Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'clump'

English Word: clump

Key Russian Translations:

• груда [ˈɡrudə] - [Informal, often used for a pile or heap]
• ком [kom] - [Neutral, often used for a lump or mass]
• скопление [skɐˈplʲenʲɪjə] - [Formal, used for a cluster or accumulation]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like nature or materials)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, varies slightly by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

груда: [ˈɡrudə]

Note on груда: Stress falls on the first syllable; the "r" is rolled slightly.

ком: [kom]

Note on ком: A short, sharp pronunciation with a hard "k".

скопление: [skɐˈplʲenʲɪjə]

Note on скопление: Stress on the second syllable; the "l" is palatalized (soft).

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A small group or cluster (e.g., of trees or people)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скопление - Often used for a gathering or cluster in formal or scientific contexts.

Usage Examples:

• На поле было скопление деревьев.

  There was a clump of trees in the field.

• Скопление людей у входа создавало пробку.

  A clump of people at the entrance created a jam.

• Мы заметили скопление птиц на горизонте.

  We noticed a clump of birds on the horizon.

2. A lump or mass (e.g., of dirt or snow)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ком - Commonly used for physical lumps or masses, often of soft material.
• груда - Used for heaps or piles, often implying disorder.

Usage Examples:

• Ком снега упал с крыши.

  A clump of snow fell from the roof.

• На дороге лежала груда земли.

  There was a clump of dirt on the road.

• Он смахнул ком грязи с ботинка.

  He brushed a clump of mud off his boot.

• Груда камней преградила путь.

  A clump of rocks blocked the path.

• Ком теста был слишком липким.

  The clump of dough was too sticky.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

груда (feminine noun): Regular declension in singular and plural.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	груда	груды
Genitive	груды	груд
Dative	груде	грудам
Accusative	груду	груды
Instrumental	грудой	грудами
Prepositional	о груде	о грудах

ком (masculine noun): Regular declension in singular and plural.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	ком	комья
Genitive	кома	комьев
Dative	кому	комьям
Accusative	ком	комья
Instrumental	комом	комьями
Prepositional	о коме	о комьях

скопление (neuter noun): Regular declension, often used in singular.

Refer to standard neuter noun declension rules for full forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for груда:

• куча
• нагромождение

Note: "куча" is more colloquial, while "нагромождение" implies a chaotic pile.

Synonyms for ком:

• кусок
• глыба

Antonyms: (context-dependent, no direct antonyms)

Related Phrases:

• груда камней - A pile of stones (used for heaps of hard materials).
• ком снега - A clump of snow (common in winter contexts).
• скопление людей - A crowd or cluster of people (used for gatherings).

Usage Notes:

• "груда" often implies a disorganized heap and is more informal than "скопление".
• "ком" is typically used for softer or more compact masses like snow or dough.
• "скопление" is the most neutral and formal option, suitable for abstract or scientific contexts.
• Choose the translation based on the material or context: physical lumps ("ком"), heaps ("груда"), or clusters ("скопление").

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "груда" for a neat or organized group. Incorrect: "груда людей" for a formal gathering. Correct: Use "скопление людей" for a neutral or formal cluster of people.

Error 2: Misusing "ком" for large heaps. Incorrect: "ком камней". Correct: Use "груда камней" for a pile of stones.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, terms like "груда" can sometimes carry a negative connotation of messiness or disorder, so it’s important to consider tone when using it in descriptions. Additionally, "ком" is frequently used in everyday contexts like cooking or weather discussions (e.g., snow clumps), reflecting its practical, tangible nature.

Related Concepts:

• куча (heap)
• масса (mass)
• группа (group)