Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'mortar'

English Word: mortar

Key Russian Translations:

• раствор [rɐsˈtvor] - [Formal; used in technical or construction contexts]
• миномет [mʲɪˈnomʲɪt] - [Formal; military terminology]
• ступка [ˈstupkə] - [Neutral; everyday language, especially in cooking or pharmacy]

Frequency: Medium; "раствор" and "миномет" are common in specialized fields like construction and military, while "ступка" appears in daily contexts, but overall usage is not as high as basic vocabulary.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "раствор" and "миномет" due to their specialized contexts; A2 (Elementary) for "ступка" as it involves simpler noun forms and common scenarios.

Pronunciation (Russian):

раствор: [rɐsˈtvor]

Note on раствор: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the rolled 'r' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

миномет: [mʲɪˈnomʲɪt]

Note on миномет: Pronounce the palatalized 'mʲ' softly; this word often has a clipped pronunciation in military speech.

ступка: [ˈstupkə]

Note on ступка: The final 'a' is reduced in casual speech; stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A mixture of lime or cement with sand and water, used in building (e.g., mortar as a construction material).

Translation(s) & Context:

• раствор - Used in formal or technical discussions about construction, engineering, or materials science.

Usage Examples:

• Строители смешали раствор для крепления кирпичей.

  The builders mixed the mortar to bind the bricks.

• В современном строительстве раствор часто содержит специальные добавки для прочности.

  In modern construction, mortar often includes special additives for strength.

• Без правильного раствора стены могут быстро разрушиться под дождем.

  Without proper mortar, walls can quickly deteriorate in the rain.

• Раствор на основе цемента используется для наружных работ.

  Cement-based mortar is used for outdoor work.

Meaning 2: A short, portable cannon used to fire shells at low velocities (e.g., mortar as a weapon).

Translation(s) & Context:

• миномет - Employed in military, historical, or news contexts; formal and precise.

Usage Examples:

• Солдаты установили миномет на холме для обстрела вражеских позиций.

  The soldiers set up the mortar on the hill to shell enemy positions.

• В музее выставлен старый миномет из Второй мировой войны.

  The museum displays an old mortar from World War II.

• Миномет был использован для точного удара по укрепленным объектам.

  The mortar was used for a precise strike on fortified targets.

• Обучение стрельбе из миномета требует тщательной подготовки.

  Training to fire a mortar requires thorough preparation.

Meaning 3: A bowl-shaped vessel in which substances are pounded or crushed with a pestle (e.g., mortar for grinding).

Translation(s) & Context:

• ступка - Common in domestic, culinary, or pharmaceutical settings; neutral and everyday language.

Usage Examples:

• В кухне бабушки всегда была старая ступка для измельчения специй.

  In my grandmother's kitchen, there was always an old mortar for grinding spices.

• Аптекарь использовал ступку, чтобы размолоть травы в порошок.

  The pharmacist used the mortar to grind herbs into powder.

• Ступка и пест из дерева - традиционные инструменты в русской кухне.

  A wooden mortar and pestle are traditional tools in Russian cuisine.

• Для приготовления пасты из чеснока нужна ступка и немного соли.

  To make garlic paste, you need a mortar and a bit of salt.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations ("раствор", "миномет", "ступка") are masculine nouns in Russian, which follow standard declension patterns. They are inflected based on case, number, and gender rules.

Case	раствор (masc.)	миномет (masc.)	ступка (fem., wait: actually, ступка is feminine, not masculine; correction for accuracy)
Nominative (Nom.)	раствор	миномет	ступка
Genitive (Gen.)	раствора	миномета	ступки
Dative (Dat.)	раствору	миномету	ступке
Accusative (Acc.)	раствор	миномет	ступку
Instrumental (Ins.)	раствором	минометом	ступкой
Prepositional (Prep.)	растворе	миномете	ступке
Plural (Nom.)	растворы	минометы	ступки

Note: "Ступка" is actually feminine, so its inflections differ slightly from the masculine ones. These nouns do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • раствор: смесь (smesʹ) - A general mixture, often used interchangeably in non-technical contexts.
  • миномет: гранатомет (granatomɛt) - Similar weapon, but with slight differences in range and usage.
  • ступка: мортирка (mortirka) - A diminutive or variant for small grinding tools.
• Antonyms:
  • For раствор: perhaps no direct antonym, but could contrast with "твердый материал" (solid material).
  • For миномет: none specific, as it's a tool.
  • For ступка: none direct, but could be contrasted with "электрический измельчитель" (electric grinder) in modern contexts.

Related Phrases:

• цементный раствор - Cement mortar; used in construction for strong bonding.
• полевой миномет - Field mortar; refers to portable military equipment in battlefield scenarios.
• деревенская ступка - Village mortar; a traditional tool in rural, folk contexts for grinding grains.

Usage Notes:

The English word "mortar" corresponds to different Russian words based on context, so choose the translation carefully: "раствор" for building materials, "миномет" for weaponry, and "ступка" for grinding tools. In formal writing, use these precisely to avoid ambiguity. Note that Russian nouns require case agreement, e.g., use genitive for possession like "края раствора" (edge of the mortar). For learners, "ступка" is the easiest due to its everyday use, while "миномет" may require military vocabulary knowledge.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "раствор" with "смесь" and using it incorrectly in recipes. Correct: Use "раствор" only for construction mixtures, not food. Example: Incorrect: "раствор для супа" (mortar for soup) → Correct: "смесь для супа".
• Error: Mispronouncing "миномет" by stressing the wrong syllable. Correct: Stress on the second syllable; practice with native audio to avoid sounding unnatural.
• Error: Forgetting gender and case in sentences, e.g., saying "в ступка" instead of "в ступке". Correct: Always check: "в ступке" (in the mortar, prepositional case).

Cultural Notes:

"Ступка" evokes traditional Russian rural life, often seen in folklore and literature as a symbol of home remedies and self-sufficiency, similar to how mortars are depicted in English herbalism traditions. In military contexts, "миномет" carries historical weight from World War II, where it played a key role in Soviet strategies, reflecting Russia's defensive innovations.

Related Concepts:

• кирпич (kirpich) - Brick (related to construction with раствор).
• артиллерия (artillɛrija) - Artillery (related to миномет).
• пест (pʲɛst) - Pestle (paired with ступка in grinding contexts).