Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Dewdrop'

English Word: dewdrop

Key Russian Translations:

• росинка [rɐˈsʲinkə] - [Neutral, Singular]
• капля росы [ˈkaplʲə rɐˈsɨ] - [Formal, Descriptive]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "росинка"); B1 (Intermediate for "капля росы")

Pronunciation (Russian):

росинка: [rɐˈsʲinkə]

Note on росинка: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "р" sound is rolled, which might be challenging for non-native speakers.

капля росы: [ˈkaplʲə rɐˈsɨ]

Note on капля росы: Stress is on the first syllable of "капля" and the second syllable of "росы". Pay attention to the soft "л" in "капля".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Literal Meaning (a small drop of dew on plants)

Translation(s) & Context:

• росинка - Commonly used in everyday speech to refer to a single dewdrop.
• капля росы - More descriptive, often used in literary or formal contexts.

Usage Examples:

• На траве блестела росинка.

  A dewdrop sparkled on the grass.

• Утренняя росинка скатилась с листа.

  A morning dewdrop rolled off the leaf.

• Каждая капля росы отражала солнце.

  Each dewdrop reflected the sun.

• Росинка на цветке выглядела как жемчужина.

  The dewdrop on the flower looked like a pearl.

• Капля росы упала на землю с первым лучом солнца.

  A dewdrop fell to the ground with the first ray of sunlight.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

росинка (noun, feminine): Follows the standard declension for feminine nouns ending in -а.

капля росы (compound noun phrase): "капля" (feminine) and "росы" (feminine, genitive of "роса") decline separately. "капля" follows standard feminine declension; "роса" has its own forms in genitive.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• капелька (diminutive, informal)

Note: "капелька" can imply a smaller or more affectionate tone compared to "росинка".

Antonyms:

• сухость (dryness, abstract)

Related Phrases:

• утренняя роса - Morning dew (refers to dew in general, often poetically).
• как росинка на солнце - Like a dewdrop in the sun (used metaphorically to describe something fleeting or ephemeral).

Usage Notes:

• "росинка" is the more common and concise term for a single dewdrop, suitable for everyday conversation.
• "капля росы" is more formal or poetic and often used in written texts or descriptive contexts.
• Both terms are used literally, but "росинка" can appear in metaphors or idioms more frequently.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "роса" (dew in general) instead of "росинка" to refer to a single dewdrop.
  Incorrect: На листе была роса. (On the leaf was dew.)
  Correct: На листе была росинка. (On the leaf was a dewdrop.)
  Explanation: "роса" refers to dew as a collective noun, not an individual drop.
• Error: Mispronouncing "росинка" with stress on the first syllable.
  Incorrect: [ˈrɐsʲinkə]
  Correct: [rɐˈsʲinkə]
  Explanation: Stress placement is crucial in Russian for correct meaning and natural pronunciation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, dew (and by extension, a dewdrop) often carries poetic and symbolic meanings, associated with purity, freshness, and the beauty of nature. It frequently appears in folklore, songs, and literature as a metaphor for fleeting beauty or innocence.

Related Concepts:

• роса (dew in general)
• утро (morning)
• природа (nature)