Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hollow'

English Word: hollow

Key Russian Translations:

• полый [ˈpo.lɨj] - [Formal, used for objects that are empty inside, like a hollow tree]
• пустой [ˈpus.toj] - [Informal, often for spaces that are empty or void, but less precise for physical hollowness]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday descriptions of objects, but not as frequent as basic adjectives in Russian conversations)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of adjective declensions, but straightforward for learners familiar with basic vocabulary. For 'полый', it's B1; for 'пустой', it's A2 due to its commonality.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

полый: [ˈpo.lɨj]

пустой: [ˈpus.toj]

Note on полый: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'ы' sound can be challenging for English speakers as it's a back unrounded vowel; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As an adjective meaning 'empty inside or not solid'

Translation(s) & Context:

• полый - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as describing physical objects like pipes or bones; common in scientific or descriptive language.
• пустой - Used in everyday informal contexts for something lacking substance, like an empty room, but can overlap with 'hollow' metaphorically.

Usage Examples:

• Русский ствол дерева был полым, поэтому он легко сломался. (The tree trunk was hollow, so it broke easily.)

  English Translation: The tree trunk was hollow, so it broke easily.

• Эта полая трубка используется в строительстве для отвода воды. (This hollow tube is used in construction for draining water.)

  English Translation: This hollow tube is used in construction for draining water.

• Пустой звук эха в пещере звучал жутко. (The hollow sound of the echo in the cave sounded eerie.)

  English Translation: The hollow sound of the echo in the cave sounded eerie.

• Полый шоколадный шарик внутри был заполнен кремом. (The hollow chocolate ball was filled with cream inside.)

  English Translation: The hollow chocolate ball was filled with cream inside.

• Иногда пустой взгляд человека может указывать на внутреннюю пустоту. (A hollow look in a person's eyes can indicate inner emptiness.)

  English Translation: A hollow look in a person's eyes can indicate inner emptiness.

As a noun meaning 'a hole or cavity'

Translation(s) & Context:

• полость [ˈpo.ləsʲtʲ] - Used in anatomical or geological contexts, more precise for 'hollow' as a space.

Usage Examples:

• Врачи обнаружили полость в лёгких пациента. (The doctors discovered a hollow in the patient's lungs.)

  English Translation: The doctors discovered a hollow in the patient's lungs.

• Эта пещера образовала естественную полость в скале. (This cave formed a natural hollow in the rock.)

  English Translation: This cave formed a natural hollow in the rock.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For adjectives like 'полый' and 'пустой', Russian adjectives inflect based on gender, number, and case. They follow the standard first-declension pattern for hard-stem adjectives.

Note: 'Полость' as a noun is feminine and follows the third declension: Nominative - полость, Genitive - полости, etc. It does not change for gender but varies by case and number.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пустотелый (pustotelyy) - Similar to 'hollow' but more specific to man-made objects; implies a designed emptiness.
  • пустынный (pustynnyy) - For metaphorical hollowness, like desolate or empty spaces.
• Antonyms:
  • полный (polnyy) - Full or solid, directly opposite to 'hollow'.
  • наполненный (napolnennyy) - Filled, emphasizing completeness.

Related Phrases:

• Полая сфера - A hollow sphere; used in physics or engineering contexts.
• Пустой звук - A hollow sound; often describes echoes or insincere speech.
• Внутренняя полость - Inner hollow; common in medical or anatomical descriptions, meaning "internal cavity".

Usage Notes:

When translating 'hollow' to Russian, choose 'полый' for physical, structural emptiness (e.g., a hollow object), as it maintains a precise correspondence. 'Пустой' is more versatile for general emptiness but can imply emotional or metaphorical voids, so use it cautiously in formal contexts. Note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify, which is a key grammatical difference from English. For learners, start with nominative forms and practice in sentences to avoid errors in agreement.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'пустой' interchangeably with 'полый' without considering context. For example, saying "пустой трубка" instead of "полая трубка" for a hollow tube.

  Correct: Полая трубка (hollow tube). Explanation: 'Пустой' implies general emptiness, not specifically an internal void, which can lead to confusion in technical descriptions.

• Error: Forgetting adjective agreement, e.g., saying "полый дом" for a feminine noun like "дом" (which is masculine, so it's correct, but mix-ups occur with feminine nouns like "трубка" – should be "полая трубка").

  Correct: Ensure the adjective ends match the noun's gender and case. Explanation: English speakers often overlook this, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'пустой' can carry metaphorical weight in literature, such as in works by Tolstoy, where a 'hollow' existence reflects spiritual emptiness. This ties into broader themes of introspection in Russian philosophy, emphasizing that what seems 'hollow' might symbolize deeper existential voids, unlike in English where it's often more literal.

Related Concepts:

• пустота (emptiness)
• каверна (cavern)
• внутренний (internal)