Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'keeper'

English Word: keeper

Key Russian Translations:

• вратарь [vrɐˈtarʲ] - [Informal, Sports context, e.g., Used for a goalkeeper in soccer or hockey]
• хранитель [xrɐnʲɪˈtʲelʲ] - [Formal, General context, e.g., A guardian or custodian of something valuable]
• егерь [jɪˈɡʲerʲ] - [Formal, Specific context, e.g., A gamekeeper or forest warden]

Frequency: Medium (Common in sports and everyday contexts, but varies; 'вратарь' is high in athletic discussions, while 'хранитель' is medium in literary or formal settings)

Difficulty: B1 for 'вратарь' (Intermediate, as it's a straightforward noun); B2 for 'хранитель' and 'егерь' (Upper-Intermediate, due to potential inflection complexities and less common usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вратарь: [vrɐˈtarʲ]

хранитель: [xrɐnʲɪˈtʲelʲ]

егерь: [jɪˈɡʲerʲ]

Note on вратарь: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the rolled 'r' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

Note on хранитель: The 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'; pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A person who guards or protects, especially in sports (e.g., goalkeeper)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вратарь - Used in sports contexts, such as soccer or hockey, for the player who prevents goals.

Usage Examples:

• Вратарь отбил мяч от ворот. (The keeper blocked the ball from the goal.)

  English: The keeper blocked the ball from the goal. (This example shows the word in a dynamic sports action.)

• В матче вчера вратарь спас команду от поражения. (In yesterday's match, the keeper saved the team from defeat.)

  English: In yesterday's match, the keeper saved the team from defeat. (Illustrates usage in a narrative context.)

• Молодой вратарь тренируется каждый день. (The young keeper trains every day.)

  English: The young keeper trains every day. (Demonstrates everyday routine description.)

• Вратарь в хоккее должен быть очень быстрым. (The keeper in hockey must be very fast.)

  English: The keeper in hockey must be very fast. (Shows specification in a different sport.)

Meaning 2: A person who maintains or safeguards something (e.g., a custodian or guardian)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хранитель - Used in formal, literary, or historical contexts, such as a museum keeper or a keeper of traditions.
• егерь - Used specifically for a keeper of game or forests, in environmental or rural settings.

Usage Examples:

• Хранитель музея тщательно охраняет древние артефакты. (The keeper of the museum carefully guards ancient artifacts.)

  English: The keeper of the museum carefully guards ancient artifacts. (This highlights formal protection roles.)

• Егерь патрулирует лес, чтобы защитить дикую природу. (The keeper patrols the forest to protect wildlife.)

  English: The keeper patrols the forest to protect wildlife. (Illustrates environmental context.)

• В этой семье хранитель традиций — дедушка. (In this family, the keeper of traditions is the grandfather.)

  English: In this family, the keeper of traditions is the grandfather. (Shows familial or cultural usage.)

• Хранитель ключей всегда несет ответственность за безопасность. (The keeper of the keys always bears responsibility for security.)

  English: The keeper of the keys always bears responsibility for security. (Demonstrates metaphorical or extended use.)

• Егерь заметил браконьера в заповеднике. (The keeper spotted a poacher in the reserve.)

  English: The keeper spotted a poacher in the reserve. (Emphasizes enforcement in nature conservation.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All listed translations are masculine nouns, which inflect based on case, number, and gender in Russian. They follow standard first-declension patterns for masculine nouns ending in a consonant.

For 'вратарь' (a masculine noun):

For 'хранитель' and 'егерь', similar patterns apply, with regular inflections as per Russian grammar rules. These nouns do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вратарь: голкипер (golkiper) - More modern, borrowed term for goalkeeper.
  • хранитель: страж (strazh) - Implies a watchman or guard; slightly more archaic.
  • егерь: лесник (lesnik) - Used for a forest keeper, with a focus on forestry roles.
• Antonyms:
  • вратарь: нападающий (napadayushchiy) - An attacker in sports.
  • хранитель: разрушитель (razrushitel') - A destroyer or one who harms.
  • егерь: браконьер (brakonyer) - A poacher, opposing the role of protection.

Related Phrases:

• Вратарь в воротах (Vratary v vorotakh) - Meaning: The keeper in the goal; used in sports commentary to describe positioning.
• Хранитель тайны (Khranitel' tayny) - Meaning: Keeper of a secret; a common phrase in literature for someone guarding confidential information.
• Егерь на охоте (Yeger' na okhote) - Meaning: Keeper on the hunt; refers to a gamekeeper monitoring hunting activities.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'keeper' translates variably in Russian based on context: 'вратарь' is ideal for sports, while 'хранитель' suits formal or abstract guardianship. Always consider the domain—sports vs. general protection—to choose the right term. In Russian, these nouns require agreement in case and number with other sentence elements, which can be tricky for English speakers used to less inflection. For example, use 'хранителя' in the genitive case when indicating possession.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'вратарь' in non-sports contexts, e.g., saying "вратарь дома" to mean "house keeper," which is incorrect. Correct: Use 'хранитель' or 'уборщик' for household roles. Explanation: 'вратарь' is sports-specific; misusing it can lead to confusion.
• Error: Forgetting inflections, e.g., saying "Я видел вратарь" instead of "Я видел вратаря." Correct: "Я видел вратаря" (accusative case). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, unlike English, so learners must adjust sentence structure.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'хранитель' often carries a heroic connotation, as seen in folklore where characters like the 'хранитель огня' (keeper of the fire) symbolize protection and tradition. This reflects Russia's emphasis on heritage and resilience, especially in literature like Russian fairy tales.

Related Concepts:

• Защитник (Zashchitnik) - Defender
• Охранник (Okhrannik) - Guard
• Сторож (Storozh) - Watchman