Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cask'

English Word: cask

Key Russian Translations:

• бочка [ˈbotʃkə] - [Common, Neutral]
• бочонок [bəˈtʃonək] - [Diminutive, Informal, Often for smaller casks]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for "бочка"; B1 (Intermediate) for "бочонок"

Pronunciation (Russian):

бочка: [ˈbotʃkə]

Note on бочка: Stress is on the first syllable. The "ч" sound is similar to "ch" in "church."

бочонок: [bəˈtʃonək]

Note on бочонок: Stress is on the second syllable. The diminutive suffix "-онок" softens the tone.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A large barrel or container for liquids (e.g., wine, beer)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бочка - Used for large barrels, often in formal or neutral contexts.
• бочонок - Refers to a smaller cask or barrel, often with an affectionate or informal tone.

Usage Examples:

• В подвале стоит старая бочка для вина.

  There is an old cask for wine in the basement.

• Мы купили бочонок пива на праздник.

  We bought a small cask of beer for the celebration.

• Бочка с водой лопнула от мороза.

  The cask with water burst due to the frost.

• Этот бочонок выглядит очень мило на кухне.

  This little cask looks very cute in the kitchen.

• Виноделы хранят вино в дубовых бочках.

  Winemakers store wine in oak casks.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

бочонок (masculine noun): Follows the standard masculine declension pattern with a diminutive suffix.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for бочка:

• кадка (often for water or pickling)
• бак (more technical, for tanks or containers)

Note: "кадка" is more specific to traditional wooden containers, while "бак" is broader and can imply metal containers.

Antonyms for бочка:

• бутылка (bottle, a smaller container)

Related Phrases:

• бочка мёда - "a barrel of honey" (often used metaphorically to mean something very positive).
• бочка с селёдкой - "a barrel of herring" (refers to preserved fish, common in Russian cuisine).
• катить бочку - "to roll a barrel" (an idiom meaning to criticize or blame someone).

Usage Notes:

• "бочка" is the primary and most neutral term for a cask or barrel in Russian, suitable for most contexts involving storage of liquids like wine, water, or beer.
• "бочонок" is a diminutive form, often used affectionately or to describe smaller casks. It can carry a more informal or endearing tone.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between the two translations. For formal or technical descriptions, "бочка" is preferred.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "бочонок" in formal contexts. For example, saying "бочонок вина" in a professional winemaking discussion sounds overly casual or inappropriate.
• Correct Usage: Use "бочка вина" for formal or neutral contexts.
• Error: Incorrect declension of "бочка" or "бочонок" due to unfamiliarity with Russian cases. For example, saying "я вижу бочка" (incorrect accusative) instead of "я вижу бочку."
• Correct Usage: Pay attention to case endings based on the grammatical role in the sentence.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "бочка" is often associated with traditional storage methods for wine, beer, or pickled foods like cucumbers and cabbage (sauerkraut). Barrels also appear in folklore and idioms, such as "катить бочку" (to roll a barrel), which means to criticize someone.

Related Concepts:

• вино (wine)
• пиво (beer)
• соленья (pickles/preserved foods)