Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'lap'

English Word: lap

Key Russian Translations:

• круг [krook] - [Formal, used in racing or circular contexts]
• круг (спортивный) [krook (spohr'teefny)] - [Informal, specifically for sports or racing]

Frequency: Medium (Common in sports and everyday descriptions of circular motions, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary; straightforward for beginners, but understanding inflections may require basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

круг: [krook] (The 'oo' sound is like in 'book', with stress on the first syllable)

Note on круг: This word has a hard 'r' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers; practice rolling the 'r' for authenticity. Variations in regional accents may soften it slightly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A complete circuit of a racecourse or track.

Translation(s) & Context:

• круг - Used in sports, racing, or metaphorical contexts for a full loop; common in formal descriptions like motorsports or athletics.
• круг (спортивный) - Informal variant, often in casual conversations about exercise or competitions.

Usage Examples:

• Он завершил круг на трассе за рекордное время.

  He finished the lap on the track in record time.

• В гонке она отстала на один круг от лидера.

  In the race, she fell one lap behind the leader.

• Бегун пробежал круг по стадиону, чтобы размяться.

  The runner jogged a lap around the stadium to warm up.

• Круг в велогонке был полон поворотов и препятствий.

  The lap in the cycling race was full of turns and obstacles.

• После круга по парку, дети вернулись домой уставшими.

  After a lap around the park, the children returned home tired.

Another meaning: The flat area formed by the upper part of the legs when sitting (e.g., a child's lap).

Translation(s) & Context:

• колени - Used in familial or everyday contexts, often implying a sitting position; more literal for the knees or lap area.

Usage Examples:

• Ребёнок сидел на коленях у матери и слушал сказку.

  The child sat on the mother's lap and listened to a story.

• На коленях лежала книга, которую он читал во время полёта.

  A book lay on his lap while he read it during the flight.

• Кот уютно устроился на коленях хозяина.

  The cat comfortably settled on the owner's lap.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "круг" (a masculine noun), it follows standard Russian noun declension patterns. It is a third-declension noun and changes based on case and number.

For "колени" (plural form of "колено", meaning knees or lap area), it is irregular as it is typically used in plural and doesn't change much: Nominative: колени; Genitive: коленей; etc. It remains mostly invariant in casual use.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • петля (petlya) - More for loops or circuits, with a connotation of something enclosed.
  • окружность (okruazh'nost') - For the shape of a circle, less common in racing contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • прямая (pryemaya) - Straight line or path, opposite of a circular motion.
  • конец (kanets) - End, as opposed to a full cycle.

Related Phrases:

• Завершить круг - To finish a lap; used in racing to indicate completion of a circuit.
• Круг почёта - Lap of honor; a celebratory circuit after winning a race.
• На коленях молиться - On one's knees to pray; metaphorical for humility, related to the lap meaning.

Usage Notes:

"Круг" directly corresponds to "lap" in racing contexts but can also mean a circle in general, so context is key to avoid confusion. In formal settings, use "круг" for precision, while "колени" is more idiomatic for the physical lap. Be aware of Russian's case system; for example, in sentences like "в кругу" (in the lap/circle), the prepositional case is used. When choosing between translations, opt for "круг" in sports and "колени" in everyday or familial scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "круг" literally for the body part (e.g., confusing it with "lap" as in knees). Correct: Use "колени" instead. Example of error: "Сидеть на круг" (incorrect); Correct: "Сидеть на коленях". Explanation: "Круг" means circle, not the body part, leading to nonsensical phrases.

• Error: Forgetting inflections, e.g., saying "Я бегу круг" instead of "Я бегу по кругу". Correct: "Я бегу по кругу" (I run a lap). Explanation: Russian requires prepositions and cases for motion, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, phrases like "круг почёта" (lap of honor) are common in sports events, reflecting a tradition of celebrating achievements publicly, as seen in events like the Olympics or local races. This emphasizes community and recognition, differing from more individualistic Western approaches.

Related Concepts:

• трасса (track)
• гонка (race)
• спорт (sports)