Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'leaflet'

English Word: leaflet

Key Russian Translations:

• листок [lʲɪsˈtok] - [Informal, Everyday use]
• брошюра [brɐˈʂʲurə] - [Formal, Official or printed materials]
• листочек [lʲɪsˈtət͡ɕɪk] - [Diminutive form, Informal, for smaller or plant-related leaflets]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily life, such as advertising or informational materials, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary like "book").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and context-specific usage. For 'листок', it's B1; for 'брошюра', it might be A2 due to simpler form.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

листок: [lʲɪsˈtok] (The 'л' is palatalized, making it sound softer; stress on the second syllable.)

брошюра: [brɐˈʂʲurə] (The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative; stress on the third syllable, common in loanwords.)

листочек: [lʲɪsˈtət͡ɕɪk] (Similar to 'листок' but with a diminutive suffix; the 'ч' is a voiceless palatal affricate.)

Note on листок: Be cautious with the palatalization of 'л', which can be tricky for English speakers used to non-palatal sounds; it sounds like "lyistok".

Note on брошюра: This word is a loan from French, so the 'ш' sound is more emphatic than in native Russian words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A small printed leaflet or pamphlet, often used for advertising or information.

Translation(s) & Context:

• листок - Used in informal contexts, such as distributing flyers on the street or in mailboxes.
• брошюра - Applied in more formal settings, like official documents, brochures, or educational materials.

Usage Examples:

• Я взял leaflet с информацией о концерте из почтового ящика. (I took the leaflet with concert information from the mailbox.)

  I took the leaflet with concert information from the mailbox. (Demonstrates 'листок' in a casual, everyday scenario.)

• Эта брошюра содержит полезные советы по здоровью. (This brochure contains useful health tips.)

  This brochure contains useful health tips. (Shows 'брошюра' in a formal, informational context.)

• Дети раздавали листочки с рекламой в парке. (The children were handing out leaflets with advertisements in the park.)

  The children were handing out leaflets with advertisements in the park. (Illustrates 'листочки' as a diminutive for smaller items.)

• В офисе мы печатаем брошюры для клиентов. (In the office, we print brochures for clients.)

  In the office, we print brochures for clients. (Highlights 'брошюра' in a professional setting.)

• На столе лежал старый листок с инструкциями. (On the table lay an old leaflet with instructions.)

  On the table lay an old leaflet with instructions. (Emphasizes 'листок' in a simple, descriptive context.)

2. In botanical contexts, a small leaf or leaflet on a plant.

Translation(s) & Context:

• листочек - Used specifically for smaller leaves or leaflets in nature-related discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Этот листочек растения очень нежный и легко ломается. (This leaflet of the plant is very delicate and breaks easily.)

  This leaflet of the plant is very delicate and breaks easily. (Shows 'листочек' in a biological context.)

• Ботаник изучал структуру листочков дерева. (The botanist studied the structure of the tree's leaflets.)

  The botanist studied the structure of the tree's leaflets. (Demonstrates scientific usage.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'листок' is a masculine noun in the second declension, which follows regular patterns. 'брошюра' is a feminine noun with standard endings. 'листочек' is a diminutive form and also masculine.

For 'листок' (and similar nouns), here is a table of inflections:

For 'брошюра' (feminine), it is mostly regular but watch for stress shifts:

'листочек' follows a similar pattern to 'листок' but with diminutive endings, making it unchanging in core form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • буклет [buklɛt] - Similar to 'брошюра', often for promotional materials; more modern and concise.
  • проспект [prɐˈspʲɛkt] - Used for larger informational leaflets; implies a brochure-like format.
• Antonyms:
  • книга [ˈknʲigə] - A full book, as opposed to a brief leaflet.

Related Phrases:

• Распространять листки - To distribute leaflets; used in contexts like campaigning or advertising.
• Брошюра с инструкциями - A brochure with instructions; common in technical or user manuals.
• Листочек информации - A leaflet of information; implies a small, informative note.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'листок' is the most direct equivalent to 'leaflet' in informal English usage, but choose 'брошюра' for formal or professional contexts to match the tone. Be mindful of declensions; for example, use the genitive 'листка' after prepositions like 'из' (from). English speakers often confuse it with 'лист' (a full leaf or page), so clarify based on context. When multiple translations exist, select based on register: 'листок' for everyday speech and 'брошюра' for written or official scenarios.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'лист' instead of 'листок' for a pamphlet. Correct: 'листок' specifies a small flyer; 'лист' means a single sheet or leaf. Explanation: This mistake arises from literal translation, but 'листок' conveys the diminutive size better.

• Error: Forgetting to decline 'листок' in sentences, e.g., saying "в листок" instead of "в листке". Correct: Use the prepositional case "в листке" for "in the leaflet". Explanation: Russian nouns must agree with case, which English speakers might overlook due to English's lack of declensions.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'листки' (leaflets) are commonly associated with Soviet-era propaganda or modern political campaigning, where they were (and are) distributed en masse. This can add a historical connotation, making them symbols of information dissemination in public spaces, unlike in English-speaking contexts where they might be seen as purely commercial.

Related Concepts:

• плакат [ˈplakat] (poster)
• реклама [rʲɪˈklama] (advertisement)
• инструкция [ɪnstrʊkˈtsʲija] (instructions)