Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'pavement'

English Word: pavement

Key Russian Translations:

• тротуар [trɐˈtuər] - [Formal, Commonly used in urban contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This word is encountered in everyday conversations about urban environments but not as frequently as basic vocabulary like "дом" for house.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, according to CEFR; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and common urban terminology.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тротуар: [trɐˈtuər]

Note on тротуар: The stress is on the second syllable ("tu"), which is a common feature in Russian words of foreign origin. Be mindful of the rolled 'r' sound, which can be challenging for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A raised path for pedestrians alongside a road (primary meaning in British English)

Translation(s) & Context:

• тротуар - Used in formal and everyday contexts for sidewalks or pedestrian paths in cities; appropriate for descriptions of urban infrastructure.

Usage Examples:

• Я иду по тротуару, чтобы избежать машин на дороге.

  I am walking on the pavement to avoid the cars on the road.

• В дождливую погоду тротуар становится скользким и опасным.

  In rainy weather, the pavement becomes slippery and dangerous.

• Дети любят рисовать мелом на тротуаре во время прогулки.

  Children love drawing with chalk on the pavement during walks.

• Тротуар в центре города всегда crowded по вечерам.

  The pavement in the city center is always crowded in the evenings.

The surface of a road (more common in American English, though less direct)

Translation(s) & Context:

• асфальт (as part of a road) - Used when referring to the material or surface, in contexts like construction or traffic discussions; less formal than тротуар.

Usage Examples:

• Рабочие ремонтируют асфальт на дороге, так что тротуар закрыт.

  Workers are repairing the pavement on the road, so the sidewalk is closed.

• Асфальт тротуара потрескался от зимних морозов.

  The pavement's surface has cracked from the winter frosts.

• В парке тротуар выложен не асфальтом, а плиткой.

  In the park, the pavement is laid with tiles instead of asphalt.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Тротуар is a masculine noun in the second declension. It follows standard Russian noun patterns with regular inflections based on case and number. Below is a table of its declensions:

For асфальт (also masculine, second declension), it follows similar patterns but is less commonly inflected in isolation.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пешеходная дорожка (pedestrian path; more descriptive and used in informal or natural settings)
  • тротуарная зона (sidewalk area; emphasizes the designated space)
• Antonyms:
  • дорога (road; refers to the main traffic area, contrasting with pedestrian zones)
  • проезжая часть (carriageway; specifically for vehicle paths)

Related Phrases:

• идти по тротуару - To walk on the pavement; used in everyday navigation contexts.
• тротуар в плохом состоянии - Pavement in poor condition; common in discussions about urban maintenance.
• ремонтировать тротуар - To repair the pavement; refers to infrastructure work.

Usage Notes:

Тротуар directly corresponds to the British English meaning of "pavement" as a sidewalk, while асфальт aligns more with American English for road surfaces. In Russian, тротуар is neutral and widely used in both formal (e.g., official reports) and informal settings (e.g., casual conversations). Be cautious with context: in rural areas, it might be less applicable than in cities. When choosing between translations, opt for тротуар for pedestrian-focused scenarios and асфальт for material discussions. Grammatically, always decline it according to the sentence structure to maintain agreement.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "тротуар" interchangeably with "дорога" without context. For example, an English learner might say "Я еду по тротуару" (incorrect), meaning "I am driving on the pavement."

  Correct: Я еду по дороге (I am driving on the road). Explanation: Тротуар is specifically for pedestrians, so this misuse could lead to confusion in safety-related contexts.

• Error: Forgetting to decline the noun, e.g., saying "на тротуар" instead of "на тротуаре" in prepositional case.

  Correct: Я сижу на тротуаре (I am sitting on the pavement). Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so always check the preposition to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg, тротуар often reflects urban culture, where wide pavements are common for walking, socializing, or even impromptu markets. Historically, the development of pavements in Russia ties to 19th-century urbanization, symbolizing modernization, but in modern times, they can highlight issues like poor maintenance in less affluent areas, contrasting with the West's emphasis on pedestrian-friendly designs.

Related Concepts:

• улица (street)
• перекресток (intersection)
• пешеходный переход (pedestrian crossing)