Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cliff'

English Word: cliff

Key Russian Translations:

• обрыв [ɐˈbrɨf] - [Masculine, Common usage]
• скала [skɐˈla] - [Feminine, Often refers to rocky cliffs or steep formations]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in descriptions of landscapes or geography)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate, both translations are accessible to early learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

обрыв: [ɐˈbrɨf]

Note on обрыв: The stress falls on the second syllable. The "ы" sound is unique to Russian and can be challenging for English speakers; it’s a short, unrounded vowel sound.

скала: [skɐˈla]

Note on скала: The stress is on the last syllable. The "а" sounds are pronounced clearly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea

Translation(s) & Context:

• обрыв - Often used for a steep drop or abrupt edge, especially in natural settings like riverbanks or seaside cliffs.
• скала - Refers more specifically to a rocky formation or steep rock face, often implying a larger or more imposing structure.

Usage Examples:

• Мы стояли на краю обрыва и смотрели вниз на море.

  We stood at the edge of the cliff and looked down at the sea.

• Этот обрыв очень опасен, будь осторожен.

  This cliff is very dangerous, be careful.

• Скалы вдоль побережья выглядят величественно.

  The cliffs along the coast look majestic.

• Альпинисты взбирались на крутую скалу.

  The climbers were scaling a steep cliff.

• На вершине скалы построен старый маяк.

  An old lighthouse is built on top of the cliff.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

обрыв (Masculine Noun): Follows the second declension pattern in Russian. Below is the declension table for singular and plural forms:

скала (Feminine Noun): Follows the first declension pattern in Russian. Below is the declension table for singular and plural forms:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for обрыв:

• край
• пропасть

Note: "край" often implies an edge, while "пропасть" suggests a deep or dangerous drop.

Synonyms for скала:

• утёс
• глыба

Note: "утёс" is very close to "скала" and often used interchangeably for cliffs by the sea; "глыба" implies a large rock or boulder.

Antonyms:

• равнина (plain)
• долина (valley)

Related Phrases:

• стоять на обрыве - to stand on the edge of a cliff (literal or figurative, implying danger or risk)
• крутая скала - steep cliff (used to describe challenging or imposing rock formations)
• обрыв над морем - cliff above the sea (common in descriptions of coastal landscapes)

Usage Notes:

• Both "обрыв" and "скала" can translate to "cliff," but "обрыв" emphasizes the steep drop or edge, often implying danger, while "скала" focuses on the rocky structure and is more neutral or descriptive.
• Use "скала" when referring to climbing or geological features; use "обрыв" for dramatic or hazardous contexts.
• Neither term is used metaphorically as often as "cliff" might be in English (e.g., "cliffhanger"). For figurative language, other Russian expressions may be more appropriate.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "обрыв" with "обрывок" (a fragment or scrap). English speakers might mishear or misuse these due to similarity in sound.
  Incorrect: Я нашел обрывок на горе. (I found a fragment on the mountain.)
  Correct: Я стоял на обрыве на горе. (I stood on the cliff on the mountain.)
• Error: Using "скала" to describe a small or insignificant rock. It implies a large or steep formation.
  Incorrect: На тропе была маленькая скала. (There was a small cliff on the path.)
  Correct: На тропе был маленький камень. (There was a small rock on the path.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature and folklore, cliffs (especially "скала" or "обрыв") often symbolize danger, isolation, or the sublime beauty of nature. They frequently appear in romantic or dramatic contexts, such as in Pushkin’s poetry or Chekhov’s stories, where characters contemplate life or face peril near a cliff.

Related Concepts:

• гора (mountain)
• пропасть (abyss)
• берег (shore)