Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'gas'

English Word: gas

Key Russian Translations:

• газ [ɡaz] - [Common, Neutral]
• бензин [bʲɪnˈzʲin] - [Informal, Specific to fuel or gasoline]

Frequency: Medium (e.g., 'газ' is commonly used in everyday contexts like energy or chemistry, while 'бензин' is frequent in automotive discussions)

Difficulty: A2 for 'газ' (Beginner level, as it's a basic noun); B1 for 'бензин' (Intermediate, due to context-specific usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

газ: [ɡaz]

Note on газ: The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in 'go', but can vary slightly in rapid speech. Stress is on the first syllable.

бензин: [bʲɪnˈzʲin]

Note on бензин: The 'зʲ' is a palatalized 'z' sound, which may be challenging for English speakers; it's softer than in English words. Stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A gaseous substance or state of matter (e.g., natural gas, air in gas form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• газ - Used in scientific, everyday, or industrial contexts to refer to gases like methane or air.

Usage Examples:

• В доме есть утечка газа. (V dome est' utechka gaza.)

  There is a gas leak in the house. (This example shows 'газ' in a domestic safety context.)

• Горючий газ используется для отопления. (Goryuchiy gaz ispol'zuetsya dlya otopleniya.)

  Combustible gas is used for heating. (Illustrates 'газ' in an energy-related sentence.)

• В лаборатории изучают свойства газов. (V laboratorii izuchayut svoystva gazov.)

  In the laboratory, they study the properties of gases. (Demonstrates plural form in a scientific setting.)

• Газ в баллоне под давлением. (Gaz v ballone pod davleniem.)

  The gas in the cylinder is under pressure. (Shows 'газ' with prepositional phrases.)

• При нагревании вода превращается в газ. (Pri nagrevanii voda prevrashchaetsya v gaz.)

  When heated, water turns into gas. (Highlights 'газ' in a physical state change context.)

Meaning 2: Gasoline or fuel for vehicles (e.g., petrol in British English)

Translation(s) & Context:

• бензин - Commonly used in casual or automotive contexts, especially for vehicle fuel.

Usage Examples:

• Моя машина работает на бензине. (Moya mashina rabotaet na benzine.)

  My car runs on gasoline. (Basic usage in a vehicle context.)

• Цена на бензин растёт каждый день. (Tsena na benzine rastët kazhdyy den'.)

  The price of gasoline is rising every day. (Shows 'бензин' in economic discussions.)

• Заправьте бак бензином. (Zaprav'te bak benzine.)

  Fill the tank with gasoline. (Imperative form in a practical scenario.)

• Бензин в этой стране дорогой. (Benzin v etoy strane dorogoy.)

  Gasoline is expensive in this country. (Used with adjectives for description.)

• Электромобили не нуждаются в бензине. (Elekтромobili ne nuzhdayutsya v benzine.)

  Electric cars do not require gasoline. (Contrasts with alternative fuels.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'газ' and 'бензин' are masculine nouns in Russian, which follow standard declension patterns for the third declension.

For 'газ' (a consonant-stem noun):

For 'бензин' (also a masculine noun with regular inflection):

These nouns do not have irregular forms but change based on case, number, and context.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for газ: пар (par) - Often used for vapor or steam; аэрозоль (aerozol) - For aerosol forms.
• Synonyms for бензин: горючее (goryuchee) - A more general term for fuel; топливо (toplivo) - Broadly means fuel but less specific.
• Antonyms for газ: жидкость (zhidkost') - Liquid; твердое вещество (tvordoe veshchestvo) - Solid substance.
• Antonyms for бензин: электричество (elektrichestvo) - Electricity, as an alternative energy source.

Related Phrases:

• Горящий газ (Goryashchiy gaz) - Burning gas; a phrase used for flammable gases in safety contexts.
• Заправить бензином (Zapravit' benzine) - To fill up with gasoline; common in automotive routines.
• Природный газ (Prirodnyy gaz) - Natural gas; refers to a specific type of gas resource.

Usage Notes:

'Газ' directly corresponds to the English 'gas' as a state of matter and is neutral in most contexts, but avoid using it for vehicle fuel to prevent confusion. 'Бензин' is the precise equivalent for gasoline and is more informal; in formal writing, opt for 'бензин' over generic terms. Be mindful of case changes in Russian sentences, as they affect meaning (e.g., genitive for possession). When choosing between translations, use 'газ' for scientific or general references and 'бензин' for everyday fuel discussions.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'газ' with 'бензин' and using 'газ' for gasoline. Correct: Используйте 'бензин' для топлива (Ispol'zuyte 'benzine' dlya topliva) instead of 'газ'. Explanation: In Russian, 'газ' refers to gases in general, not fuel, which can lead to misunderstandings in automotive contexts.
• Error: Forgetting case endings, e.g., saying 'в газ' instead of 'в газе'. Correct: Use 'в газе' (v gaze) for prepositional case. Explanation: Russian requires accurate declension; incorrect cases can alter the sentence's grammatical structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, 'газ' often evokes cultural references to natural gas resources, as Russia is a major exporter. Phrases like 'газовая труба' (gas pipeline) are tied to historical events, such as energy disputes with Europe, highlighting Russia's geopolitical role in global energy markets.

Related Concepts:

• Нефть (neft') - Oil
• Топливо (toplivo) - Fuel
• Атмосфера (atmosfera) - Atmosphere