лука - Onion bulb (specifying the type of bulb).
• сажать луковицы - To plant bulbs (in gardening).

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "лампочка" and "луковица" depends entirely on context. "Лампочка" is exclusively used for light bulbs, while "луковица" refers to plant bulbs or onions.
• "Лампочка" is more informal and widely used in everyday speech, whereas "луковица" might appear in more formal or specialized contexts (e.g., botany or recipes).
• Be mindful of the grammatical gender (both are feminine) when using adjectives or pronouns with these nouns.

Common Errors:

• Mixing up contexts: English speakers often mistakenly use "лампочка" for plant bulbs or "луковица" for light bulbs due to the shared English term "bulb." For example, saying "луковица в лампе" (bulb in a lamp) is incorrect; it should be "лампочка в лампе."
• Pronunciation error: Misplacing stress in "лампочка" (correct: first syllable) or "луковица" (correct: second syllable) can lead to misunderstandings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "луковица" often evokes imagery of gardening or cooking, especially in the context of onions, a staple in Russian cuisine. Meanwhile, "лампочка" may remind people of Soviet-era humor or riddles, such as "How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb?" which often carried political undertones.

Related Concepts:

• лампа (lamp)
• свет (light)
• растение (plant)
• лук (onion)