Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'goalkeeper'

English Word: goalkeeper

Key Russian Translations:

• вратарь (/vrɐˈtarʲ/) - [Formal, Sports Context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in sports discussions but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun inflections and sports vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вратарь: /vrɐˈtarʲ/

Note on вратарь: The stress falls on the second syllable; the 'р' is rolled, which is a common feature in Russian phonetics. Be mindful of the soft sign 'ь' at the end, which palatalizes the preceding consonant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A player in sports like soccer or hockey whose role is to prevent the opposing team from scoring by guarding the goal.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вратарь - Used in formal and informal sports contexts, especially in soccer (футбол) or ice hockey (хоккей).

Usage Examples:

• Вратарь команды спас гол в последнюю минуту. (The goalkeeper of the team saved the goal in the last minute.)

  English Translation: The goalkeeper of the team saved the goal in the last minute.

• Молодой вратарь дебютировал в матче против сильного противника. (The young goalkeeper made his debut in the match against a strong opponent.)

  English Translation: The young goalkeeper made his debut in the match against a strong opponent.

• Вратарь хоккейной сборной России известен своей реакцией. (The goalkeeper of the Russian hockey team is known for his reflexes.)

  English Translation: The goalkeeper of the Russian hockey team is known for his reflexes.

• Команда выиграла благодаря отличной игре вратаря. (The team won thanks to the excellent performance of the goalkeeper.)

  English Translation: The team won thanks to the excellent performance of the goalkeeper.

• Вратарь часто тренируется, чтобы улучшить свою технику. (The goalkeeper often trains to improve his technique.)

  English Translation: The goalkeeper often trains to improve his technique.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Вратарь" is a masculine noun in the second declension. It follows regular patterns for Russian nouns, with changes based on case and number. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: The plural forms are less commonly used, as "вратарь" typically refers to an individual role, but they apply in contexts like team discussions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: голкипер (golkiper) - Often used interchangeably in modern contexts, especially in English-influenced sports commentary; ворище (vorishche) - Informal, archaic variant for goalkeepers in folklore or literary descriptions.
• Antonyms: нападающий (napadayushchiy) - Forward or attacker, as it represents the opposite role on the field.

Related Phrases:

• Главный вратарь - Main goalkeeper; used in team hierarchies, e.g., in professional sports.
• Запасной вратарь - Backup goalkeeper; refers to a substitute player.
• Вратарь на выезде - Goalkeeper on an away game; highlights travel in sports contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Вратарь" directly corresponds to the English "goalkeeper" in sports terminology, particularly soccer and hockey. It is neutral in terms of formality but is most common in formal contexts like news reports or match analyses. When using it, pay attention to case inflections based on sentence structure—e.g., use genitive for possession ("вратаря команды"). If multiple translations exist, choose "вратарь" for traditional Russian contexts and "голкипер" for international or modern influences. Avoid using it outside sports to prevent confusion with other roles.

Common Errors:

• Error: Incorrect case usage, e.g., saying "с вратарь" instead of "с вратарем" (with the goalkeeper).
  Correct: Use instrumental case "вратарем" after prepositions like "с". Explanation: Russian requires precise case agreement, which English learners often overlook.
• Error: Confusing with similar words, e.g., using "вор" (thief) mistakenly due to phonetic similarity.
  Correct: "Вратарь" has no relation; always double-check context. Explanation: This mix-up can occur in beginners due to shared sounds, but context clarifies.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the role of a "вратарь" holds significant prestige in sports like soccer and hockey, which are deeply tied to national identity. For instance, legendary goalkeepers like Lev Yashin symbolize Russian sporting excellence and resilience, often featured in media and folklore, reflecting themes of defense and heroism in Soviet-era narratives.

Related Concepts:

• футбол (football)
• хоккей (hockey)
• спортсмен (athlete)