Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'peal'

English Word: peal

Key Russian Translations:

• звон [zvon] - [Formal, used for ringing sounds like bells]
• гудок [ɡudok] - [Informal, used for loud, resonant sounds like horns or alarms]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literature, descriptions of sounds, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun forms and contextual usage; for 'звон', it's straightforward, but 'гудок' may require understanding of sound-related vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

звон: [zvon] (The 'з' is a voiced alveolar fricative, similar to 'z' in 'zebra'; stress on the first syllable)

гудок: [ɡudok] (The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, like 'g' in 'go'; stress on the first syllable)

Note on звон: Be mindful of the vowel 'о' which can vary slightly in casual speech to [ɔ], making it sound more open.

Note on гудок: This word may have regional variations in pronunciation, with a harder 'г' in some dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The loud ringing of bells or a similar resonant sound

Translation(s) & Context:

• звон - Used in formal or descriptive contexts, such as church bells or celebrations.
• гудок - Used in informal or everyday contexts, like vehicle horns or alarms.

Usage Examples:

• В церкви раздался громкий звон колоколов на празднике. (In the church, a loud peal of bells rang out during the holiday.)

  Translation: The peal of bells echoed through the church on the holiday, showcasing 'звон' in a ceremonial context.

• Гудок парохода разнёсся по реке, оповещая о прибытии. (The peal of the steamboat's horn echoed across the river, announcing its arrival.)

  Translation: The horn's peal spread over the river, signaling arrival, demonstrating 'гудок' in a transportation scenario.

• С первым ударом, звон колокола возвестил начало нового года. (With the first strike, the peal of the bell heralded the new year.)

  Translation: The bell's peal announced the start of the new year, illustrating 'звон' in a temporal or festive setting.

• В старом фильме, гудок поезда звучал как финальный аккорд. (In the old film, the peal of the train's horn served as the final chord.)

  Translation: The train's horn peal acted as the concluding sound, showing 'гудок' in narrative or artistic contexts.

• После дождя, звон капель на крыше напоминал отдалённый гудок. (After the rain, the peal of drops on the roof resembled a distant horn.)

  Translation: The drops' peal on the roof echoed like a far-off horn, blending 'звон' and 'гудок' in a metaphorical usage.

A loud, prolonged sound, such as laughter or noise

Translation(s) & Context:

• звон - Used metaphorically for echoing or resonant laughter.
• гудок - Less common here, but applicable for booming noises.

Usage Examples:

• Его звонкий смех эхом отразился в зале. (His peal of laughter echoed through the hall.)

  Translation: His laughter's peal reverberated in the hall, using 'звон' to describe joyful, resonant sounds.

• Гудок сирены прервал тишину ночи. (The peal of the siren broke the night's silence.)

  Translation: The siren's peal disrupted the quiet, employing 'гудок' for urgent or warning contexts.

• Звон голосов на митинге был слышен издалека. (The peal of voices at the rally was heard from afar.)

  Translation: The voices' peal at the rally carried far, illustrating 'звон' in group or public settings.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'звон' and 'гудок' are masculine nouns in Russian, following standard declension patterns for third-declension nouns. They are inflected based on case, number, and gender.

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

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • звук (zvuk) - A general sound, often interchangeable in neutral contexts.
  • шум (shum) - Noise, with a connotation of louder, less melodic sounds.
• Antonyms:
  • тишина (tishina) - Silence, directly opposite to any loud peal.
  • шепот (shepot) - Whisper, for very soft sounds.

Related Phrases:

• Колокольный звон (Kolokol'nyy zvon) - Bell peal; a phrase used for church or ceremonial ringing, often in festive contexts.
• Гудок автомобиля (Gudok avtomobilya) - Car horn peal; common in urban settings for signaling or warnings.
• Звон в ушах (Zvon v ushakh) - Ringing in the ears; a metaphorical phrase for tinnitus or persistent sounds.

Usage Notes:

'Peal' in English often implies a repetitive or resonant quality, which aligns closely with 'звон' in Russian for bells or echoes, but 'гудок' is better for mechanical sounds. Use 'звон' in formal or poetic contexts, such as literature or descriptions of nature, while 'гудок' fits everyday or technical scenarios. Be cautious with gender agreement, as both are masculine nouns, and ensure proper case usage based on sentence structure. When choosing between translations, opt for 'звон' if the peal is melodic; 'гудок' for abrupt, signaling sounds.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'звон' with 'звенеть' (a verb meaning 'to ring'). Correct: Use 'звон' as a noun for the sound itself, e.g., "звон колоколов" instead of "звенеть колоколов". Explanation: 'Звенеть' is the action, while 'звон' is the result, so learners often mix noun-verb forms.
• Mistake: Overusing 'гудок' for any loud sound. Correct: Reserve it for horn-like noises; for general peals, use 'звон'. Example: Incorrect: "Гудок смеха" (wrong for laughter peal); Correct: "Звон смеха". Explanation: This error stems from not distinguishing sound types, leading to unnatural phrasing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'звон колоколов' (peal of bells) is deeply tied to Orthodox traditions, such as Easter celebrations or church services, symbolizing joy and spiritual awakening. It often evokes historical connotations from Russian literature, like in Tolstoy's works, where it represents the rhythm of rural life. 'Гудок' might relate to industrial heritage, reminding of Soviet-era factories or trains, highlighting Russia's vast transportation networks.

Related Concepts:

• колокол (kolokol) - Bell
• сирена (sirena) - Siren
• эхо (ekho) - Echo