Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'log'

English Word: log

Key Russian Translations:

• лог [lɐɡ] - [Informal, commonly used for a piece of wood]
• журнал [ʐʊrˈnal] - [Formal, used for a record or logbook]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in everyday conversation and technical contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of noun declensions and vocabulary for "лог", while "журнал" may vary slightly by context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лог: [lɐɡ]

Note on лог: The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, similar to the 'g' in "go" but softer; stress is on the first syllable. Variations may occur in dialects.

журнал: [ʐʊrˈnal]

Note on журнал: The 'ж' is a voiced palatal fricative, like the 's' in "measure"; stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A piece of a tree trunk or wood (as a noun).

Translation(s) & Context:

• лог - Used in informal, everyday contexts like forestry or outdoor activities.

Usage Examples:

• Я нашел большой лог в лесу и принес его домой.

  I found a big log in the forest and brought it home.

• Лог был слишком тяжелым, чтобы перенести одному.

  The log was too heavy to carry alone.

• В костре сгорает сухой лог.

  A dry log is burning in the fire.

• Мы используем лог для строительства шалаша.

  We use the log to build a shelter.

Meaning 2: A record or journal (as a noun, e.g., in computing or daily logs).

Translation(s) & Context:

• журнал - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as keeping a diary or system logs.

Usage Examples:

• Я веду журнал ежедневных событий.

  I keep a log of daily events.

• В компьютере есть журнал ошибок для анализа.

  In the computer, there's a log of errors for analysis.

• Моряк записывает в журнал все изменения погоды.

  The sailor logs all weather changes in the journal.

• Этот журнал содержит логи звонков.

  This log contains call records.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

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

For "журнал" (also a masculine noun), it has similar regular inflections but is more commonly used in singular forms in technical contexts. It does not have significant irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дрово (drovó) - A piece of firewood, often used interchangeably with "лог" in casual contexts.
  • бревно (brévno) - Similar to "лог" but implies a larger, uncut piece of wood.
• Antonyms:
  • пепел (pépel) - Ashes, the opposite of a burning log.

Related Phrases:

• Лог в огне - A log in the fire (refers to something burning or intense; used metaphorically).
• Вести журнал - To keep a log (common in recording events or data).
• Сухой лог - Dry log (implies readiness for burning, often in survival contexts).

Usage Notes:

"Лог" directly corresponds to the English "log" as a piece of wood and is straightforward in informal settings, but avoid using it in technical contexts where "журнал" is more appropriate for records. "Журнал" has a broader application and can imply formality, so choose based on context—e.g., use "журнал" for official documents. Grammatically, both nouns require attention to case endings in sentences, such as in prepositional phrases (e.g., "в логе" for "in the log"). English speakers should note that Russian often pairs these words with verbs like "находить" (to find) for "лог" or "вести" (to keep) for "журнал" to match natural usage.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "лог" in a technical context, e.g., saying "мой лог компьютера" instead of "мой журнал компьютера". Correct: "Мой журнал компьютера" (My computer's log). Explanation: "Лог" is not commonly used for digital records; this confuses the word with its English computing term.

• Mistake: Incorrect declension, e.g., saying "Я видел лог" in genitive contexts where it should be "лога". Correct: "Я видел лога" (I saw the log's something). Explanation: Russian requires proper case agreement, which English learners often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "лог" as a piece of wood often evokes rural or folk traditions, such as in fairy tales or campfire stories, symbolizing simplicity and nature. For "журнал", it may reference historical logging in literature, like in naval or exploratory contexts, reflecting Russia's vast forests and exploratory history.

Related Concepts:

• Дерево (tree)
• Костер (bonfire)
• Запись (record)