Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'leaf'

English Word: leaf

Key Russian Translations:

• лист [lʲist] - [Noun, Masculine, Singular; Used in everyday contexts for plant or tree leaves; Formal and Informal]
• страница [straˈnʲit͡sə] - [Noun, Feminine; Specifically for a page in a book or document; Formal, often in written or educational contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily conversation, literature, and botanical discussions, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary like "house").

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary; Straightforward for beginners, but understanding inflections may require basic grasp of Russian noun cases; For "лист" - A2, for "страница" - A1 due to its regularity).

Pronunciation (Russian):

лист: [lʲist] (The 'л' is palatalized, making a soft 'l' sound; stress on the first syllable).

Note on лист: Be cautious with the palatalization; non-native speakers often confuse it with a hard 'l'. In fast speech, it may sound like [lʲis].

страница: [straˈnʲit͡sə] (Stress on the third syllable; the 'н' is palatalized before 'и').

Note on страница: The ending '-а' can vary in informal speech, but standard pronunciation is clear; common in reading aloud.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A flat, green part of a plant or tree

Translation(s) & Context:

• лист - Used in natural, botanical, or everyday descriptions of foliage; Informal in casual talk, Formal in scientific writing.

Usage Examples:

• Зелёный лист падает с дерева осенью. (A green leaf falls from the tree in autumn.)

  English: The green leaf falls from the tree in autumn. (Demonstrates singular noun in nominative case.)

• Листа на этом дереве очень яркие. (The leaves on this tree are very bright.)

  English: The leaves on this tree are very bright. (Shows plural form in contexts describing multiple items.)

• Я собираю опавшие листы для компоста. (I'm collecting fallen leaves for compost.)

  English: I'm collecting fallen leaves for compost. (Illustrates accusative case in action-oriented sentences.)

• Этот лист имеет необычную форму. (This leaf has an unusual shape.)

  English: This leaf has an unusual shape. (Used in descriptive contexts, emphasizing singular attributes.)

• Листы шелестят на ветру. (The leaves rustle in the wind.)

  English: The leaves rustle in the wind. (Depicts plural in environmental or poetic settings.)

Meaning 2: A single sheet of paper in a book or document

Translation(s) & Context:

• страница - Common in literary, educational, or digital contexts; Formal in writing, Informal in casual reading discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Переверни страницу книги. (Turn the page of the book.)

  English: Turn the page of the book. (Simple imperative command in everyday reading.)

• Эта страница содержит важную информацию. (This page contains important information.)

  English: This page contains important information. (Used in informational or academic contexts.)

• Страницы в моём дневнике заполнены мыслями. (The pages in my diary are filled with thoughts.)

  English: The pages in my diary are filled with thoughts. (Plural form in personal or reflective writing.)

• Я отметил эту страницу закладкой. (I marked this page with a bookmark.)

  English: I marked this page with a bookmark. (Demonstrates possessive or instrumental contexts.)

• Каждую страницу нужно проверить на ошибки. (Every page needs to be checked for errors.)

  English: Every page needs to be checked for errors. (Used in editing or professional scenarios.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "лист" (a masculine noun), it follows the standard first declension pattern with regular inflections. Below is a table of its forms:

For "страница" (a feminine noun), it is regular and follows the first declension with no irregularities:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Листок (a smaller or leaflet version; more diminutive and informal)
  • Фолиола (technical term for leaf in botany; formal, scientific context)
• Antonyms:
  • Корень (root; opposite in plant anatomy)
  • Ветка (branch; structurally contrasting part of a plant)

Related Phrases:

• Опавший лист (Fallen leaf; Refers to leaves that have dropped in autumn, often used in seasonal descriptions.)
• Зелёный лист (Green leaf; A common phrase for fresh foliage, symbolizing nature or health.)
• Перевернуть страницу (To turn the page; Metaphorical for moving on from a situation, e.g., in personal growth.)

Usage Notes:

"Лист" directly corresponds to the botanical meaning of "leaf" in English and is versatile across contexts, but always consider Russian case endings for grammatical accuracy. "Страница" aligns with the paper-based meaning and is preferred in literary settings. Choose between translations based on context: use "лист" for natural elements and "страница" for documents. Note that Russian nouns require agreement in gender, number, and case, which can affect sentence structure unlike English.

• In formal writing, opt for full inflections to maintain precision.
• Avoid direct word-for-word translation; for example, "leaf" in idioms might not translate literally.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse case endings, such as saying "Я вижу лист" when they mean "Я вижу листа" in genitive contexts (e.g., "I see the leaf of the tree"). Correct usage: Incorrect: "Я ем яблоко с лист" (wrong accusative); Correct: "Я ем яблоко с листом" (with instrumental case). Another error is confusing "лист" with "страница" in non-paper contexts, leading to awkward phrasing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "лист" (leaf) often symbolizes change and transience, as seen in literature like Pushkin's works, where falling leaves represent autumn and the passage of time. This draws from Slavic folklore, where nature elements like leaves are tied to seasonal festivals, emphasizing Russia's vast landscapes.

Related Concepts:

• Ветка (branch)
• Цветок (flower)
• Книга (book)