Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'coffer'

English Word: coffer

Key Russian Translations:

• сейф [sejf] - [Formal, Used for secure storage like a safe or vault]
• казна [kazna] - [Formal, Often in historical or financial contexts, e.g., treasury funds]
• сундук [sunduk] - [Informal, Plural forms possible, Used for a chest or box]

Frequency: Medium (Common in financial, historical, or everyday security contexts, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions; for 'сейф', it's straightforward, but 'казна' may vary slightly in usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сейф: [sejf] (The 'й' represents a palatal approximant, making the 'e' sound soft and quick.)

казна: [kazna] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'a' sounds are open and clear.)

сундук: [sunduk] (Stress on the second syllable; note the soft 'у' in some regional variants.)

Note on сейф: Be cautious with the soft sign 'й', which can be tricky for English speakers; it softens the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A secure box or container for storing valuables (e.g., a safe or vault)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сейф - Used in modern, everyday contexts like banking or home security.
• казна - Applied in historical or official contexts, such as state treasuries.

Usage Examples:

• Я положил драгоценности в сейф, чтобы они были в безопасности.

  I put the jewels in the coffer to keep them safe.

• В музее хранится древняя казна, полная золотых монет.

  The museum holds an ancient coffer full of gold coins.

• Этот старый сундук служит как временный сейф для документов.

  This old chest serves as a temporary coffer for documents.

• Во время войны люди ховали свои сбережения в подземном сейфе.

  During the war, people hid their savings in an underground coffer.

Meaning 2: A financial reserve or fund (e.g., in metaphorical or economic contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• казна - Common in formal or governmental settings, implying a treasury.
• сейф - Less common, but used metaphorically for protected funds.

Usage Examples:

• Государственная казна пополнилась за счет новых налогов.

  The state coffer was replenished through new taxes.

• Банк хранит резервы в надежном сейфе для экономической стабильности.

  The bank keeps reserves in a secure coffer for economic stability.

• Семейная казна была потрачена на образование детей.

  The family coffer was spent on the children's education.

• Эта компания держит свои прибыли в виртуальном сейфе от инфляции.

  This company keeps its profits in a virtual coffer against inflation.

• Историческая казна России включает артефакты из разных эпох.

  Russia's historical coffer includes artifacts from various eras.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Сейф' is a masculine noun (3rd declension), which follows standard patterns with some irregularities. 'Казна' is a feminine noun (1st declension), and 'сундук' is masculine (2nd declension). Below is a table for their key inflections:

Note: These words are invariable in terms of gender but change by case as shown. No irregular verbs here since these are nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: хранилище (storage), шкатулка (small box, for 'сундук'), фонд (fund, for 'казна')
• Antonyms: расход (expenditure), разорение (ruin)

Brief note: 'Хранилище' is a more general synonym for 'сейф', often used in broader contexts, while 'фонд' implies a managed resource.

Related Phrases:

• Открыть сейф - To open the coffer (Used in security or mystery contexts, e.g., in detective stories).
• Государственная казна - State coffer (Refers to national finances or treasures).
• Сокровища в сундуке - Treasures in the coffer (Common in folklore or adventure narratives).
• Пополнить фонд - To replenish the fund (Metaphorical for adding to reserves).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'сейф' directly corresponds to a physical coffer like a safe, and is preferred in modern contexts, while 'казна' is more formal and historical, often implying public or state funds. English speakers should note that Russian nouns change by case, so 'coffer' in prepositional phrases (e.g., "in the coffer") becomes 'в сейфе'. Choose 'сундук' for informal or archaic settings. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; consider the context to select the appropriate term.

• Grammar tip: Always decline the noun based on its role in the sentence.
• Context guidance: In financial discussions, 'казна' is ideal; for everyday objects, use 'сейф'.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse cases, e.g., saying "в сейф" instead of "в сейфе" for "in the coffer". Correct: Use genitive or prepositional case as needed. Another error is confusing 'сейф' with 'сундук'; for example, incorrectly using 'сундук' in a modern banking context. Wrong: "Я храню деньги в сундуке" (implies an old chest); Right: "Я храню деньги в сейфе" for a secure modern coffer. Explanation: Russian requires precise case agreement to convey meaning accurately.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'казна' often evokes historical imagery, such as the tsarist treasuries or Soviet-era state funds, symbolizing national wealth and security. This can carry connotations of mystery or national pride, as seen in literature like Pushkin's works, where coffers represent hidden treasures or imperial power.

Related Concepts:

• хранилище
• сокровища
• финансы
• банк