Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'flood'

English Word: flood

Key Russian Translations:

• наводнение [nə.vɐdʲˈnʲe.nʲje] - [Formal, Noun; Used in contexts like natural disasters or weather reports]
• затопить [zə.tɐˈpʲitʲ] - [Formal, Verb; Used when describing the action of flooding an area]
• залив [zɐˈlʲif] - [Informal, Noun; Sometimes used metaphorically for a flood-like overflow, e.g., of water or information]

Frequency: Medium - The word is commonly encountered in news, environmental discussions, and everyday conversations about weather, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for 'наводнение' and 'затопить' - Requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and verb conjugations; beginners may find it challenging due to irregular forms.

Pronunciation (Russian):

наводнение: [nə.vɐdʲˈnʲe.nʲje]

затопить: [zə.tɐˈpʲitʲ]

залив: [zɐˈlʲif]

Note on наводнение: The stress is on the third syllable ('nʲe'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants; pronounce it with a clear 'ye' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. As a noun: A large overflow of water causing inundation (e.g., natural disaster).

Translation(s) & Context:

• наводнение - Used in formal contexts like news reports or scientific discussions about floods.
• залив - Informal, often for smaller or metaphorical floods, such as in everyday speech about heavy rain.

Usage Examples:

• Во время сильного дождя произошло наводнение в низинах города.

  During the heavy rain, a flood occurred in the lowlands of the city.

• Из-за прорыва дамбы затопило несколько улиц.

  Due to the dam breaking, several streets were flooded.

• Ливень вызвал залив подвалов домов.

  The downpour caused a flood in the basements of the houses.

• Наводнение в этом регионе случается каждые несколько лет.

  Floods in this region happen every few years.

• После таяния снегов всегда есть риск затопления полей.

  After the snow melts, there's always a risk of flooding the fields.

2. As a verb: To overflow or inundate an area (e.g., causing water to cover land).

Translation(s) & Context:

• затопить - Used in dynamic contexts, such as describing events or actions in narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Река затопила близлежащие деревни во время паводка.

  The river flooded the nearby villages during the flood season.

• Если не починить трубу, она затопит весь дом.

  If we don't fix the pipe, it will flood the entire house.

• Весенние дожди часто затопляют дороги в сельской местности.

  Spring rains often flood the roads in rural areas.

• Затопить подвал можно, если не установить правильную дренажу.

  You can flood the basement if you don't install proper drainage.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Наводнение' is a neuter noun in the second declension. It follows standard Russian noun inflections with some irregularities in certain cases.

'Затопить' is a verb of the first conjugation. It is irregular in some forms:

• Present: затоплю, затопишь, затопит, затопим, затопите, затопят
• Past: затопил (masc.), затопила (fem.), затопило (neut.)
• Future: буду затоплять, etc.

'Залив' as a noun is masculine and follows first declension patterns, with no major irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • потоп - Similar to 'flood' but often implies a more catastrophic event.
  • паводок - Used specifically for seasonal flooding, like spring floods.
• Antonyms:
  • засуха - Refers to drought, the opposite of excessive water.
  • осушение - Means drying up or draining.

Related Phrases:

• Большое наводнение - A major flood; used in disaster contexts to describe large-scale events.
• Затопить улицу - To flood the street; common in urban emergency discussions.
• Паводковый период - Flood season; refers to times when floods are likely, often in spring.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'наводнение' directly corresponds to the noun form of 'flood' and is preferred in formal writing or official reports, while 'затопить' is the verb equivalent. Be mindful of context: use 'наводнение' for natural events and 'затопить' for actions. Russian nouns like 'наводнение' must agree in case, number, and gender, which differs from English. For learners, choose 'наводнение' over 'залив' in serious contexts to avoid sounding too casual. Synonyms like 'потоп' can add emphasis but may imply greater severity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'наводнение' without proper declension, e.g., saying "в наводнение" instead of "в наводнении" (correct prepositional case).

  Correct: "Я боюсь наводнения" (I fear a flood) vs. Incorrect: "Я боюсь наводнение". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always check the governing preposition.

• Error: Confusing 'затопить' with 'залить', which means to pour or fill, not necessarily flood. E.g., using 'залить' for a river flood.

  Correct: "Река затопила деревню" (The river flooded the village). Explanation: 'Затопить' specifically implies overwhelming with water, while 'залить' is for filling containers or surfaces.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, floods like the 'наводнение' are a significant cultural and historical concern, especially in regions like the Volga River basin. They often feature in literature and folklore, symbolizing chaos or renewal, as seen in works by authors like Tolstoy. Understanding this can help English speakers grasp the emotional weight behind the word in Russian media.

Related Concepts:

• река (river)
• дождь (rain)
• катастрофа (disaster)