Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'churchyard'

English Word: churchyard

Key Russian Translations:

• кладбище [ˈkladbʲɪɕːe] - [Neutral, Commonly Used]
• церковный двор [ˈtsɛrkəvnɨj ˈdvor] - [Formal, Less Common]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate) for "кладбище"; B1 (Intermediate) for "церковный двор"

Pronunciation (Russian):

кладбище: [ˈkladbʲɪɕːe]

Note on кладбище: The stress falls on the first syllable. The "щ" sound is a soft, hissing "shch" unique to Russian, which may be challenging for beginners.

церковный двор: [ˈtsɛrkəvnɨj ˈdvor]

Note on церковный двор: Stress falls on the first syllable of both words. Pay attention to the rolled "r" in both parts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A burial ground near a church

Translation(s) & Context:

• кладбище - Commonly used to refer to any cemetery or graveyard, including those near churches.
• церковный двор - Specifically refers to the yard or grounds around a church, sometimes implying a burial area, but less commonly used for "graveyard."

Usage Examples:

• На старом кладбище у церкви похоронены многие известные люди.

  Many famous people are buried in the old churchyard by the church.

• Мы прошли через кладбище, чтобы сократить путь.

  We walked through the churchyard to take a shortcut.

• Церковный двор был тихим и спокойным в утренние часы.

  The churchyard was quiet and peaceful in the early morning.

• На кладбище за церковью растут старые деревья.

  Old trees grow in the churchyard behind the church.

• Церковный двор использовался для собраний прихожан.

  The churchyard was used for gatherings of parishioners.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

кладбище (noun, neuter): Declines according to the second declension pattern in Russian.

церковный двор (compound noun phrase, masculine): Both words decline separately. "Церковный" is an adjective agreeing with "двор" (masculine noun).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for кладбище:

• погост (more archaic, often refers to rural churchyards)
• некрополь (formal, used for large or historical burial grounds)

Antonyms for кладбище:

• No direct antonyms, as it is a specific location.

Related Phrases:

• старое кладбище - "old churchyard/cemetery" (refers to an aged burial ground)
• церковный двор у храма - "churchyard by the temple" (specifies location near a church)
• посетить кладбище - "to visit a churchyard/cemetery" (common expression for paying respects)

Usage Notes:

• "кладбище" is the most common and neutral term for "churchyard" or "cemetery" in Russian. It is appropriate for most contexts, whether the burial ground is near a church or not.
• "церковный двор" is less common and may refer to the church grounds in general rather than specifically a burial area. Use it only when emphasizing the church connection without a burial connotation.
• Be mindful of the emotional weight of "кладбище" in conversations, as it directly relates to death and mourning.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "церковный двор" when referring to a cemetery. This phrase might confuse native speakers as it often implies just the church grounds, not necessarily a burial place.
  Incorrect: Мы похоронили его на церковном дворе.
  Correct: Мы похоронили его на кладбище.
• Error: Mispronouncing "кладбище" by stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., "klad-BI-shche").
  Explanation: Stress must be on the first syllable: "KLAD-bi-shche."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, a "кладбище" (churchyard or cemetery) often carries significant emotional and spiritual weight. Visiting a cemetery, especially on certain holidays like Radonitsa (a day to remember the dead), is a common tradition in Orthodox Christian communities. The term "погост," a synonym, historically referred to a rural churchyard and is tied to older Slavic traditions.

Related Concepts:

• церковь (church)
• могила (grave)
• похороны (funeral)