Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Coat'

English Word: coat

Key Russian Translations:

• пальто [pɐlʲˈto] - [Neutral, Singular/Plural Invariable]
• куртка [ˈkurtkə] - [Informal, Often for lighter or sporty coats]
• шинель [ʂɨˈnʲelʲ] - [Formal, Historical/Military Context]

Frequency: High (especially "пальто" and "куртка")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "пальто" and "куртка"); B2 (Intermediate for "шинель" due to specific context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пальто: [pɐlʲˈto]

Note on пальто: The stress is on the last syllable, and the word is indeclinable, meaning it does not change form in different cases.

куртка: [ˈkurtkə]

Note on куртка: The stress is on the first syllable, with a clear 'u' sound.

шинель: [ʂɨˈnʲelʲ]

Note on шинель: The 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative, unique to Russian, and the stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Outerwear for protection or warmth (General)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пальто - Most common and neutral term for a coat, used for formal or everyday outerwear.
• куртка - Refers to a shorter, often casual or sporty jacket/coat.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил новое пальто на зиму.

  I bought a new coat for winter.

• Эта куртка очень удобная для прогулок.

  This jacket is very comfortable for walks.

• Она надела пальто и вышла на улицу.

  She put on her coat and went outside.

2. Military or historical long coat

Translation(s) & Context:

• шинель - Refers to a long military overcoat, often associated with historical or literary contexts (e.g., Gogol's "The Overcoat").

Usage Examples:

• Солдаты носили шинели в холодную погоду.

  Soldiers wore overcoats in cold weather.

• В рассказе Гоголя шинель стала символом статуса.

  In Gogol's story, the overcoat became a symbol of status.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

пальто: Indeclinable noun (does not change form regardless of case or number). Used as both singular and plural.

куртка: Feminine noun, follows standard declension for feminine nouns ending in -а.

шинель: Feminine noun, follows standard declension for feminine nouns ending in a soft sign (ь).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for пальто/куртка:

• плащ (cloak or raincoat, lighter than пальто)
• дублёнка (sheepskin coat, specific type)

Note: "плащ" is often used for lighter or waterproof outerwear, while "дублёнка" refers to a specific material and style.

Antonyms:

• рубашка (shirt, lighter clothing)
• майка (tank top, summer clothing)

Related Phrases:

• надеть пальто - to put on a coat
• снять куртку - to take off a jacket
• зимнее пальто - winter coat
• кожаная куртка - leather jacket

Usage Notes:

• "пальто" is the most versatile and neutral term for "coat" in Russian, suitable for most contexts and formalities.
• "куртка" implies a shorter, more casual type of coat or jacket, often used for sporty or informal settings.
• "шинель" is rarely used in modern everyday speech and is mostly encountered in historical, military, or literary contexts.
• Be mindful of the indeclinable nature of "пальто"; it does not change form, unlike most Russian nouns.

Common Errors:

• Error: Attempting to decline "пальто" like a regular noun (e.g., *пальты for plural). Correct Usage: "пальто" remains unchanged in all cases and numbers. Example: У меня два пальто (I have two coats).
• Error: Using "куртка" for formal coats. Correct Usage: Use "пальто" for formal or long coats, e.g., Это моё новое пальто (This is my new coat), not *куртка in formal settings.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, coats like "пальто" are essential due to the cold climate, and owning a good-quality winter coat is often seen as a practical necessity. The term "шинель" carries historical significance, especially in literature, symbolizing social status or personal struggle, as seen in Nikolai Gogol's famous story "The Overcoat" (Шинель).

Related Concepts:

• шуба (fur coat)
• пуховик (down jacket)
• ветровка (windbreaker)