Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'landslide'

English Word: landslide

Key Russian Translations:

• оползень /ɐˈpɫozʲɪnʲ/ - [Formal, used in geological contexts]
• сель /sʲelʲ/ - [Formal, often for mudslides or fast-moving landslides]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific, environmental, and news contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and specific vocabulary for natural disasters)

Pronunciation (Russian):

оползень: /ɐˈpɫozʲɪnʲ/ (Stress on the second syllable; the 'л' is palatalized, which can be tricky for beginners)

сель: /sʲelʲ/ (A soft 's' sound followed by a soft 'l'; pronounced quickly in natural speech)

Note on оползень: Be careful with the palatalized consonants; it may sound like "ah-plo-ZYEN" in English approximation. Variations in regional accents might soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Geological event involving the sliding of earth down a slope

Translation(s) & Context:

• оползень - Used in formal scientific or environmental discussions, such as reporting natural disasters.
• сель - Applied in contexts involving rapid, water-related landslides, like in mountainous or rainy areas.

Usage Examples:

• В горах Сибири часто происходят оползни из-за таяния снега.

  In the Siberian mountains, landslides often occur due to snow melting.

• После сильных дождей сель разрушил несколько домов в деревне.

  After heavy rains, a landslide destroyed several houses in the village.

• Геологи изучают причины оползня, чтобы предотвратить будущие риски.

  Geologists are studying the causes of the landslide to prevent future risks.

• Сель в этом регионе стал обычным явлением из-за эрозии почвы.

  Landslides in this region have become common due to soil erosion.

Figurative or metaphorical use (e.g., in politics or sports)

Translation(s) & Context:

• уверенная победа (not a direct translation but common equivalent) - Used in informal contexts like elections, e.g., "landslide victory."

Usage Examples:

• Кандидат выиграл выборы с уверенной победой, подобной оползню.

  The candidate won the election with a landslide victory.

• В футболе команда одержала победу, как сель, сокрушая противника.

  In football, the team achieved a landslide win, overwhelming their opponents.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Оползень" is a masculine noun (third declension), and "сель" is also masculine. Both follow standard Russian noun patterns with regular declensions. Below is a table for "оползень" as an example:

For "сель", the declension is similar but irregular in plural forms: Nominative plural is "сель" (invariant in some uses). These words do not change in gender but must agree in case with adjectives or verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • обвал (avalanche or collapse; similar but often implies rock falls)
  • сход (slide or descent; used for general earth movements)
• Antonyms:
  • стабильность (stability; refers to a state without movement)
  • безопасность (safety; in the context of geological stability)

Note: "Обвал" is often interchangeable with "оползень" in informal contexts, but it emphasizes suddenness.

Related Phrases:

• риск оползня - Risk of landslide; used in environmental reports.
• предотвращение оползней - Prevention of landslides; common in safety discussions.
• оползень почвы - Soil landslide; specifies the type in agricultural contexts.

Usage Notes:

• Choose "оползень" for precise geological descriptions, as it directly corresponds to the English "landslide" in scientific contexts, while "сель" is better for dynamic, water-involved events.
• In formal writing or speech, always decline the noun according to its case (e.g., "из-за оползня" for "because of the landslide").
• Avoid using these terms in everyday casual conversation; they are more common in news, academia, or emergency services.
• When translating metaphorically (e.g., political landslide), Russians might prefer native idioms like "уверенная победа" for a more natural feel.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "оползень" with "обвал", using the wrong term for rock vs. soil slides. Correct: Use "оползень" for earth-based landslides; Example: Incorrect: "Обвал произошел на склоне." (if it's soil); Correct: "Оползень произошел на склоне."
• Mistakes in declension, such as saying "с оползень" instead of "с оползнем" in instrumental case. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement; always check the sentence structure for proper form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, terms like "оползень" are particularly relevant in regions like the Caucasus or Siberia, where landslides are common due to mountainous terrain and climate. They often appear in media during natural disaster reports, reflecting Russia's vulnerability to environmental events and the cultural emphasis on resilience and emergency preparedness.

Related Concepts:

• землетрясение (earthquake)
• наводнение (flood)
• эрозия (erosion)