Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'coal'

English Word: coal

Key Russian Translations:

• уголь [ˈuɡolʲ] - [Formal, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in discussions about energy, mining, and industry in Russian media and everyday contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner; straightforward vocabulary for early learners, but requires basic understanding of noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

уголь: [ˈuɡolʲ]

Note on уголь: The stress is on the first syllable, and the final 'ь' (soft sign) softens the preceding 'l' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers accustomed to harder consonants. Pronounce it with a clear 'g' as in "go".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A black or dark brown combustible mineral substance used as fuel.

Translation(s) & Context:

• уголь - Used in formal and technical contexts, such as mining, energy production, or environmental discussions. It is the standard term for coal in Russian.

Usage Examples:

• В угольной шахте работают тысячи горняков.

  In the coal mine, thousands of miners work.

• Уголь используется для производства электроэнергии в многих странах.

  Coal is used for electricity production in many countries.

• Из-за загрязнения от угля, правительство ввело новые экологические нормы.

  Due to pollution from coal, the government introduced new environmental regulations.

• Дети узнали о полезных ископаемых, включая уголь, на уроке географии.

  The children learned about natural resources, including coal, in their geography lesson.

• В прошлом веке уголь был основным топливом для паровозов.

  In the last century, coal was the primary fuel for steam locomotives.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Уголь" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows standard patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant. Below is a table of its declensions:

Note: The word does not have irregular forms, making it relatively easy to learn for beginners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • каменный уголь (kamnennыy ugolʹ) - Specifically refers to hard coal; used in more precise geological contexts.
  • антрацит (antratsit) - A type of coal; implies a harder, higher-quality variant.
• Antonyms:
  • нефть (neftʹ) - Oil; contrasts as a liquid fossil fuel.
  • газ (gaz) - Gas; another alternative energy source.

Related Phrases:

• угольная промышленность (ugolʹnaya promыshlennostʹ) - Coal industry; refers to the sector involved in mining and processing coal.
• угольные запасы (ugolʹnыe zapasы) - Coal reserves; used in discussions about energy resources and sustainability.
• сжигать уголь (szhigatʹ ugolʹ) - To burn coal; a common phrase in environmental or energy contexts, implying combustion for heat or power.

Usage Notes:

"Уголь" directly corresponds to the English "coal" in most contexts, but it's important to note that Russian often specifies types (e.g., каменный уголь for hard coal). Use it in formal writing or technical discussions, as it's neutral and widely understood. In everyday speech, it might be less common unless discussing energy or history. When choosing between synonyms, opt for "уголь" for general purposes, but use "антрацит" for specific high-grade coal. Grammatically, remember its masculine gender for adjective agreements, e.g., "черный уголь" (black coal).

Common Errors:

• Confusing declensions: English learners often use the nominative form "уголь" in all cases, e.g., saying "из уголь" instead of "из угля" (from coal). Correct usage: "из угля" – The genitive case is required after prepositions like "из".
• Mispronouncing the soft sign: Forgetting the softened 'l' sound, pronouncing it as [ˈuɡol] instead of [ˈuɡolʲ], which can make it sound unnatural. Practice with native audio to master the subtlety.
• Overgeneralizing: Using "уголь" for any fuel source, when it specifically means coal. For example, saying "уголь для машины" (coal for the car) instead of "бензин" (gasoline). Correct: Specify the context clearly.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, "уголь" holds historical significance due to the country's vast coal reserves in regions like Siberia. It symbolizes the industrial era and played a key role in the Soviet economy, but today it's associated with environmental challenges, such as air pollution from coal-fired plants. This reflects broader cultural themes of resource wealth versus sustainability in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• шахта (shafta) - Mine
• энергетика (energetika) - Energy sector
• загрязнение (zagryazneniye) - Pollution