Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'manor'

English Word: manor

Key Russian Translations:

• усадьба [uˈsadʲbə] - [Formal, Historical contexts]
• поместье [pɐˈmʲesʲtʲjɪ] - [Formal, Legal or property-related contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary, historical, or real estate discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and cultural contexts; For "усадьба", it's B2; For "поместье", it's C1 due to more archaic usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

усадьба: [uˈsadʲbə]

Note on усадьба: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'd' sound, which is common in Russian and may be challenging for English speakers.

поместье: [pɐˈmʲesʲtʲjɪ]

Note on поместье: This word has a palatalized 'm' and 's', making it sound more fluid; it's less commonly used in modern speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A large country house with surrounding lands, often with historical significance.

Translation(s) & Context:

• усадьба - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe a rural estate, often evoking images of Russian nobility.
• поместье - Applied in legal or historical settings for a landed estate, emphasizing ownership or inheritance.

Usage Examples:

• В нашей семье есть старая усадьба в деревне, где мы проводим лето.

  In our family, there is an old manor in the village where we spend the summer.

• Писатель описал поместье как символ былого богатства аристократии.

  The writer described the manor as a symbol of the former wealth of the aristocracy.

• Эта усадьба теперь превращена в музей, привлекающий туристов со всего мира.

  This manor has now been turned into a museum, attracting tourists from all over the world.

• Купив поместье, он восстановил его исторический облик.

  After buying the manor, he restored its historical appearance.

• Усадьба окружает красивый сад с fountain и аллеями деревьев.

  The manor is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a fountain and tree-lined avenues.

Alternative meaning: A feudal estate or domain (less common in modern English).

Translation(s) & Context:

• поместье - Used in historical or legal discussions of land ownership, similar to feudal systems.

Usage Examples:

• В средние века поместье принадлежало феодалу и включало земли для крестьян.

  In the Middle Ages, the manor belonged to a feudal lord and included lands for peasants.

• Историки изучают, как управляли усадьбой в эпоху Российской империи.

  Historians study how the manor was managed during the era of the Russian Empire.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "усадьба" and "поместье" are feminine nouns in Russian, following the first declension pattern with regular inflections. They change based on case, number, and gender agreements.

Note: These inflections are regular, but "поместье" may feel more archaic and is less frequently inflected in modern usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: имение [iˈmʲenʲjɪ] (estate, often larger scale) - More formal, used for grand properties; усадебный дом [uˈsadʲbnyj dom] (manor house) - Specifies the building itself.
• Antonyms: городская квартира [ɡɐˈrɔtskəjə kvɐrʲˈtʲirə] (urban apartment) - Represents urban living as opposed to rural estates.

Related Phrases:

• Дворянская усадьба - Nobleman's manor; Meaning: Refers to estates owned by the Russian nobility, often in a historical context.
• Усадьба с парком - Manor with a park; Meaning: Describes a manor that includes landscaped grounds, common in 19th-century Russian literature.
• Покупка поместья - Buying a manor; Meaning: Used in real estate discussions, implying a significant investment.

Usage Notes:

"Усадьба" is the most direct translation for "manor" in everyday and literary contexts, while "поместье" is better for legal or historical references. English speakers should note that Russian nouns like these must agree in case, number, and gender with other words in the sentence. For example, use the genitive case for possession (e.g., усадьбы владельца). In formal writing, prefer "усадьба" over "поместье" unless discussing feudal systems. Be mindful of cultural connotations, as these words often evoke Russia's aristocratic past.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "усадьба" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "в усадьба" instead of "в усадьбе" (prepositional case for location). Correct: "в усадьбе" – Explanation: Russian requires proper declension; English speakers often overlook case endings.
• Mistake: Confusing "усадьба" with "дача" (a summer cottage), as both involve rural properties. Correct: Use "усадьба" for larger, historical estates; Explanation: "Дача" is more casual and modern, while "усадьба" implies grandeur.
• Mistake: Overusing "поместье" in casual speech. Correct: Reserve it for formal contexts; Explanation: It sounds outdated and may confuse listeners if not appropriate.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, manors like "усадьба" are deeply tied to literary classics, such as Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina," where they symbolize the lifestyle of the gentry. They often represent themes of social hierarchy, rural life, and nostalgia for pre-revolutionary Russia, evoking a sense of lost elegance and tradition.

Related Concepts:

• дворец (palace)
• дача (summer house or dacha)
• имение (large estate)