Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'crack'

English Word: crack

Key Russian Translations:

• трещина [ˈtrʲeʂːɪnə] - [Noun, Feminine, Often used for physical cracks]
• треск [ˈtrʲesk] - [Noun, Masculine, Refers to the sound of cracking]
• раскалывать [rəskɐˈlovətʲ] - [Verb, Imperfective, Used for the action of cracking something]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in specific contexts like describing damage or sounds)

Difficulty: трещина - A2 (Beginner-Intermediate); треск - B1 (Intermediate); раскалывать - B2 (Intermediate-Advanced)

Pronunciation (Russian):

трещина: [ˈtrʲeʂːɪnə]

Note on трещина: Stress is on the first syllable; the "щ" sound is a soft, hissing sound unique to Russian.

треск: [ˈtrʲesk]

Note on треск: Short and sharp pronunciation; stress on the single syllable.

раскалывать: [rəskɐˈlovətʲ]

Note on раскалывать: Stress on the third syllable; the verb has a soft "л" sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A narrow break or fissure (physical crack)

Translation(s) & Context:

• трещина - Used for visible cracks in surfaces like walls, glass, or ice.

Usage Examples:

• На стене появилась трещина после землетрясения.

  A crack appeared on the wall after the earthquake.

• Трещина в стекле становилась всё больше.

  The crack in the glass was getting bigger.

• Лёд на озере покрыт трещинами, ходить опасно.

  The ice on the lake is covered with cracks; it’s dangerous to walk on.

2. A sharp sound (sound of cracking)

Translation(s) & Context:

• треск - Refers to the sound made when something cracks or breaks.

Usage Examples:

• Треск веток под ногами был слышен издалека.

  The crack of branches underfoot could be heard from a distance.

• В камине раздавался треск дров.

  The crackling of firewood could be heard in the fireplace.

3. To break or split something (action of cracking)

Translation(s) & Context:

• раскалывать - Used for the action of splitting or cracking something, often intentionally.

Usage Examples:

• Он раскалывал дрова топором.

  He was cracking firewood with an axe.

• Нужно раскалывать орехи, чтобы достать ядра.

  You need to crack the nuts to get the kernels.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

трещина (Noun, Feminine):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	трещина	трещины
Genitive	трещины	трещин
Dative	трещине	трещинам
Accusative	трещину	трещины
Instrumental	трещиной	трещинами
Prepositional	трещине	трещинах

треск (Noun, Masculine): Similar declension pattern to other masculine nouns; no plural form as it often refers to an abstract sound.

раскалывать (Verb, Imperfective): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses. Perfective form is "расколоть".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for трещина:

• щель (narrow gap)
• разлом (large break or fracture)

Antonyms for трещина:

• целостность (integrity, wholeness)

Synonyms for раскалывать:

• разбивать (to smash)
• ломать (to break)

Related Phrases:

• трещина в отношениях - A crack in the relationship (metaphorical use for tension or disagreement).
• треск на морозе - Cracking sound in the frost (refers to the sound of freezing materials).
• раскалывать тайну - To crack a secret (to uncover or reveal a mystery).

Usage Notes:

• "трещина" is primarily used for physical cracks and occasionally metaphorically (e.g., in relationships). It does not refer to the sound of cracking.
• "треск" is exclusively for the sound of cracking or crackling, not the physical break itself.
• "раскалывать" implies an action, often intentional, and can be used both literally (cracking nuts) and figuratively (cracking a code or secret).
• Choose the translation based on whether you're referring to a noun (physical crack or sound) or a verb (action of cracking).

Common Errors:

• Mixing "трещина" and "треск": English speakers often confuse these two. "трещина" is the physical crack, while "треск" is the sound. Incorrect: *У меня треск в стене* (I have a sound in the wall). Correct: *У меня трещина в стене* (I have a crack in the wall).
• Overusing "раскалывать": This verb implies deliberate action. For accidental cracking, use "треснуть" (perfective). Incorrect: *Стекло раскалывалось само по себе*. Correct: *Стекло треснуло само по себе* (The glass cracked by itself).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the metaphorical use of "трещина" (e.g., "трещина в отношениях" - a crack in a relationship) is common in literature and everyday speech to describe deteriorating personal or social bonds. Similarly, "раскалывать" can be used in contexts of espionage or secrets, reflecting historical connotations of uncovering hidden truths.

Related Concepts:

• разрыв (rupture, break)
• поломка (breakdown, damage)
• хруст (crunch, similar sound to треск)