Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Clip'

English Word: Clip

Key Russian Translations:

• клип [klʲip] - [Informal, Often refers to video or music clip]
• скрепка [skrʲɪpˈka] - [Formal/Informal, Refers to paperclip]
• зажим [zɐˈʐɨm] - [Formal/Informal, Refers to a clip as a fastener or clamp]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "скрепка" is commonly used for office supplies, while "клип" is frequent in media contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate; "скрепка" and "клип" are easier to learn, while "зажим" may require context understanding at B1 level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

клип: [klʲip]

Note on клип: The stress is on the single syllable, borrowed directly from English, so pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers.

скрепка: [skrʲɪpˈka]

Note on скрепка: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, which may be tricky for beginners.

зажим: [zɐˈʐɨm]

Note on зажим: Stress on the second syllable. The "ж" sound is a voiced retroflex fricative, which can be challenging.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Clip as a short video or music segment

Translation(s) & Context:

• клип - Commonly used for music videos or short film segments in modern Russian, especially in informal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Я смотрел новый клип этой группы на YouTube.

  I watched the new clip of this band on YouTube.

• Этот клип стал вирусным за одну ночь.

  This clip went viral overnight.

• Она снимает короткие клипы для TikTok.

  She shoots short clips for TikTok.

2. Clip as a small fastener (e.g., paperclip)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скрепка - Refers specifically to a paperclip used to hold sheets of paper together.

Usage Examples:

• У тебя есть скрепка, чтобы скрепить эти документы?

  Do you have a paperclip to fasten these documents?

• Я потерял скрепку, и теперь страницы рассыпались.

  I lost the paperclip, and now the pages are scattered.

• Скрепка заржавела и оставила след на бумаге.

  The paperclip rusted and left a mark on the paper.

3. Clip as a general fastener or clamp

Translation(s) & Context:

• зажим - Refers to a clip or clamp used in various contexts, such as holding objects or in technical settings.

Usage Examples:

• Используй зажим, чтобы закрепить провода.

  Use a clip to secure the wires.

• Зажим на сумке сломался, и она не закрывается.

  The clip on the bag broke, and it won’t close.

• Этот зажим слишком слабый для такой толстой ткани.

  This clip is too weak for such thick fabric.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

1. клип (noun, masculine, inanimate, borrowed word):

This word is a direct borrowing from English and follows a simplified declension pattern in Russian, often treated as indeclinable in casual speech, though it technically declines as a masculine noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	клип	клипы
Genitive	клипа	клипов
Dative	клипу	клипам

2. скрепка (noun, feminine, inanimate):

Regular feminine declension in Russian (1st declension).

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	скрепка	скрепки
Genitive	скрепки	скрепок
Dative	скрепке	скрепкам

3. зажим (noun, masculine, inanimate):

Regular masculine declension in Russian (2nd declension).

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	зажим	зажимы
Genitive	зажима	зажимов
Dative	зажиму	зажимам

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for клип (video clip):

• видео
• ролик

Note: "ролик" is more informal and often used for short, casual videos, while "видео" is broader and can refer to any video content.

Synonyms for скрепка (paperclip):

• канцелярская скрепка

Synonyms for зажим (fastener/clip):

• фиксатор
• держатель

Antonyms: None directly applicable for these nouns in most contexts.

Related Phrases:

• музыкальный клип - Music video (commonly used for songs with visual content)
• скрепка для бумаг - Paperclip for papers (explicitly specifies usage)
• зажим для волос - Hair clip (specific use of "зажим" in personal care)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between "клип", "скрепка", and "зажим" heavily depends on context. "Клип" is almost exclusively used for media content like videos, while "скрепка" is specific to paperclips. "Зажим" is more versatile and can refer to various types of clips or clamps.
• Be cautious with "клип" in formal writing, as it is a borrowed word and may be replaced with "видео" or "ролик" in some contexts.
• Russian nouns must agree in case, number, and gender with other sentence elements, so learning declensions (as shown above) is critical for correct usage.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "клип" to refer to a paperclip.
  Incorrect: У меня есть клип для бумаг.
  Correct: У меня есть скрепка для бумаг.
  Explanation: "Клип" refers to a video or audio segment, not a physical object like a paperclip.
• Error: Misusing "зажим" for a video clip.
  Incorrect: Я посмотрел новый зажим этой группы.
  Correct: Я посмотрел новый клип этой группы.
  Explanation: "Зажим" refers to a physical fastener, not a media clip.

Cultural Notes:

The word "клип" is a direct borrowing from English and reflects the influence of Western media culture on Russian language, especially since the 1990s. It is widely used among younger generations and in pop culture contexts. On the other hand, "скрепка" and "зажим" are native Russian words with practical, everyday applications, often tied to office or household settings.

Related Concepts:

• видео (video)
• ролик (short video or reel)
• канцелярия (stationery)