Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'firearm'

English Word: firearm

Key Russian Translations:

• огнестрельное оружие [oɡnʲɪˈstrʲelʲnəje ɐˈrʊʐʲɪje] - [Formal, used in legal, military, or technical contexts]
• ружьё [ruˈʐʲjɵ] - [Informal, specific to rifles or long-barreled firearms; Plural: ружья]

Frequency: Medium (Common in contexts like law enforcement, history, and media, but not everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves compound nouns and specific terminology; for 'огнестрельное оружие', it's B2 due to its formal structure, while 'ружьё' is B1 for simpler learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

огнестрельное оружие: [oɡnʲɪˈstrʲelʲnəje ɐˈrʊʐʲɪje]

ружьё: [ruˈʐʲjɵ]

Note on огнестрельное оружие: The stress falls on the third syllable of "огнестрельное" (strʲelʲ-), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants; variations in regional accents may slightly alter vowel sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: A portable weapon that uses explosive force to propel a projectile, such as a gun or rifle.

Translation(s) & Context:

• огнестрельное оружие - Used in formal, legal, or official contexts, such as discussing regulations or history.
• ружьё - Applied in informal or specific scenarios, like hunting or describing personal firearms.

Usage Examples:

• В музее выставлено несколько образцов огнестрельного оружия из XIX века.

  In the museum, several samples of firearms from the 19th century are exhibited.

• Полиция конфисковала незаконное ружьё у подозреваемого.

  The police confiscated an illegal firearm from the suspect.

• Огнестрельное оружие требует строгого контроля, чтобы предотвратить преступления.

  Firearms require strict control to prevent crimes.

• Он унаследовал старое ружьё от деда и использует его для охоты.

  He inherited an old firearm from his grandfather and uses it for hunting.

• В фильме показано, как герой мастерски обращается с огнестрельным оружием.

  In the film, the hero skillfully handles firearms.

Secondary meaning: Any device or tool that operates on explosive principles, metaphorically (e.g., in engineering).

Translation(s) & Context:

• огнестрельное оружие - Rarely used metaphorically, but possible in technical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Инженеры разрабатывают новое огнестрельное оружие для промышленных взрывов.

  Engineers are developing new firearms for industrial explosions (metaphorical use in engineering contexts).

• Это устройство работает как огнестрельное оружие, но в безопасном режиме.

  This device operates like a firearm but in a safe mode.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Огнестрельное оружие" is a compound noun phrase. "Огнестрельное" is an adjective that agrees with "оружие" (neuter noun) in gender, number, and case. It follows standard Russian adjective inflections.

For "ружьё" (neuter noun, 3rd declension): It has irregular inflections in some cases.

Note: "Оружие" is generally indeclinable in plural forms in modern usage, but traditional inflections are shown above for completeness.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: пистолет (pistol; more specific), винтовка (rifle; for long-barreled types), вооружение (armament; broader term) - Note: "вооружение" is used for military contexts with subtle differences in scale.
• Antonyms: холодное оружие (cold weapon, e.g., knives), безоружие (unarmed state)

Related Phrases:

• незаконное огнестрельное оружие - Illegal firearms; Used in legal discussions to refer to prohibited weapons.
• огнестрельное оружие для самообороны - Firearms for self-defense; Common in debates about personal security.
• собрание огнестрельного оружия - Firearms collection; Refers to hobbyist or museum contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "огнестрельное оружие" directly corresponds to the English "firearm" in formal settings, emphasizing explosive propulsion, while "ружьё" is more casual and specific. Choose based on context: use "огнестрельное оружие" for legal or general discussions to avoid ambiguity. Be mindful of grammar—adjectives like "огнестрельное" must agree in case, number, and gender. In everyday speech, Russians might prefer synonyms like "пистолет" for handguns. This term often carries regulatory implications in Russia due to strict gun laws.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "огнестрельное оружие" interchangeably with "ружьё" without considering specificity. For example, learners might say "Я имею ружьё" when meaning a handgun, but "ружьё" implies a rifle.

  Correct: "Я имею пистолет" for a handgun. Explanation: "Ружьё" is not universal; it excludes handguns, leading to confusion in descriptions.

• Error: Forgetting case agreement, e.g., saying "с огнестрельным оружием" incorrectly as "с огнестрельное оружие".

  Correct: "с огнестрельным оружием". Explanation: Adjectives must inflect; this is a common oversight for English speakers used to invariant nouns.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, firearms like "огнестрельное оружие" are heavily regulated due to historical events such as the Russian Revolution and World War II, symbolizing both defense and potential for violence. They often appear in cultural narratives, like in literature by authors such as Tolstoy, where they represent conflict or heroism, reflecting a societal emphasis on collective security over individual gun rights.

Related Concepts:

• патроны (ammunition)
• баллистика (ballistics)
• самооборона (self-defense)