Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cape'

English Word: cape

Key Russian Translations:

• мыс [mɨs] - [Formal, Geographical term for a headland or promontory]
• накидка [nɐˈkʲitkə] - [Informal, Refers to a cloak or cape as clothing]
• плащ [plaʂː] - [Neutral, Often used for a cape as a garment]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "мыс" is common in geography, "накидка" and "плащ" in everyday speech)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; "мыс" is A2, "накидка" and "плащ" are B1 due to nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мыс: [mɨs]

Note on мыс: The vowel sound [ɨ] is unique to Russian and may be challenging for English speakers; it is pronounced as a short, unrounded central vowel.

накидка: [nɐˈkʲitkə]

Note on накидка: Stress falls on the second syllable; the soft consonant [kʲ] requires palatalization.

плащ: [plaʂː]

Note on плащ: The final consonant [ʂː] is a long retroflex sound, distinct from English "sh".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A piece of land extending into water (geographical term)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мыс - Used in geographical contexts to describe a headland or promontory, often in maps or travel descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Мыс Горн находится на юге Южной Америки.

  Cape Horn is located in the south of South America.

• Мы видели красивый мыс на побережье.

  We saw a beautiful cape on the coast.

• Мыс был назван в честь мореплавателя.

  The cape was named after a navigator.

2. A sleeveless garment or cloak (clothing)

Translation(s) & Context:

• накидка - Refers to a light cloak or shawl, often used casually or decoratively.
• плащ - Refers to a heavier or more formal cape, sometimes associated with outerwear.

Usage Examples:

• Она надела красную накидку на вечер.

  She wore a red cape for the evening.

• Этот плащ выглядит очень элегантно.

  This cape looks very elegant.

• Бабушка связала мне тёплую накидку.

  Grandma knitted me a warm cape.

• Супергерой носил чёрный плащ.

  The superhero wore a black cape.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

мыс (noun, masculine):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	мыс	мысы
Genitive	мыса	мысов
Dative	мысу	мысам
Accusative	мыс	мысы
Instrumental	мысом	мысами
Prepositional	о мысе	о мысах

накидка (noun, feminine): Follows standard feminine declension patterns for nouns ending in -а.

плащ (noun, masculine): Follows standard masculine declension patterns for nouns ending in a consonant.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for мыс:

• полуостров (peninsula, though broader in meaning)
• выступ (protrusion, less common)

Synonyms for накидка/плащ:

• шаль (shawl, for накидка)
• мантия (mantle, for плащ, more formal or ceremonial)

Antonyms: None directly applicable for either meaning.

Related Phrases:

• Мыс Доброй Надежды - Cape of Good Hope (a famous geographical landmark)
• Накидка на плечи - A cape over the shoulders (common expression for wearing a light cloak)
• Плащ-невидимка - Invisibility cloak (a cultural reference, often in literature or fantasy)

Usage Notes:

• "мыс" is strictly used for geographical features and should not be confused with clothing terms.
• "накидка" tends to imply a lighter or more decorative garment, often used by women, while "плащ" can refer to a heavier or more functional cape, often gender-neutral.
• When referring to a superhero's cape, "плащ" is the more common choice in Russian translations.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "мыс" to refer to a clothing item. Incorrect: У меня есть красивый мыс. Correct: У меня есть красивый плащ/накидка. (Explanation: "мыс" only refers to a landform, not clothing.)
• Error: Misplacing stress in "накидка". Many learners stress the first syllable, but it should be on the second: [nɐˈkʲitkə].

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, capes as clothing ("накидка" or "плащ") are often associated with historical or theatrical contexts, such as traditional Russian outerwear or characters in literature and film (e.g., cloaks in fairy tales or superhero stories). Geographical capes like "Мыс Доброй Надежды" (Cape of Good Hope) carry historical significance in Russian exploration narratives.

Related Concepts:

• полуостров (peninsula)
• берег (shore)
• одежда (clothing)
• шаль (shawl)