Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hurricane'

English Word: hurricane

Key Russian Translations:

• ураган [ʊˈraɡən] - [Formal, used in meteorological and scientific contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in weather reports and discussions about natural disasters, but not everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and weather vocabulary, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ураган: [ʊˈraɡən]

Note on ураган: The stress is on the second syllable (ra), which is a common challenge for English speakers. The 'г' is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in "go," but can vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: A violent tropical storm with strong winds, typically forming over the Atlantic Ocean.

Translation(s) & Context:

• ураган - Used in formal meteorological contexts, such as weather forecasts or scientific discussions about storms.

Usage Examples:

• В прошлом году ураган разрушил многие дома на побережье.

  Last year, the hurricane destroyed many houses on the coast.

• Метеорологи предупредили о приближающемся урагане в Атлантике.

  Meteorologists warned about an approaching hurricane in the Atlantic.

• Ураган принес сильные дожди и ветры, вызвав эвакуацию жителей.

  The hurricane brought heavy rains and winds, causing the evacuation of residents.

• Во время урагана люди должны оставаться в укрытиях.

  During a hurricane, people should stay in shelters.

• Ураган категории 5 редко достигает российских территорий, но может влиять на соседние регионы.

  A category 5 hurricane rarely reaches Russian territories but can affect neighboring regions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

Note: The word is regular in its declensions, making it straightforward for learners, but pay attention to the vowel changes in certain cases (e.g., -а to -е in prepositional singular).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: шторм (shtorm - more general term for a storm, often used interchangeably but implies less intensity); буря (burya - storm, with a poetic or literary connotation)
• Antonyms: штиль (shtil' - calm, referring to a period of no wind)

Related Phrases:

• ураган предупреждение - Hurricane warning (used in emergency broadcasts to alert people of impending storms)
• ураган силы - Hurricane force (refers to wind speeds, e.g., in Beaufort scale discussions)
• ураганный ветер - Hurricane wind (describes extremely strong winds associated with the storm)

Usage Notes:

"Ураган" directly corresponds to the English "hurricane" in meteorological contexts, but it can also be used more broadly for any severe storm. It is typically formal and technical, so avoid it in casual conversations unless discussing weather events. When choosing between translations like "ураган" and "шторм," opt for "ураган" if the storm is specifically tropical or has hurricane-level intensity. Grammatically, remember that as a masculine noun, it requires appropriate adjective agreements (e.g., сильный ураган - strong hurricane).

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "ураган" with "шторм" and using it for any storm. Correct: Use "ураган" only for intense, organized storms like hurricanes; for example, incorrect: "Вчера был ураган в парке" (meaning a light storm), correct: "Вчера был шторм в парке." Explanation: This misuse can lead to exaggeration in description.

• Error: Incorrect declension, such as saying "урагану" in nominative case. Correct: Ensure proper case usage, e.g., "Ураган пришел" (nominative) vs. "Из-за урагана" (genitive). Explanation: Russian requires precise case endings, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, "ураган" is not as commonly experienced as in tropical regions, but it appears in media during events like those in the Black Sea or influenced by Atlantic systems. Historically, it evokes images of resilience against nature, as seen in Russian literature (e.g., in works by Tolstoy, where storms symbolize turmoil). Understanding this can help English learners appreciate how weather vocabulary ties into broader cultural narratives of endurance.

Related Concepts:

• тайфун (typhoon - similar to hurricane but more common in the Pacific)
• цунами (tsunami - a related natural disaster involving waves)
• буря (burya - general storm, often with emotional or poetic undertones)