Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'inn'

English Word: inn

Key Russian Translations:

• гостиница /ɡɐˈstʲinʲɪt͡sə/ - [Formal, Singular]
• постоялый двор /pɐˈstoɪlɨj dvɔr/ - [Informal, Historical or Literary Context]

Frequency: Medium (Common in travel and everyday conversations, but less frequent in modern urban slang)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions, but basic forms are straightforward for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гостиница: /ɡɐˈstʲinʲɪt͡sə/

Note on гостиница: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'т' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

постоялый двор: /pɐˈstoɪlɨj dvɔr/

Note on постоялый двор: This phrase has a more archaic feel; the 'й' in 'постоялый' is a soft consonant, and 'двор' ends with a voiced 'р' sound.

Audio: Play audio for гостиница | Play audio for постоялый двор (Note: Replace with actual audio file links or embed a player here.)

Meanings and Usage:

1. A small hotel or lodging establishment

Translation(s) & Context:

• гостиница - Used in modern contexts for hotels or inns, especially in urban or travel-related discussions.
• постоялый двор - Applied in historical or rural settings, often evoking traditional or outdated lodging.

Usage Examples:

• Мы остановились в уютной гостинице на окраине города.

  We stayed at a cozy inn on the outskirts of the city.

• В старых русских романах часто упоминается постоялый двор как место встреч.

  In old Russian novels, the inn is often mentioned as a meeting place.

• Гостиница была полна туристов во время фестиваля.

  The inn was full of tourists during the festival.

• Постоялый двор в этой деревне предлагает аутентичный опыт для путешественников.

  The inn in this village offers an authentic experience for travelers.

• Я забронировал номер в гостинице заранее, чтобы избежать проблем.

  I booked a room at the inn in advance to avoid any issues.

2. Figurative or idiomatic use (e.g., a place of temporary stay)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гостиница - Sometimes used metaphorically for temporary shelters or safe havens in literature.

Usage Examples:

• Для него этот город был всего лишь гостиницей на пути к настоящей жизни.

  For him, this city was just an inn on the way to real life.

• Постоялый двор судьбы – так поэт описал временные трудности.

  The inn of fate – that's how the poet described temporary hardships.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns. Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. 'Гостиница' is a feminine noun (feminine, 1st declension), while 'постоялый двор' is a masculine phrase but inflects as a compound.

Note: These follow regular declension patterns, but 'постоялый двор' as a phrase may not inflect uniformly in all contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • отель (hotel; more modern and international)
  • заезд (inn or stopover; less formal)
• Antonyms:
  • дом (home; implies permanence)
  • уличный угол (street corner; implies no shelter)

Note: 'Гостиница' is often interchangeable with 'отель' in contemporary usage, but 'постоялый двор' has a more rustic connotation.

Related Phrases:

• Гостиница с завтраком – Inn with breakfast (Common in travel bookings, referring to bed-and-breakfast style accommodations.)
• Постоялый двор на тракте – Inn on the highway (Historical phrase for roadside lodging.)
• Забронировать гостиницу – To book an inn (Standard phrase for making reservations.)

Usage Notes:

The English word 'inn' typically corresponds to 'гостиница' in modern Russian for small-scale lodging, but 'постоялый двор' is better for historical or literary contexts. Use 'гостиница' in formal or everyday situations, as it aligns with international hotel standards. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences (e.g., adjectives must agree with the feminine 'гостиница'). When choosing between translations, opt for 'постоялый двор' if emphasizing tradition or rural settings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'гостиница' in historical contexts without adaptation. For example, English learners might say "постоялый гостиница" instead of just "постоялый двор".

  Correct: Постоялый двор (The full phrase is needed for accuracy).

  Explanation: 'Гостиница' is modern, so mixing it with historical terms can sound awkward or incorrect.

• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., saying "в гостиница" instead of "в гостинице".

  Correct: В гостинице (Prepositional case).

  Explanation: Russian requires case changes based on prepositions, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'постоялый двор' evokes images from 19th-century literature, such as in the works of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, where inns served as hubs for social interaction and plot development. This contrasts with 'гостиница', which is more associated with contemporary tourism and urbanization, reflecting Russia's modernization.

Related Concepts:

• отдых (rest)
• путешествие (travel)
• трактир (tavern)