Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ford'

English Word: ford

Key Russian Translations:

• брод /brod/ - [Formal, used in geographical or historical contexts]

Frequency: Low (This word is not commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in literature, geography, or historical discussions.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of Russian nouns and cases, as per CEFR standards.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

брод: /brod/ (The 'б' is a voiced bilabial stop, similar to 'b' in English "bed".)

Note on брод: Be cautious with the vowel sounds; the 'o' is pronounced as a mid-back rounded vowel, and stress falls on the first syllable. Regional variations may soften the 'r' in some dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A shallow place in a river or stream that can be crossed on foot or by vehicle.

Translation(s) & Context:

• брод - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as geography, history, or literature, to describe a natural crossing point.

Usage Examples:

• Мы перешли реку через брод, чтобы избежать моста.

  We crossed the river through the ford to avoid the bridge.

• В старые времена путешественники часто использовали брод для переправы.

  In old times, travelers often used the ford for crossing.

• После дождя брод стал слишком глубоким для пешего перехода.

  After the rain, the ford became too deep for walking across.

• Карта показывает брод недалеко от деревни.

  The map shows a ford near the village.

• Исторический брод был важным стратегическим пунктом в войне.

  The historical ford was an important strategic point in the war.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"брод" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the third declension. It follows standard patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant, with changes based on case and number. There are no irregularities, but it does inflect for grammatical cases.

Note: This noun does not change in the plural form for all cases if context implies multiple instances, but standard inflections apply as shown.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • переправа (more general term for any crossing, often implying a man-made structure)
  • мелководье (emphasizes shallow water but less specific to crossings)
• Antonyms:
  • глубина (depth, referring to deep water that cannot be crossed easily)
  • мост (bridge, as an artificial alternative to a natural ford)

Related Phrases:

• Перейти через брод (To cross through the ford) - A common phrase used in narratives to describe river crossings in historical or adventurous contexts.
• Брод в реке (Ford in the river) - Refers to a specific geographical feature, often in maps or descriptions.
• Искать брод (To search for a ford) - Implies looking for a safe crossing point, commonly in survival or exploratory scenarios.

Usage Notes:

• The English word "ford" directly corresponds to "брод" in Russian, but it's more commonly used in formal, literary, or geographical contexts rather than everyday speech. English speakers should note that Russian requires correct case usage based on sentence structure—for example, use the genitive case after prepositions like "через" (through).
• In informal settings, Russians might prefer alternatives like "мелкое место" (shallow spot) to describe the same concept, so "брод" could sound archaic or overly precise.
• When choosing between translations, "брод" is ideal for natural, historical contexts, while "переправа" might be better for man-made or broader crossings.
• Grammatically, always consider gender and case agreement; "брод" is masculine, so adjectives and verbs must agree accordingly.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "брод" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Мы идем к брод" instead of "Мы идем к броду" (dative case required after "к").
  Correct: "Мы идем к броду." (We are going to the ford.)
  Explanation: Russian prepositions dictate case changes, which English learners often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.
• Error: Confusing "брод" with "бродить" (to wander), which is a verb unrelated to geography.
  Correct: Use "брод" only as a noun for a crossing point.
  Explanation: These words sound similar but have different meanings; mixing them can cause confusion in context.
• Error: Overusing "брод" in modern contexts where "мост" (bridge) is more appropriate.
  Correct: Reserve "брод" for natural features.
  Explanation: This can make speech sound outdated; English learners should assess context for naturalness.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and history, "брод" often appears in folklore and literature, such as in epic tales like those of Russian folk heroes crossing rivers during quests. It symbolizes adventure, risk, and resourcefulness, evoking images from works like Pushkin's poetry or historical accounts of military campaigns, where fords were critical strategic points.

Related Concepts:

• река (river)
• переправа (crossing)
• мелководье (shallow water)