Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'doll'

English Word: doll

Key Russian Translations:

• кукла /ˈkuklə/ - [Informal; Common noun for a toy or figurine]
• красотка /krəˈsotkə/ - [Informal; Slang for an attractive woman, equivalent to the colloquial English use of 'doll']

Frequency: Medium (The word 'кукла' is commonly used in everyday contexts, especially in children's language or literature, while 'красотка' is more frequent in informal spoken Russian.)

Difficulty: A1 for 'кукла' (Beginner level, as it's a basic noun); B1 for 'красотка' (Intermediate, due to its slang connotations and cultural nuances).

Pronunciation (Russian):

кукла: /ˈkuklə/ (The stress is on the first syllable. The 'у' is pronounced like the 'oo' in 'book', and the final 'a' is a soft schwa sound.)

Note on кукла: Be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; it softens the preceding vowel slightly.

красотка: /krəˈsotkə/ (Stress on the third syllable. The 'о' is a mid-back rounded vowel, similar to 'o' in 'more'.)

Note on красотка: This word often has a playful or affectionate tone; variations in regional accents may alter the vowel length.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A toy or figurine (Literal sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кукла - Used in everyday contexts for children's toys, dolls in stories, or metaphors for artificial objects.

Usage Examples:

• Моя дочь любит играть со своей новой куклой. (My daughter loves playing with her new doll.)

  Translation: My daughter loves playing with her new doll. (This example shows the word in a simple, familial context.)

• В витрине магазина была выставлена коллекция старинных кукол. (In the shop window, there was a collection of antique dolls.)

  Translation: In the shop window, there was a collection of antique dolls. (Illustrates use in descriptive or commercial settings.)

• Кукла в фильме ожила и напугала всех детей. (The doll in the movie came to life and scared all the children.)

  Translation: The doll in the movie came to life and scared all the children. (Demonstrates metaphorical or narrative usage.)

• Он чувствовал себя куклой в руках судьбы. (He felt like a doll in the hands of fate.)

  Translation: He felt like a doll in the hands of fate. (Shows figurative use in expressions of helplessness.)

Meaning 2: Slang for an attractive woman (Colloquial sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• красотка - Used informally in conversations, often with affection or flirtation, similar to 'doll' in English slang.

Usage Examples:

• Эта красотка всегда привлекает внимание на вечеринках. (This doll always attracts attention at parties.)

  Translation: This doll always attracts attention at parties. (Example in a social, complimentary context.)

• Мой друг назвал её красоткой, но она не оценила комплимент. (My friend called her a doll, but she didn't appreciate the compliment.)

  Translation: My friend called her a doll, but she didn't appreciate the compliment. (Highlights potential for misinterpretation.)

• В старом фильме главная героиня — настоящая красотка из 50-х. (In the old movie, the main heroine is a real doll from the 50s.)

  Translation: In the old movie, the main heroine is a real doll from the 50s. (Used in cultural or nostalgic references.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'кукла' (a feminine noun in the first declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with changes based on case and number:

'Красотка' is also a feminine noun and inflects similarly, but it is less commonly inflected in informal speech. It remains unchanged in its base form in many contexts due to its slang nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • кукла: куколка (a diminutive, affectionate form for a small doll)
  • красотка: красавица (more formal synonym for an attractive woman; implies deeper beauty)
• Antonyms:
  • кукла: урод (ugly thing, for the toy sense, though not direct)
  • красотка: страхолюдина (an ugly person, contrasting the slang sense)

Related Phrases:

• Кукла Барби (Barbie doll) - A common phrase referring to the popular toy; used in discussions of children's play or cultural icons.
• Красотка на обложке (Doll on the cover) - Refers to an attractive model in media; implies visual appeal in advertising.
• Играть в куклы (To play with dolls) - A phrase for childhood games; often used metaphorically for naive behavior.

Usage Notes:

'Кукла' directly corresponds to the literal English 'doll' as a toy and is neutral in most contexts, making it suitable for formal and informal use. However, 'красотка' is more akin to slang like 'doll' for a woman and should be used cautiously in formal settings to avoid sounding flirtatious or outdated. When choosing between translations, opt for 'кукла' in educational or descriptive contexts, and 'красотка' only in casual conversations. Grammatically, both are feminine nouns, so they require feminine agreement in adjectives and verbs (e.g., 'красивая кукла' for 'beautiful doll').

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'кукла' to directly translate slang 'doll' for a woman, which might sound literal and confusing. Correct: Use 'красотка' instead. Example: Incorrect - "Она кукла" (meaning she's attractive); Correct - "Она красотка". Explanation: 'Кукла' implies a toy, not a person, leading to misunderstandings.
• Mistake: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., saying "с кукла" instead of "с куклой" in instrumental case. Correct: Always decline based on case. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, unlike English, so learners must practice declensions to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'кукла' often evokes nostalgia for traditional folk dolls like matryoshka, which symbolize family and heritage. 'Красотка' reflects a lighthearted, sometimes objectifying view of beauty in media, influenced by Western pop culture, and may carry undertones of gender stereotypes in modern discussions.

Related Concepts:

• игрушка (toy)
• красивая (beautiful)
• модница (fashionable woman)