Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Cradle'

English Word: cradle

Key Russian Translations:

• колыбель [kɐˈlɨbʲɪlʲ] - [Formal, Often metaphorical or poetic]
• люлька [ˈlʲulʲkə] - [Informal, Often used for a baby's cradle]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "люлька"), B1 (Intermediate for "колыбель")

Pronunciation (Russian):

колыбель: [kɐˈlɨbʲɪlʲ]

Note on колыбель: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'л' sound might be challenging for non-native speakers.

люлька: [ˈlʲulʲkə]

Note on люлька: Stress on the first syllable. The 'ю' sound requires rounding of the lips.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A small bed for a baby (literal meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• люлька - Commonly used for a physical cradle or crib for infants.
• колыбель - Can refer to a cradle but is more formal or poetic, sometimes used metaphorically.

Usage Examples:

• Малыш спит в люльке.

  The baby is sleeping in the cradle.

• Она купила красивую люльку для новорождённого.

  She bought a beautiful cradle for the newborn.

• Колыбель качалась под старой ивой.

  The cradle rocked under the old willow tree.

2. Origin or starting point (metaphorical meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• колыбель - Used metaphorically to mean "the cradle of civilization" or "the cradle of something."

Usage Examples:

• Месопотамия считается колыбелью цивилизации.

  Mesopotamia is considered the cradle of civilization.

• Этот город — колыбель русской литературы.

  This city is the cradle of Russian literature.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

колыбель (feminine noun, 3rd declension):

Case	Singular
Nominative	колыбель
Genitive	колыбели
Dative	колыбели
Accusative	колыбель
Instrumental	колыбелью
Prepositional	о колыбели

люлька (feminine noun, 1st declension):

Case	Singular
Nominative	люлька
Genitive	люльки
Dative	люльке
Accusative	люльку
Instrumental	люлькой
Prepositional	о люльке

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for колыбель:

• исток (origin, metaphorical)
• начало (beginning, metaphorical)

Note: "исток" and "начало" are used only in metaphorical contexts, unlike "колыбель," which can be literal or metaphorical.

Synonyms for люлька:

• кроватка (small bed/crib)

Antonyms:

• конец (end, metaphorical opposite for "колыбель")

Related Phrases:

• качать колыбель - to rock the cradle (literal or metaphorical)
• колыбель человечества - cradle of humanity (metaphorical)
• люлька для младенца - cradle for a baby (literal)

Usage Notes:

• "люлька" is more commonly used in everyday speech to refer to a physical cradle or crib for a baby. It has a more informal tone.
• "колыбель" is often used in formal, poetic, or metaphorical contexts, such as referring to the origin of something (e.g., "cradle of civilization").
• When translating "cradle" into Russian, the choice between "люлька" and "колыбель" depends on the context and tone of the sentence.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "люлька" in a metaphorical context, e.g., saying "люлька цивилизации" instead of "колыбель цивилизации."

  Explanation: "люлька" is strictly literal and informal, so it cannot be used for abstract or poetic concepts. Use "колыбель" instead.

• Error: Incorrect stress in pronunciation, e.g., stressing the first syllable in "колыбель" as [ˈkɐlɨbʲɪlʲ].

  Explanation: The stress is on the second syllable [kɐˈlɨbʲɪlʲ]. Misplacing stress can change the word's meaning or sound unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the word "колыбель" often appears in lullabies (колыбельные песни) and folklore, symbolizing care, protection, and the beginning of life. It carries a deeper emotional and poetic resonance compared to "люлька," which is more utilitarian.

Related Concepts:

• кроватка (crib)
• детство (childhood)
• начало (beginning)