Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cellar'

English Word: cellar

Key Russian Translations:

• подвал [ˈpodvəl] - [Common, Neutral]
• погреб [ˈpoɡrʲep] - [Often used for storage of food or wine, Informal]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for both translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

подвал: [ˈpodvəl]

Note on подвал: Stress falls on the first syllable. The "о" is pronounced as a short, unstressed "a" sound in rapid speech.

погреб: [ˈpoɡrʲep]

Note on погреб: Stress on the first syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly, and "е" sounds like "ye".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A room below ground level in a house, often used for storage:

Translation(s) & Context:

• подвал - Commonly used for any underground room or basement in a building, often for storage or utilities.

Usage Examples:

• В подвале хранятся старые вещи.

  Old things are stored in the cellar.

• Подвал был сырой и холодный.

  The cellar was damp and cold.

• Мы спрятались в подвале во время шторма.

  We hid in the cellar during the storm.

2. A storage space for food or wine, often underground:

Translation(s) & Context:

• погреб - Specifically refers to a cellar for storing food, vegetables, or wine, often in rural settings.

Usage Examples:

• В погребе хранятся картошка и соленья.

  Potatoes and pickles are kept in the cellar.

• У деда был старый погреб для вина.

  Grandpa had an old cellar for wine.

• Погреб вырыли прямо под домом.

  The cellar was dug right under the house.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

подвал (Masculine Noun):

погреб (Masculine Noun):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for подвал:

• цокольный этаж (basement floor, more formal)

Synonyms for погреб:

• кладовая (storeroom, broader term)

Antonyms:

• чердак (attic)

Related Phrases:

• спуститься в подвал - to go down to the cellar (used for entering a basement)
• винный погреб - wine cellar (a specific type of storage cellar)
• хранить в погребе - to keep in the cellar (often for food preservation)

Usage Notes:

• подвал is the more general and widely used term for any underground room or basement, applicable in urban and modern contexts.
• погреб is more specific to rural or traditional settings, often implying a space dedicated to food or wine storage.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between the two translations, as using "погреб" for a modern building's basement may sound odd.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "погреб" to refer to a modern building's basement.
  Incorrect: В подвале нашего офиса есть погреб. (Intended: There is a cellar in the basement of our office.)
  Correct: В подвале нашего офиса есть склад. (There is a storage room in the basement of our office.)
  Explanation: "погреб" implies a traditional or rural storage cellar, not suitable for modern urban basements.
• Error: Misusing cases after prepositions like "в" (in).
  Incorrect: Я спустился в подвалу.
  Correct: Я спустился в подвал.
  Explanation: After "в", the noun should be in the accusative case, not dative.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, a "погреб" often carries a traditional connotation, associated with rural life where families store homegrown vegetables or homemade preserves for winter. It can evoke a sense of nostalgia or connection to the countryside. On the other hand, "подвал" is more neutral and widely used in urban settings for any basement space, sometimes even associated with shelter during emergencies or wartime.

Related Concepts:

• кладовая (storeroom)
• подземелье (dungeon or underground space)
• убежище (shelter, often in a basement)