Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mine'

English Word: mine

Key Russian Translations:

• шахта [ʃɐxˈta] - [Formal, used for mining excavations]
• мина [ˈmʲinə] - [Formal, used for explosive devices]
• мой [moj] - [Informal, possessive pronoun for masculine nouns]
• моя [maˈja] - [Informal, possessive pronoun for feminine nouns]
• моё [moˈjɵ] - [Informal, possessive pronoun for neuter nouns]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in contexts like industry, military, and everyday possession, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1-B2 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; basic translations are straightforward for learners at A2, but inflections and contexts require B1-B2 proficiency)

Pronunciation (Russian):

шахта: [ʃɐxˈta] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'she')

мина: [ˈmʲinə] (Stress on the first syllable; note the palatalized 'мʲ' sound, which is softer due to the following 'и')

мой: [moj] (Stress on the first syllable; a simple vowel sound, but varies slightly in fast speech)

моя: [maˈja] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'я' adds a palatal element)

моё: [moˈjɵ] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ё' is a distinct mid-back rounded vowel)

Note on шахта: Be cautious with the 'х' sound, which is a voiceless velar fricative like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'; common mistake for English speakers is to soften it.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Mine as in a excavation or pit for extracting minerals

Translation(s) & Context:

• шахта - Used in formal or industrial contexts, such as mining operations or geological discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Рабочие спускаются в шахту каждое утро. (Workers descend into the mine every morning.)

  English Translation: Workers descend into the mine every morning.

• Шахта была закрыта из-за обвала. (The mine was closed due to a collapse.)

  English Translation: The mine was closed due to a collapse.

• В этой шахте добывают уголь. (They extract coal from this mine.)

  English Translation: They extract coal from this mine.

• Шахта стала источником дохода для местного населения. (The mine became a source of income for the local population.)

  English Translation: The mine became a source of income for the local population.

Meaning 2: Mine as in an explosive device

Translation(s) & Context:

• мина - Used in military or security contexts, often in discussions of warfare or demining operations.

Usage Examples:

• Сапёры разминировали старую мину. (Sappers defused an old mine.)

  English Translation: Sappers defused an old mine.

• Мина была установлена на дороге. (The mine was placed on the road.)

  English Translation: The mine was placed on the road.

• Во время войны многие мины остались в земле. (Many mines were left in the ground during the war.)

  English Translation: Many mines were left in the ground during the war.

• Мина взорвалась, вызвав панику. (The mine exploded, causing panic.)

  English Translation: The mine exploded, causing panic.

Meaning 3: Mine as a possessive pronoun (e.g., belonging to me)

Translation(s) & Context:

• мой/моя/моё - Used in everyday informal speech for possession, varying by noun gender; can be formal in written contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Это мой дом. (This is my house.)

  English Translation: This is my house. (Used with a masculine noun.)

• Это моя машина. (This is my car.)

  English Translation: This is my car. (Used with a feminine noun.)

• Это моё окно. (This is my window.)

  English Translation: This is my window. (Used with a neuter noun.)

• Мой друг приедет завтра. (My friend will arrive tomorrow.)

  English Translation: My friend will arrive tomorrow.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For nouns like 'шахта' (feminine noun), it follows standard first declension patterns:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	шахта	шахты
Genitive	шахты	шахт
Dative	шахте	шахтам
Accusative	шахту	шахты
Instrumental	шахтой	шахтами
Prepositional	шахте	шахтах

For 'мина' (feminine noun), similar patterns apply as above.

For possessive pronouns like 'мой', they inflect based on case, number, and gender:

Gender	Nominative Singular	Genitive Singular
Masculine	мой	моего
Feminine	моя	моей
Neuter	моё	моего

These are regular inflections; no irregularities noted.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • шахта: рудник (rudnik - another term for mine, often for ore extraction)
  • мина: взрывное устройство (vzryvnoe ustroystvo - explosive device, more general)
  • мой: принадлежащий мне (prinadlezhashchiy mne - belonging to me, more formal)
• Antonyms:
  • шахта: поверхность (poverkhnost' - surface, opposite of underground)
  • мина: безопасность (bezopasnost' - safety, conceptual opposite)
  • мой: чужой (chuzhoy - someone else's)

Related Phrases:

• В шахте работают шахтёры. (In the mine, miners work.) - Refers to mining operations.
• Разминировать поле. (To demine a field.) - Common in military contexts.
• Это мой любимый цвет. (This is my favorite color.) - Everyday possessive usage.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'mine' corresponds to different Russian words based on context: 'шахта' for industrial mining, 'мина' for explosives, and 'мой/моя/моё' for possession. Always consider the noun's gender and case when using possessive forms. In formal writing, opt for full phrases if 'мой' feels too casual. Be mindful of regional variations; for example, in military slang, 'мина' might have specific connotations.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'шахта' with 'рудник', but 'рудник' is more specific to ore mines. Error: Using 'рудник' for any mine. Correct: Use 'шахта' for general excavations.
• For possessives, forgetting gender agreement: Error: Saying 'мой книга' (incorrect for feminine 'книга'). Correct: 'Моя книга' and explain that adjectives and possessives must agree in gender, number, and case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'шахта' evokes images of the Soviet-era mining industry, symbolizing hard labor and historical events like the Donbas mining regions. 'Мина' is often associated with World War II history, where demining was a significant post-war effort, reflecting themes of resilience and loss.

Related Concepts:

• рудник (ore mine)
• взрыв (explosion)
• принадлежность (possession)