Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hairpin'

English Word: hairpin

Key Russian Translations:

• заколка [zəˈkolkə] - [Informal, Everyday use for hair accessories]
• шпилька [ˈʃpʲilʲkə] - [Informal, Often used for bobby pins or small pins]
• hairpin поворот [ˈheəpɪn pəvɐˈrot] - [Formal, Technical term for a sharp bend in roads or paths]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like fashion and driving, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: A2 for 'заколка' and 'шпилька' (Beginner level, as they are simple nouns); B1 for 'hairpin поворот' (Intermediate, due to its compound nature and contextual usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

заколка: [zəˈkolkə]

шпилька: [ˈʃpʲilʲkə]

hairpin поворот: [ˈheəpɪn pəvɐˈrot] (Note: The English loanword 'hairpin' is pronounced with a Russian accent, emphasizing the first syllable)

Note on заколка: The stress falls on the second syllable ('kol'), which can be tricky for English speakers used to stress on the first syllable. Ensure a soft 'l' sound.

Note on шпилька: Pronounce the 'sh' as in 'sheep', with a palatalized 'l' for a more authentic Russian sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A small clip or pin for fastening the hair (Primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• заколка - Used in casual, everyday conversations about personal grooming or fashion items.
• шпилька - Applied in contexts involving smaller, more decorative pins, often in beauty or accessory discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Она всегда носит заколку, чтобы уложить волосы в прическу.

  She always wears a hairpin to style her hair into a neat updo.

• Моя сестра потеряла свою любимую шпильку во время прогулки.

  My sister lost her favorite hairpin during the walk.

• В магазине есть разные заколки для разных типов волос.

  The store has various hairpins for different hair types.

• Шпилька идеально подходит для фиксации коротких прядей.

  The hairpin is perfect for securing short strands.

• Дети часто играют с цветными заколками, делая забавные прически.

  Children often play with colorful hairpins, creating fun hairstyles.

A sharp bend or turn in a road or path (Secondary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• hairpin поворот - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as driving instructions or geography descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• На этой дороге есть опасный hairpin поворот, где нужно снизить скорость.

  On this road, there's a dangerous hairpin turn where you need to slow down.

• Туристы наслаждались видами с hairpin поворота в горах.

  Tourists enjoyed the views from the hairpin turn in the mountains.

• Водитель осторожно преодолел hairpin поворот во время дождя.

  The driver carefully navigated the hairpin turn during the rain.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'заколка' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

Note: 'шпилька' follows a similar feminine pattern with regular inflections. 'hairpin поворот' is a compound phrase where 'поворот' ( masculine noun) inflects as: Nominative - поворот, Genitive - поворота, etc. It does not change irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: гребень (greben' - for a comb-like hairpin), шпиль (shpil' - for a pin variant)
• Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as these are physical objects; conceptually, something like распущенные волосы - rasplushchennye volosy, meaning loose hair)

Note: 'гребень' is more formal and refers to a comb, while 'шпиль' is a variant for smaller pins, often used in specific contexts like jewelry.

Related Phrases:

• Декоративная заколка - A decorative hairpin, often used in fashion contexts.
• Металлическая шпилька - A metal hairpin, referring to durable accessories.
• hairpin поворот дороги - Hairpin turn of the road, used in navigation or travel descriptions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'заколка' is the most direct and common translation for 'hairpin' as a hair accessory, suitable for informal daily conversations. 'Шпилька' is interchangeable but often implies a smaller or more pointed design. For the road-related meaning, 'hairpin поворот' incorporates the English term as a loanword, which is typical in modern Russian for technical concepts. Be mindful of context: use 'заколка' in personal care discussions and 'hairpin поворот' in driving or geography. Grammatically, these are nouns, so they inflect based on case, as shown earlier. When choosing between translations, opt for 'заколка' for everyday items and 'шпилька' for precision in beauty contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: English speakers might mistakenly use 'булавка' (bulavka, meaning safety pin) when referring to a hairpin, confusing it with general pins. Correct usage: Use 'заколка' for hairpins to avoid implying a fastening mechanism like a pin. Example of error: "Я потеряла булавку для волос" (incorrect). Correct: "Я потеряла заколку для волос" - This ensures the context is about hair styling, not sewing.

• Error: Forgetting inflections, e.g., saying "в заколка" instead of "в заколке" (in the hairpin). Correct: Always adjust for the prepositional case as per Russian grammar rules.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, hairpins like 'заколка' are not just functional but also symbolic in traditional attire, such as in folk costumes or during holidays like Maslenitsa. They often feature decorative elements reflecting regional artistry, emphasizing beauty and practicality in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• гребень (comb)
• прическа (hairstyle)
• поворот (turn)