Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'huddle'

English Word: huddle

Key Russian Translations:

• Группа [ˈɡru.pə] - [Informal, General context for a close group]
• Сходка [ˈsxot.kə] - [Informal, Used in sports or tactical discussions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday conversations and sports contexts, but not as frequent as basic nouns like "group")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for "Группа" as it involves basic noun declensions; B2 for "Сходка" due to contextual usage and less common vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Группа: [ˈɡru.pə]

Note on Группа: The stress falls on the first syllable; be mindful of the soft "г" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers due to its guttural quality.

Audio: []

Сходка: [ˈsxot.kə]

Note on Сходка: The initial "сх" cluster is pronounced with a strong fricative "х" sound, similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch"; this is a common point of difficulty for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: A small group of people or things positioned closely together, often for warmth, discussion, or protection.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Группа - Used in informal or everyday contexts to describe a casual gathering, such as friends huddling for warmth.
• Сходка - Applied in specific contexts like sports, where it refers to a quick team meeting on the field.

Usage Examples:

• Дети образовали группу, чтобы поиграть в снегу.

  The children formed a huddle to play in the snow.

• В холодный вечер мы стояли в группе, ожидая автобуса.

  On a cold evening, we stood in a huddle, waiting for the bus.

• Группа туристов быстро собралась, чтобы спрятаться от дождя.

  The group of tourists quickly huddled to shelter from the rain.

• После гола футболисты устроили сходку на поле.

  After the goal, the football players held a huddle on the field.

• В парке люди образовали группу, обсуждая новости.

  In the park, people formed a huddle to discuss the news.

As a verb: To gather closely together, often for discussion, warmth, or strategy.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Собираться в группу - Used in narrative or descriptive contexts to show people coming together informally.
• Устроить сходку - Common in dynamic settings like sports or urgent meetings.

Usage Examples:

• Игроки собрались в группу, чтобы обсудить тактику.

  The players huddled to discuss tactics.

• Друзья собрались в группу у костра, чтобы погреться.

  Friends huddled around the campfire to get warm.

• Во время перерыва команда устроила сходку для корректировки плана.

  During the break, the team huddled to adjust their plan.

• Люди собрались в группу, чтобы защититься от ветра.

  People huddled together to protect themselves from the wind.

• В офисе коллеги устроили быструю сходку для решения проблемы.

  In the office, colleagues huddled quickly to solve the problem.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "Группа" (feminine noun, 1st declension):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Группа	Группы
Genitive	Группы	Групп
Dative	Группе	Группам
Accusative	Группу	Группы
Instrumental	Группой	Группами
Prepositional	Группе	Группах

Note: "Группа" follows regular feminine noun patterns with no irregularities.

For "Сходка" (feminine noun, similar to "Группа"):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Сходка	Сходки
Genitive	Сходки	Сходок
Dative	Сходке	Сходкам
Accusative	Сходку	Сходки
Instrumental	Сходкой	Сходками
Prepositional	Сходке	Сходках

"Сходка" is invariant in most forms and follows standard patterns, making it straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Толпа (crowd) - Similar to "huddle" but implies a larger, less organized group; often used in urban contexts.
  • Стая (flock) - For animal-related huddles, with a connotation of natural grouping.
• Antonyms:
  • Рассеяние (dispersion) - The opposite of gathering, implying spreading out.
  • Разделение (separation) - Used when groups break apart.

Related Phrases:

• Собраться в кучу - To huddle together; often used for informal gatherings. (English: Literally "to gather in a pile," implying closeness for protection or discussion.)
• Устроить быструю сходку - To have a quick huddle; common in sports or business. (English: Used for brief, strategic meetings.)
• Группа для тепла - Huddle for warmth; a phrase emphasizing physical closeness in cold weather. (English: Highlights survival or comfort scenarios.)

Usage Notes:

"Huddle" translates variably in Russian based on context: "Группа" is a neutral, everyday term for a close group, while "Сходка" is more specific to dynamic or tactical situations like sports. English speakers should note that Russian requires attention to case and gender—e.g., "Группа" changes form based on grammatical role. In formal writing, opt for "Группа" over "Сходка" to avoid colloquialism. When choosing between translations, consider the setting: informal for friends vs. professional for teams.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "Группа" in sports contexts without proper inflection, e.g., saying "Игроки в группа" instead of "Игроки в группе."
  Correct: "Игроки собрались в группе." (Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case; here, it should be prepositional for location.)
• Mistake: Confusing "Сходка" with "Собрание" (meeting), leading to overuse in non-tactical contexts.
  Correct: Use "Сходка" only for quick, informal huddles; for formal meetings, say "Собрание." (Explanation: This prevents dilution of meaning and ensures cultural appropriateness.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, huddling or gathering in groups, as implied by "Сходка," often reflects communal traditions, such as players strategizing in soccer or friends clustering at social events. This stems from historical emphasis on collectivism in Russian society, where group discussions (e.g., in literature like Tolstoy's works) symbolize unity and resilience against harsh winters or external challenges.

Related Concepts:

• Стая
• Толпа
• Собрание
• Круг