Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cobble'

English Word: cobble

Key Russian Translations:

• Булыжник [bʊˈlɨʐnʲɪk] - [Noun, Formal, Refers to a cobblestone or large stone]
• Латать [lɐˈtatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for roughly mending or patching something]

Frequency: Medium (Common in contexts like construction, urban planning, or everyday repairs, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "булыжник" as a noun; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "латать" as a verb, due to its irregular conjugation and contextual usage.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Булыжник: [bʊˈlɨʐnʲɪk]

Note on Булыжник: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft sign (жнʲ), which affects the pronunciation in fast speech.

Латать: [lɐˈtatʲ]

Note on Латать: This is an imperfective verb; the 'тʲ' sound is palatalized, which can be tricky for learners. Audio: [Insert audio player placeholder for 'латать' pronunciation]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a noun, referring to a large, rounded stone used in paving (e.g., cobblestone).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Булыжник - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as describing urban streets or historical architecture.

Usage Examples:

• На улицах старого города лежат булыжники, которые сохранились с XIX века.

  On the streets of the old town, there are cobblestones that have been preserved since the 19th century.

• Булыжник — это тип камня, часто используемый для мощения дорог.

  A cobblestone is a type of stone often used for paving roads.

• В парке дети собирают булыжники у реки.

  In the park, children are collecting cobblestones by the river.

• Булыжники делают мостовую неровной, но прочной.

  Cobblestones make the pavement uneven but durable.

• После дождя булыжники становятся скользкими и опасными.

  After the rain, cobblestones become slippery and dangerous.

Meaning 2: As a verb, meaning to mend or patch something roughly (e.g., cobble together).

Translation(s) & Context:

• Латать - Used in informal or practical contexts, such as DIY repairs or makeshift solutions.

Usage Examples:

• Он попытался латать дыру в крыше старыми материалами.

  He tried to cobble together a fix for the hole in the roof with old materials.

• Иногда приходится латать одежду, чтобы сэкономить деньги.

  Sometimes you have to cobble clothes to save money.

• Мастер быстро латает сломанные инструменты в мастерской.

  The craftsman quickly cobbles broken tools in the workshop.

• В походе мы латали рюкзак improvised образом.

  On the hike, we cobbled the backpack together in an improvised way.

• Она латает рецепт, добавляя ингредиенты на ходу.

  She cobbles the recipe by adding ingredients on the fly.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Булыжник" (noun, masculine, inanimate):

For "Латать" (verb, imperfective):

This is an irregular verb. Present tense: Я ла́таю, Ты ла́таешь, Он/Она ла́тает, Мы ла́таем, Вы ла́таете, Они ла́тают. It forms perfective as "залатать". Past tense: Ла́тал (masc.), Ла́тала (fem.), etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for Булыжник: Камень (kamen' - stone), Галька (gal'ka - pebble)
• Synonyms for Латать: Чинить (chinut' - to fix), Складывать (skladyvat' - to put together roughly) - Note: "Чинить" is more formal, while "Латать" implies a quick, imperfect repair.
• Antonyms for Латать: Ломать (lamat' - to break)

Related Phrases:

• Булыжная мостовая - A cobblestone pavement; refers to streets paved with stones, often evoking historical settings.
• Латать дырку - To patch a hole; used for quick fixes in clothing or materials.
• Складывать наспех - To cobble together hastily; a phrase for improvised assembly.

Usage Notes:

"Булыжник" directly corresponds to the noun form of "cobble" in English, especially in contexts like geology or urban design. It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings. For the verb "cobble," "латать" is a close match but carries a connotation of impermanence, so use it when emphasizing makeshift repairs. Be mindful of aspect in Russian verbs: "латать" is imperfective, implying ongoing action, whereas its perfective counterpart "залатать" means to complete the repair. In everyday speech, "латать" is more common in informal contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "булыжник" with "камень" and using it interchangeably. Correct: "Булыжник" specifically means a large, rounded stone, while "камень" is a general term. Example of error: Saying "Этот камень — булыжник" when it's not. Correct usage: "Этот булыжник используется для мостовой."

• Error: Incorrectly conjugating "латать" in present tense, e.g., saying "Я латать" instead of "Я ла́таю." Explanation: Russian verbs require proper endings; learners often forget the stem changes. Correct: "Я ла́таю дыру."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "булыжная мостовая" (cobblestone streets) often symbolizes historical cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg, evoking a sense of nostalgia for imperial Russia. It's frequently referenced in literature and films to depict pre-revolutionary times, adding a layer of cultural depth beyond its literal meaning.

Related Concepts:

• Мостовая (mostovaya - pavement)
• Каменная кладка (kamennaia kladka - stone masonry)
• Ремонт (remont - repair)