Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cover'

English Word: cover

Key Russian Translations:

• покрывать [pɐˈkrɨvətʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective, Formal/Neutral]
• крышка [ˈkrɨʂkə] - [Noun, Feminine, Informal/Neutral, Refers to a physical cover]
• обложка [ɐˈbloʂkə] - [Noun, Feminine, Neutral, Often used for book/magazine covers]

Frequency: High (especially "покрывать" and "крышка")

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate, varies by context and word)

Pronunciation (Russian):

покрывать: [pɐˈkrɨvətʲ]

Note on покрывать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ы' sound is a unique Russian vowel, pronounced with the tongue in a central position.

крышка: [ˈkrɨʂkə]

Note on крышка: Stress on the first syllable. The 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative, similar to 'sh' but harder.

обложка: [ɐˈbloʂkə]

Note on обложка: Stress on the second syllable. The initial 'о' is reduced to a schwa sound [ɐ] due to unstressed position.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To Cover (as a Verb - to put something over)

Translation(s) & Context:

• покрывать - Used for covering surfaces, objects, or abstract concepts (e.g., expenses).

Usage Examples:

• Снег покрыл всю землю.

  Snow covered the entire ground.

• Он покрыл стол скатертью.

  He covered the table with a tablecloth.

• Эта сумма покроет все расходы.

  This amount will cover all expenses.

2. Cover (as a Noun - a lid or protective layer)

Translation(s) & Context:

• крышка - Refers to a physical lid or cap (e.g., on a pot or bottle).

Usage Examples:

• Закрой кастрюлю крышкой.

  Close the pot with the lid.

• Крышка бутылки не открывается.

  The bottle cap won’t open.

3. Cover (as a Noun - for books, magazines)

Translation(s) & Context:

• обложка - Refers to the cover of a book, magazine, or similar item.

Usage Examples:

• Обложка книги очень красивая.

  The book cover is very beautiful.

• На обложке журнала изображена знаменитость.

  A celebrity is featured on the magazine cover.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

покрывать (Verb, Imperfective): Conjugates regularly in present, past, and future tenses. Below is the present tense conjugation:

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	покрываю [pɐˈkrɨvəju]	покрываем [pɐˈkrɨvəjɪm]
2nd	покрываешь [pɐˈkrɨvəjɪʂ]	покрываете [pɐˈkrɨvəjɪtʲɪ]
3rd	покрывает [pɐˈkrɨvəjɪt]	покрывают [pɐˈkrɨvəjut]

крышка (Noun, Feminine): Declines according to the 1st declension pattern. Singular and plural forms available.

обложка (Noun, Feminine): Also follows the 1st declension pattern, similar to "крышка."

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for покрывать:

• накрывать
• закрывать

Note: "накрывать" often implies covering with intent (e.g., setting a table), while "закрывать" can mean closing or covering to conceal.

Antonyms for покрывать:

• открывать

Related Phrases:

• покрывать расходы - To cover expenses.
• крышка гроба - Coffin lid (often used metaphorically).
• обложка альбома - Album cover (e.g., for music albums).

Usage Notes:

• "покрывать" is versatile and can be used both literally (covering a surface) and figuratively (covering costs or topics).
• "крышка" is strictly physical and often implies a removable cover or lid, unlike "обложка," which is specific to flat, protective covers like those on books.
• Be mindful of context when choosing between translations, as direct translation without context can lead to misunderstandings.

Common Errors:

1. Using "крышка" for book covers. Incorrect: "Крышка книги красивая." Correct: "Обложка книги красивая." (Explanation: "крышка" is for lids, not flat covers like books.)

2. Misusing "покрывать" in contexts where "закрывать" (to close) is more appropriate. Incorrect: "Покрой дверь." Correct: "Закрой дверь." (Explanation: "покрывать" implies overlaying, not shutting.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the word "крышка" can carry a colloquial or metaphorical meaning, as in the phrase "всё, крышка!" which means "that’s it, it’s over!" often used to signify a final or hopeless situation.

Related Concepts:

• защита (protection)
• укрытие (shelter)
• покров (covering, often in a poetic or religious sense)