Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'flop'

English Word: flop

Key Russian Translations:

• провал [pɐˈvral] - [Formal, Singular]
• фиаско [fʲɪˈaskə] - [Informal, Often used in media contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in discussions of failures, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions, with провал being straightforward, while фиаско may vary by context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

провал: [pɐˈvral]

Note on провал: The stress falls on the second syllable; ensure to pronounce the 'р' as a rolled 'r' for natural Russian intonation.

фиаско: [fʲɪˈaskə]

Note on фиаско: The initial 'ф' is soft and aspirated; this word is a loanword, so pronunciation is relatively consistent across dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A complete failure or fiasco (e.g., a movie or event that fails miserably)

Translation(s) & Context:

• провал - Used in formal or neutral contexts to describe a significant setback or failure, often in professional or critical discussions.
• фиаско - Applied in informal or dramatic contexts, especially for public failures like entertainment events.

Usage Examples:

• Этот фильм стал настоящим провалом в прокате.

  This film became a real flop at the box office.

• Её представление на конкурсе закончилось полным фиаско.

  Her performance at the competition ended in a complete flop.

• Бизнес-проект провалился из-за плохого планирования.

  The business project flopped due to poor planning.

• Фиаско этой кампании обсуждалось во всех новостях.

  The flop of this campaign was discussed in all the news.

• Несмотря на ожидания, продукт оказался провалом на рынке.

  Despite expectations, the product turned out to be a flop in the market.

Meaning 2: A type of casual footwear (e.g., flip-flops)

Translation(s) & Context:

• шлепки - Informal, everyday term for casual sandals or flip-flops, commonly used in spoken language.

Usage Examples:

• Летом я ношу шлепки на пляж.

  In summer, I wear flip-flops to the beach.

• Эти шлепки очень удобные для прогулок по дому.

  These flip-flops are very comfortable for walking around the house.

• Не надевай шлепки в дождь, они скользкие.

  Don't wear flip-flops in the rain; they're slippery.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'провал' (a masculine noun, second declension):

For 'фиаско' (neuter noun, indeclinable in most cases):

This word is often treated as indeclinable, meaning it remains 'фиаско' in all cases, which simplifies its use but requires attention in formal writing.

For 'шлепки' (feminine plural noun):

It is typically used in plural form and follows standard feminine plural declension, e.g., Genitive: шлепок.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: неудача (neudacha) - More general failure; фиаско (fiascko) - Similar to flop but with dramatic connotation.
• Antonyms: успех (uspekh) - Success, directly opposite in contexts of achievement.

Related Phrases:

• Полный провал - Complete failure (used to emphasize a total flop, as in a disastrous event).
• Фиаско на старте - Flop at the start (refers to an initial failure in projects or launches).
• Шлепки на пляже - Flip-flops at the beach (common casual phrase for everyday footwear).

Usage Notes:

'Провал' is the most direct equivalent to 'flop' in the sense of failure and is preferred in formal or written Russian, while 'фиаско' adds a layer of exaggeration, often borrowed from English contexts. For the footwear meaning, 'шлепки' is informal and region-specific; in urban areas, you might hear 'флип-флопы' as a direct loanword. Always consider the context: use 'провал' in professional settings and 'шлепки' in casual conversations. When choosing between translations, opt for 'провал' if the failure is serious, as it aligns closely with English 'flop' in business or entertainment.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'провал' as an indeclinable word. Correct: Remember to decline it properly, e.g., Incorrect: "Из-за провал" vs. Correct: "Из-за провала" (due to the flop). This mistake often stems from treating it like English nouns.

• Error: Confusing 'фиаско' with 'провал' in formal writing. Correct: 'Фиаско' is better for informal or sensational contexts; overuse can make text sound overly dramatic.

• Error: Mispronouncing the stress in 'провал' by placing it on the first syllable. Correct: Stress the second syllable to avoid sounding unnatural in Russian speech.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'провал' often carry a sense of resilience or humor in retrospect, as seen in references to historical events like failed Soviet projects. 'Фиаско' reflects a Western influence, commonly used in modern media to discuss entertainment flops, highlighting Russia's integration of global pop culture.

Related Concepts:

• успех (success)
• неудача (failure, more general)
• кризис (crisis)