Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'curtain'

English Word: curtain

Key Russian Translations:

• штора [ˈʂtorə] - [Informal, Singular]
• занавес [zənɐˈvʲes] - [Formal, Often used for theater curtains]
• гардина [ɡɐrˈdʲinə] - [Formal, Often refers to lighter or decorative curtains]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for all translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

штора: [ˈʂtorə]

Note on штора: The initial 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers. It is similar to 'sh' but with the tongue curled back.

занавес: [zənɐˈvʲes]

Note on занавес: Stress falls on the second syllable. The soft 'в' (vʲ) is palatalized, a common feature in Russian.

гардина: [ɡɐrˈdʲinə]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A piece of fabric to cover a window

Translation(s) & Context:

• штора - Commonly used in everyday speech for window curtains in homes.
• гардина - Refers to lighter, often decorative curtains or drapes.

Usage Examples:

• Я купила новые шторы для гостиной.

  I bought new curtains for the living room.

• Шторы были закрыты, и в комнате было темно.

  The curtains were closed, and the room was dark.

• Гардины из тонкой ткани пропускают свет.

  The light curtains let the light through.

2. A large fabric used in theaters

Translation(s) & Context:

• занавес - Specifically refers to theater or stage curtains.

Usage Examples:

• Занавес поднялся, и спектакль начался.

  The curtain rose, and the performance began.

• После финала занавес опустился под аплодисменты.

  After the finale, the curtain fell to applause.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

штора (noun, feminine):

занавес (noun, masculine): Follows standard masculine noun declension with regular endings.

гардина (noun, feminine): Follows standard feminine noun declension with regular endings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for штора/гардина (window curtain):

• портьера
• драпировка

Note: 'портьера' often implies heavier, more formal curtains, while 'драпировка' may refer to drapery in general.

Antonyms: None directly applicable for literal use of 'curtain'.

Related Phrases:

• закрыть шторы - to close the curtains
• открыть занавес - to open the curtain (often in a theatrical context)
• железный занавес - Iron Curtain (historical and metaphorical usage)

Usage Notes:

• The choice between 'штора' and 'гардина' depends on the type of curtain and formality. 'штора' is more common in casual speech for any window covering, while 'гардина' often implies a lighter or more decorative fabric.
• 'занавес' is almost exclusively used for theater or stage curtains and should not be used for window curtains in everyday contexts.
• Be mindful of grammatical gender when using adjectives or pronouns with these nouns: 'штора' and 'гардина' are feminine, while 'занавес' is masculine.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'занавес' for window curtains. Incorrect: Я купил новый занавес для спальни. Correct: Я купил новую штору для спальни. Explanation: 'занавес' is specific to theatrical contexts.
• Error: Incorrect case usage, especially with prepositions. Incorrect: Я посмотрел на штора. Correct: Я посмотрел на штору. Explanation: The accusative case is required after 'на' in this context.

Cultural Notes:

The term 'железный занавес' (Iron Curtain) is a historically significant phrase in Russian, referring to the political and ideological barrier between the Soviet bloc and the West during the Cold War. It originates from the theatrical term 'занавес' and is often used metaphorically in political discussions.

Related Concepts:

• окно (window)
• ткань (fabric)
• театр (theater)