Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'book'

English Word: book

Key Russian Translations:

• книга [ˈknʲiɡə] - [Formal, Singular, Noun]
• книги [ˈknʲiɡʲi] - [Formal, Plural, Noun]
• заказать [zəkɐˈzatʲ] - [Informal, Verb, Used in contexts like booking a reservation]

Frequency: High (This word and its translations are commonly used in everyday Russian, especially in educational and travel contexts.)

Difficulty: A1 for 'книга' as a noun (Beginner level, basic vocabulary); B1 for 'заказать' as a verb (Intermediate, involves verb conjugation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

книга: [ˈknʲiɡə]

книги: [ˈknʲiɡʲi]

заказать: [zəkɐˈzatʲ]

Note on книга: The 'г' sound is a voiced velar fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it softens before 'и'. Pronounce it with a soft 'k' like in 'key'.

Note on заказать: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'а' in the second syllable is pronounced as a short 'a'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A physical or digital object containing written or printed pages (Noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• книга - Used in general contexts for books, such as literature, textbooks, or novels; common in formal and informal settings.
• книги - Plural form, used when referring to multiple books, e.g., in a library or collection.

Usage Examples:

• Я читаю интересную книгу о русской истории.

  I am reading an interesting book about Russian history.

• Эта книга лежит на столе в гостиной.

  This book is lying on the table in the living room.

• В библиотеке много книг на разных языках.

  In the library, there are many books in different languages.

• Моя любимая книга — это "Война и мир".

  My favorite book is "War and Peace".

Meaning 2: To reserve or book something, like a ticket or appointment (Verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заказать - Used in contexts involving reservations, such as booking a hotel or flight; informal and common in everyday transactions.

Usage Examples:

• Я хочу заказать билет на самолет.

  I want to book a ticket for the plane.

• Пожалуйста, закажите столик в ресторане на вечер.

  Please book a table in the restaurant for the evening.

• Он заказал номер в отеле заранее.

  He booked a room in the hotel in advance.

• Можно заказать такси через приложение?

  Can I book a taxi through the app?

• Не забудьте заказать места в театре.

  Don't forget to book seats in the theater.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'книга' (feminine noun), it follows standard Russian noun declension patterns. It is a first-declension noun and changes based on case, number, and gender agreement.

For 'заказать' (verb, perfective), it is a first-conjugation verb with regular patterns. Infinitive: заказать; Past: заказал (m), заказала (f); Future: закажу, etc. It does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: том (tom - for a volume of a book), издание (izdaniye - edition)
• Antonyms: For 'книга' as a concept, none direct; for 'заказать', perhaps отменить (otmenit' - to cancel), as it opposes booking.

Related Phrases:

• Читать книгу - To read a book; Used in literary or educational contexts.
• Заказать билет - To book a ticket; Common in travel scenarios.
• Книга рецептов - Book of recipes; Refers to a cookbook, often in culinary discussions.

Usage Notes:

The Russian word 'книга' directly corresponds to the English 'book' as a noun and is feminine, so adjectives and verbs must agree in gender (e.g., 'интересная книга' not 'интересный книга'). For the verb 'заказать', it's more precise for reservations than general booking; use it in transactional contexts. If the English 'book' implies scheduling, choose 'заказать' over other verbs like 'бронировать' (bronirovat') for hotels. Be mindful of context: in formal writing, full inflections are essential.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'книга' without proper gender agreement, e.g., saying "большой книга" (incorrect) instead of "большая книга" (correct). Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender; this error stems from English's lack of gender.
• Mistake: Confusing 'заказать' with 'купить' (to buy), e.g., using 'заказать книгу' when meaning to purchase one outright. Correct: Use 'купить книгу' for buying; 'заказать' implies reserving or ordering in advance.
• Mistake: Forgetting case changes, e.g., saying "Я иду в книга" instead of "Я иду в книгу" (for "I am going to the book"). Explanation: Prepositional case requires 'книгу' in some contexts; always check the sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'книга' holds significant cultural value due to Russia's rich literary heritage. Classics like Tolstoy's "War and Peace" (Война и мир) are national symbols, and books are central to education and intellectual life. Reading is encouraged from a young age, with public libraries being common community hubs.

Related Concepts:

• библиотека (library)
• литература (literature)
• издательство (publishing house)