Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'morass'

English Word: morass

Key Russian Translations:

• болото [bɐˈɫotə] - [Formal, Singular; Used in literal and metaphorical contexts for a swamp or entanglement]
• трясина [trʲɪˈsʲinə] - [Formal; Often used for a more dangerous or metaphorical morass, implying quicksand-like peril]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature and everyday discussions about nature or challenges, but not as frequent as basic nouns like "дом" in casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Involves understanding basic noun declensions. For "болото", it's straightforward; for "трясина", slight variations may increase to B2 for nuanced usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

болото: [bɐˈɫotə]

Note on болото: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'л' is a soft 'l' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a clear 'o' as in "lot".

трясина: [trʲɪˈsʲinə]

Note on трясина: Features palatalized consonants ('тр' and 'с'), common in Russian; practice the 'ы' sound as a neutral vowel between 'i' and 'u'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Literal Meaning: A swamp or wetland area

Translation(s) & Context:

• болото - Used in descriptions of natural environments, such as geography or hiking contexts.
• трясина - Applied in contexts implying danger, like in adventure stories or warnings about terrain.

Usage Examples:

• В лесу мы наткнулись на густое болото, которое замедлило наш путь.

  In the forest, we stumbled upon a dense morass that slowed our path.

• Туристы должны избегать трясины, чтобы не попасть в беду.

  Tourists should avoid the morass to avoid getting into trouble.

• Это болото кишит редкими животными, но оно опасно для исследователей.

  This morass is teeming with rare animals, but it's dangerous for explorers.

• После дождя трясина стала ещё глубже, делая пересечение реки невозможным.

  After the rain, the morass became even deeper, making crossing the river impossible.

• В отдалённом болоте мы нашли заброшенный дом, окружённый водой.

  In the remote morass, we found an abandoned house surrounded by water.

Metaphorical Meaning: A complicated or entangled situation

Translation(s) & Context:

• болото - Used metaphorically for bureaucratic or emotional entanglements.
• трясина - Emphasizes a situation that's hard to escape, like in business or personal crises.

Usage Examples:

• Бюрократия в этой стране превратилась в настоящее болото для предпринимателей.

  Bureaucracy in this country has turned into a real morass for entrepreneurs.

• Его долги стали трясиной, из которой он не мог выбраться.

  His debts became a morass from which he couldn't escape.

• Эта политическая интрига — как болото, затягивающее всех участников.

  This political intrigue is like a morass, pulling in all participants.

• В отношениях они застряли в трясине недопонимания.

  In their relationship, they were stuck in a morass of misunderstanding.

• Проект превратился в болото из-за постоянных задержек.

  The project turned into a morass due to constant delays.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "болото" and "трясина" are neuter nouns in Russian, which follow standard declension patterns for third-declension nouns. They change based on case, number, and gender agreements.

Note: These nouns do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • топь (topʲ) - Similar to "morass" but often implies a smaller, waterlogged area; used in poetic contexts.
  • заросль (zɐˈrosʲlʲ) - For overgrown, entangled areas, with a focus on vegetation.
• Antonyms:
  • суша (ˈsuʂə) - Dry land, contrasting the wet, entangled nature of a morass.
  • равнина (rɐˈvnʲinə) - Plain or flat land, implying openness and ease of movement.

Related Phrases:

• Глубокое болото - A deep morass; Used to describe physically or metaphorically profound entanglements.
• Провалиться в трясину - To sink into a morass; Common idiom for getting stuck in a difficult situation.
• Болото сомнений - Morass of doubts; Refers to overwhelming uncertainty in decision-making.

Usage Notes:

"Болото" directly corresponds to the literal English "morass" as a swamp, while "трясина" is better for contexts implying danger or metaphorically inescapable situations. Use "болото" in formal or descriptive writing, and prefer "трясина" in narratives. Be mindful of case agreements in sentences, as Russian requires nouns to change based on their role. For English speakers, avoid confusing it with similar words like "озеро" (lake), which is less entangled.

• Choose "болото" for neutral, everyday descriptions.
• In metaphorical use, "трясина" adds intensity, similar to "quagmire" in English.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse case endings, such as saying "в болото" instead of "в болоте" for "in the morass." Incorrect: "Я иду в болото" (wrong context); Correct: "Я иду в болото" is fine for "to the morass," but for location, use "в болоте." Another error is overusing "трясина" for any swamp, when it's more specific to perilous ones—e.g., saying "Это трясина" for a safe wetland, which might exaggerate the danger.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, morasses like "болото" often symbolize isolation or mystery in literature, such as in folklore tales where they hide treasures or dangers, reflecting Russia's vast, untamed landscapes. This ties into themes in works by authors like Pushkin, where such settings evoke national identity and the challenges of the natural world.

Related Concepts:

• река (river)
• лес (forest)
• озеро (lake)