Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'chair'

English Word: chair

Key Russian Translations:

• стул [stul] - [Informal, Common]
• кресло [ˈkrʲeslə] - [Formal, Often refers to armchairs]

Frequency: High (Both translations are commonly used)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "стул"; A2 (Elementary) for "кресло" due to specific usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

стул: [stul]

Note on стул: The stress is on the single syllable, pronounced with a hard "l" sound.

кресло: [ˈkrʲeslə]

Note on кресло: Stress falls on the first syllable "kre"; the "e" is pronounced as "ye".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A piece of furniture for sitting (general)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стул - Used for a standard chair without arms, common in everyday contexts like dining or working.

Usage Examples:

• Поставь стул у стола.

  Put the chair by the table.

• У нас в кухне четыре стула.

  We have four chairs in the kitchen.

• Этот стул сломан, не садись на него.

  This chair is broken, don't sit on it.

2. A comfortable seat or armchair

Translation(s) & Context:

• кресло - Refers to a more formal or comfortable chair, often with armrests, used in offices or living rooms.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил удобное кресло для чтения.

  I bought a comfortable armchair for reading.

• Директор сидит в кожаном кресле.

  The director is sitting in a leather chair.

• Кресло в гостиной очень мягкое.

  The armchair in the living room is very soft.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

стул (masculine noun): Follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

кресло (neuter noun): Follows the second declension pattern for neuter nouns ending in -о.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for стул:

• табурет (stool, less formal)

Note: "табурет" usually refers to a stool without a backrest, differing slightly from "стул".

Synonyms for кресло:

• кресло-качалка (rocking chair)

Antonyms: None directly applicable for physical chairs.

Related Phrases:

• сидеть на стуле - to sit on a chair (general usage)
• удобное кресло - comfortable armchair (describing quality)
• переставить стулья - to rearrange the chairs (common in household contexts)

Usage Notes:

• "стул" is the most common and neutral term for a chair in Russian, used in everyday speech for basic seating furniture without armrests.
• "кресло" implies a more formal or comfortable chair, often with armrests, and is used in specific contexts like offices or lounges.
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between "стул" and "кресло". For example, in a dining room, use "стул"; in a living room or office setting, "кресло" might be more appropriate.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кресло" for any type of chair. Incorrect: "На кухне стоит кресло." (A kitchen chair is unlikely to be an armchair.) Correct: "На кухне стоит стул."
• Error: Incorrect case usage due to declension mistakes. Incorrect: "Я сижу на стул." (Wrong case after "на".) Correct: "Я сижу на стуле."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the type of chair can reflect the setting's formality. For instance, "кресло" often appears in descriptions of elegant or official environments (e.g., a director's office), while "стул" is associated with practicality and everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• диван (sofa)
• скамейка (bench)
• табурет (stool)