Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'crest'

English Word: crest

Key Russian Translations:

• гребень [ˈɡrʲebʲɪnʲ] - [Neutral, Often used for wave crests or physical ridges]
• хохолок [xəxɐˈlok] - [Informal, Often used for bird crests or tufts]
• эмблема [ɪmˈblʲemə] - [Formal, Used for heraldic crests or symbols]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context; "гребень" is more common in natural contexts, while "эмблема" is specific to heraldry)

Difficulty: B1 (Beginner-Intermediate for "гребень" and "хохолок"; B2 for "эмблема" due to specific usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гребень: [ˈɡrʲebʲɪnʲ]

Note on гребень: The stress falls on the first syllable. The "р" is rolled slightly, typical of Russian phonetics.

хохолок: [xəxɐˈlok]

Note on хохолок: The "х" sound is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the Scottish "loch". Stress on the last syllable.

эмблема: [ɪmˈblʲemə]

Note on эмблема: Stress on the second syllable. The "л" is palatalized, pronounced softly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Top of a wave or ridge (physical peak)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гребень - Commonly used to describe the crest of a wave or the ridge of a hill.

Usage Examples:

• Гребень волны был белым от пены.

  The crest of the wave was white with foam.

• Мы поднялись на гребень холма.

  We climbed to the crest of the hill.

• Гребень горы был покрыт снегом.

  The crest of the mountain was covered in snow.

2. Tuft of feathers on a bird's head

Translation(s) & Context:

• хохолок - Used specifically for birds, often with an affectionate or descriptive tone.

Usage Examples:

• У попугая яркий хохолок на голове.

  The parrot has a bright crest on its head.

• Хохолок птицы дрожал на ветру.

  The bird's crest trembled in the wind.

3. Heraldic or symbolic emblem

Translation(s) & Context:

• эмблема - Refers to a crest as a symbol or insignia, often in formal or historical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Эмблема семьи была вырезана на щите.

  The family crest was carved on the shield.

• Эмблема на флаге символизировала победу.

  The crest on the flag symbolized victory.

• Эта эмблема принадлежит старому роду.

  This crest belongs to an ancient lineage.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

гребень (Masculine Noun):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	гребень	гребни
Genitive	гребня	гребней
Dative	гребню	гребням
Accusative	гребень	гребни
Instrumental	гребнем	гребнями
Prepositional	о гребне	о гребнях

хохолок (Masculine Noun): Follows similar declension patterns to "гребень" but is less frequently used in plural forms.

эмблема (Feminine Noun): Follows standard feminine noun declension with endings like -ы, -е, -у, etc.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for гребень (wave/ridge context):

• вершина (peak)
• кромка (edge)

Note: "вершина" is more general and can refer to any peak, while "кромка" emphasizes the edge.

Antonyms for гребень (wave/ridge context):

• впадина (trough, hollow)
• низ (bottom)

Related Phrases:

• Гребень волны - "Crest of the wave", often used metaphorically to mean being at the height of something.
• Хохолок на голове - "Crest on the head", a descriptive phrase for birds or sometimes playful reference to hair.
• Фамильная эмблема - "Family crest", used in historical or formal contexts.

Usage Notes:

• The choice of translation depends heavily on context. Use "гребень" for natural or physical crests (waves, hills), "хохолок" for birds or informal descriptions, and "эмблема" for symbolic or heraldic crests.
• "гребень" can also mean "comb" (for hair), so context is crucial to avoid ambiguity.
• "эмблема" is broader than just "crest" and can mean "emblem" or "logo" in modern usage, so it may not always fit perfectly.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "эмблема" for the crest of a wave. Incorrect: Эмблема волны. Correct: Гребень волны. Explanation: "эмблема" refers to a symbolic design, not a physical peak.
• Error: Using "гребень" for a bird's crest in formal writing. Incorrect: Гребень птицы. Correct: Хохолок птицы. Explanation: "хохолок" is more specific and appropriate for describing a bird's tuft.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the word "эмблема" often carries historical significance, especially in relation to noble families or Soviet-era symbols. Understanding its use in heraldry can provide deeper insight into Russian history and literature, where family crests or emblems are often mentioned in classical works.

Related Concepts:

• герб (coat of arms)
• символ (symbol)
• знак (sign, emblem)