Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Congestion'

English Word: Congestion

Key Russian Translations:

• пробка [ˈproːpkə] - [Informal, often used for traffic]
• затор [zɐˈtor] - [Formal, used for traffic or blockages]
• загруженность [zəɡrʊˈʐɛnnəsʲtʲ] - [Formal, general sense of overload or congestion]
• заложенность [zəlɐˈʐɛnnəsʲtʲ] - [Medical, used for nasal congestion]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "пробка" is highly frequent in everyday speech)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate; "пробка" is easier at B1, while "загруженность" may require B2)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пробка: [ˈproːpkə]

Note on пробка: Stress on the first syllable; the "р" is rolled, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

затор: [zɐˈtor]

загруженность: [zəɡrʊˈʐɛnnəsʲtʲ]

заложенность: [zəlɐˈʐɛnnəsʲtʲ]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Traffic Congestion (blocked or heavy traffic)

Translation(s) & Context:

• пробка - Commonly used in informal contexts to describe traffic jams.
• затор - More formal, often used in news reports or official statements about traffic blockages.

Usage Examples:

• На дороге огромная пробка из-за аварии.

  There is a huge traffic jam on the road due to an accident.

• Каждое утро я застреваю в пробке на час.

  Every morning I get stuck in a traffic jam for an hour.

• В центре города образовался затор после парада.

  A traffic blockage formed in the city center after the parade.

2. General Overload or Congestion (e.g., of systems, networks)

Translation(s) & Context:

• загруженность - Used for abstract or technical congestion, such as network or workload overload.

Usage Examples:

• Из-за высокой загруженности сети интернет работает медленно.

  Due to high network congestion, the internet is working slowly.

• Загруженность системы достигла критического уровня.

  The system's congestion has reached a critical level.

3. Nasal Congestion (medical context)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заложенность - Specifically refers to nasal or sinus blockage due to illness.

Usage Examples:

• У меня заложенность носа из-за простуды.

  I have nasal congestion due to a cold.

• Капли помогают снять заложенность за несколько минут.

  Drops help relieve congestion in a few minutes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

пробка (noun, feminine): Follows standard feminine declension patterns in Russian.

затор (noun, masculine), загруженность (noun, feminine), заложенность (noun, feminine): Follow similar declension patterns based on gender. No irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "пробка" (traffic context):

• затор
• затруднение

Note: "затор" is more formal than "пробка," while "затруднение" can apply to broader difficulties.

Antonyms for "пробка" (traffic context):

• свободный путь

Related Phrases:

• стоять в пробке - "to be stuck in a traffic jam"
• пробка на дороге - "traffic jam on the road"
• высокая загруженность - "high congestion (e.g., workload or network)"
• заложенность носа - "nasal congestion"

Usage Notes:

• "пробка" is the most colloquial and widely recognized term for traffic jams, but it can also mean "cork" or "plug" in other contexts. Context is key to avoid confusion.
• "затор" is a more formal alternative for traffic congestion, often seen in written or official language.
• "загруженность" applies to abstract or technical congestion (e.g., networks, schedules) and is not interchangeable with "пробка."
• "заложенность" is strictly medical and should only be used for physical blockages like nasal congestion.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "пробка" to describe nasal congestion. Incorrect: У меня пробка в носу. Correct: У меня заложенность носа. Explanation: "пробка" refers to a physical plug or traffic jam, not a medical condition.
• Error: Using "загруженность" for traffic jams. Incorrect: На дороге загруженность. Correct: На дороге пробка. Explanation: "загруженность" is for abstract overload, not physical traffic.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, traffic congestion ("пробка") is a common topic of conversation, especially in large cities like Moscow, where traffic jams are notorious. Complaining about "пробки" is a relatable everyday topic among Russians, and the term often carries a tone of frustration or resignation.

Related Concepts:

• дорожное движение (traffic flow)
• авария (accident)
• перегрузка (overload)