Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Chapter'

English Word: Chapter

Key Russian Translations:

• глава [ˈɡɫava] - [Formal, Used for book chapters or sections]
• раздел [rɐzˈdʲel] - [Neutral, Used for divisions or sections, less specific than глава]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in literary and academic contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "глава"; B1 for "раздел" due to broader usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

глава: [ˈɡɫava]

Note on глава: Stress is on the first syllable. The "г" is a voiced velar stop, similar to English "g".

раздел: [rɐzˈdʲel]

Note on раздел: Stress is on the second syllable. The "д" is palatalized before "е", sounding softer.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A division of a book or text

Translation(s) & Context:

• глава - Most common translation for a book chapter or major section.
• раздел - Used for broader sections or divisions, often in technical or academic texts.

Usage Examples:

• Я прочитал первую главу книги.

  I read the first chapter of the book.

• Эта глава очень интересная.

  This chapter is very interesting.

• В этом разделе обсуждаются основные понятия.

  This section discusses the main concepts.

• Раздел книги посвящен истории.

  The chapter of the book is devoted to history.

• Каждая глава начинается с эпиграфа.

  Each chapter begins with an epigraph.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

глава (feminine noun):

раздел (masculine noun):

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for глава:

• часть (part, often used interchangeably in some contexts)
• эпизод (episode, in specific narrative contexts)

Note: "часть" is more general and can refer to any part, while "эпизод" is more narrative-focused.

Antonyms for глава:

• целое (whole, opposite of a part or chapter)

Related Phrases:

• главная глава - Main chapter (refers to the most important section of a text)
• раздел учебника - Textbook chapter/section (common in academic contexts)
• начать новую главу - To start a new chapter (used metaphorically for life events)

Usage Notes:

• "глава" is the most direct translation for "chapter" in the context of a book or narrative. It is more specific and formal compared to "раздел".
• Use "раздел" when referring to a broader division or section, especially in non-literary texts like manuals or reports.
• Both nouns follow standard Russian declension patterns, but pay attention to stress shifts and case endings when using them in sentences.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "раздел" when referring to a narrative book chapter. Incorrect: Этот раздел романа очень трогательный. Correct: Эта глава романа очень трогательная. (Explanation: "раздел" sounds technical and out of place in literary contexts.)
• Error: Incorrect case usage due to confusion with endings. Incorrect: Я читаю главу книги. Correct: Я читаю главу книги. (Explanation: Ensure proper accusative case for direct objects.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, the term "глава" often carries a significant weight, as classic works by authors like Tolstoy or Dostoevsky are divided into detailed chapters that are integral to the storytelling structure. The concept of a "chapter" may also metaphorically refer to phases of life in Russian expressions like "новая глава жизни" (a new chapter of life).

Related Concepts:

• книга (book)
• параграф (paragraph)
• том (volume)