Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'goal'

English Word: goal

Key Russian Translations:

• Цель [tsɛlʲ] - [Formal, Singular]
• Гол [ɡol] - [Informal, Sports-related, Used in contexts like football or hockey]

Frequency: High (e.g., 'Цель' is commonly used in everyday language, business, and education; 'Гол' is medium in sports contexts)

Difficulty: B1 for 'Цель' (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun inflections); B2 for 'Гол' (Upper-Intermediate, due to its specific contextual usage and less frequent everyday application)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Цель: [tsɛlʲ]

Note on Цель: The soft 'л' sound (palatalized 'l') can be tricky for English speakers; it's similar to the 'l' in 'million'. Pronounce with a clear 'ts' at the beginning.

Audio: []

Гол: [ɡol]

Note on Гол: The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, pronounced like the 'g' in 'go', but ensure it's not aspirated as in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: An aim or objective in life, work, or planning

Translation(s) & Context:

• Цель - Used in formal or professional settings, such as setting personal or business objectives.

Usage Examples:

• Моя цель — выучить русский язык за год.

  My goal is to learn Russian in a year.

• Каждый студент должен иметь четкую цель в обучении.

  Every student should have a clear goal in their studies.

• Эта цель кажется недостижимой, но мы постараемся.

  This goal seems unattainable, but we'll try.

• В бизнес-плане указано несколько ключевых целей.

  The business plan outlines several key goals.

Meaning 2: A point scored in sports, such as football or hockey

Translation(s) & Context:

• Гол - Used specifically in sports commentary or casual discussions about games.

Usage Examples:

• Игрок забил гол в последние минуты матча.

  The player scored a goal in the last minutes of the match.

• Эта команда известна своими быстрыми голами.

  This team is known for its quick goals.

• Гол был отменен из-за офсайда.

  The goal was disallowed due to offside.

• Зрители аплодировали после красивого гола.

  The audience applauded after a beautiful goal.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'Цель' (feminine noun, 3rd declension):

Note: 'Цель' follows standard feminine noun patterns with no irregularities.

For 'Гол' (masculine noun, follows standard patterns with some sports-specific usages):

'Гол' is invariant in some informal contexts but follows regular masculine endings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Задача (zadacha) - More task-oriented, often used interchangeably with 'Цель' in planning.
  • Целевое назначение (tselovoe naznacheniye) - Formal synonym for 'Цель', emphasizing purpose.
  • Очко (ochko) - Informal synonym for 'Гол' in some sports like basketball.
• Antonyms:
  • Провал (provаl) - Failure or flop, opposite of achieving a 'Цель'.
  • Мимо (mimo) - Miss, as in failing to score a 'Гол'.

Related Phrases:

• Достичь цели (dostich' tseli) - To achieve the goal; used in motivational contexts.
• Забить гол (zabit' gol) - To score a goal; common in sports narratives.
• Короткосрочная цель (korotkosrochnaya tsel') - Short-term goal; refers to immediate objectives.

Usage Notes:

The English 'goal' translates to 'Цель' for abstract or long-term objectives, making it a direct equivalent in formal writing or speeches. Choose 'Гол' only in sports contexts to avoid confusion. Note the grammatical gender: 'Цель' is feminine, so it requires feminine agreement in adjectives and verbs (e.g., "эта цель важна" - this goal is important). For learners, 'Цель' is versatile across registers, while 'Гол' is idiomatic and region-specific in Russia.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'Цель' in sports contexts, e.g., saying "Я забил цель" instead of "Я забил гол".
  Correct: "Я забил гол" (I scored a goal). Explanation: 'Цель' means objective, not a scored point, leading to semantic mismatch.
• Error: Forgetting noun inflections, e.g., using 'Цель' in genitive as 'Цель' instead of 'Цели'.
  Correct: In a sentence like "ради цели" (for the goal), it should be "ради цели" but ensure context fits. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'Цель' often ties to themes of perseverance in literature and history, such as in Soviet-era propaganda emphasizing collective goals. 'Гол' in sports like football reflects national pride, especially during events like the World Cup, where scoring a goal can symbolize unity and achievement.

Related Concepts:

• Планы (plany) - Plans
• Успех (uspeh) - Success
• Соревнование (sorevnovaniye) - Competition