Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'peg'

English Word: peg

Key Russian Translations:

• колышек /kɐˈlɨʂək/ - [Informal, Common for small wooden pegs]
• гвоздь /ɡvozdʲ/ - [Formal, Used for metal pegs or nails]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like DIY or construction, but not highly frequent in casual speech)

Difficulty: A2 (For колышек: Beginner level, straightforward vocabulary; For гвоздь: Still A2, but involves basic noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

колышек: /kɐˈlɨʂək/

Note on колышек: The stress falls on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'ш' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

гвоздь: /ɡvozdʲ/

Note on гвоздь: The final 'ь' is a soft sign that softens the preceding consonant; pronounce it as a softened 'd' without adding an extra vowel.

Audio: []

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A small pin or stake used for fastening or marking (e.g., in construction or camping)

Translation(s) & Context:

• колышек - Used in informal, everyday contexts like outdoor activities or simple repairs.
• гвоздь - Applied in more formal or industrial settings, such as carpentry.

Usage Examples:

• Я вбил колышек в землю, чтобы закрепить палатку.

  I drove the peg into the ground to secure the tent.

• Этот гвоздь слишком короткий для крепления доски.

  This peg (or nail) is too short for fastening the board.

• Дети использовали колышки для игры в мини-гольф на заднем дворе.

  The kids used pegs for playing mini-golf in the backyard.

• Мастер выбрал подходящий гвоздь для сборки мебели.

  The craftsman selected the right peg (or nail) for assembling the furniture.

• В походе всегда берите запасные колышки на случай дождя.

  Always take spare pegs on a hike in case of rain.

Meaning 2: A fixed point or marker (e.g., in surveying or metaphorical use)

Translation(s) & Context:

• колышек - Informal, often in literal outdoor or sports contexts.
• гвоздь - Can be used metaphorically, but less common for this meaning.

Usage Examples:

• Колышек служит как ориентир на тропе.

  The peg serves as a marker on the trail.

• Геодезисты установили гвоздь для измерения участка.

  The surveyors set up the peg to measure the plot.

• В этой игре колышек обозначает цель.

  In this game, the peg marks the target.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns. Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. 'Колышек' is a masculine noun (3rd declension), while 'гвоздь' is also masculine but follows standard patterns.

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregular forms for these words.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Штырь (shtyr) - Similar to peg, but often for metal stakes; used in technical contexts.
  • Кол (kol) - A stake or pin, more general and rustic.
• Antonyms:
  • Отверстие (otverstie) - Hole, as it contrasts with something that fills or fastens.

Related Phrases:

• Вбить колышек - To drive in a peg; used for securing tents or fences.
• Забить гвоздь - To hammer a nail; common in construction or repairs.
• Колышек для белья - Peg for clothesline; everyday household phrase.

Usage Notes:

'Peg' in English can be more versatile, but in Russian, choose 'колышек' for informal, wooden or temporary uses, and 'гвоздь' for permanent or metal fixtures. Be mindful of context: in formal writing or technical discussions, 'гвоздь' is preferred. Grammatically, always decline these nouns according to Russian cases to fit sentence structure, e.g., use genitive for possession.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'колышек' interchangeably with 'гвоздь' without considering material or context. Correct: In a hardware store, ask for 'гвоздь' for nails, not 'колышек'. Explanation: This can lead to confusion in practical situations.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect the noun, e.g., saying "я взял колышек" instead of "я взял колышек" in accusative, but misusing in other cases. Correct: "Я взял колышек" (accusative), vs. incorrect "Я взял колышек" in wrong context. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'гвоздь' might evoke images of traditional craftsmanship or Soviet-era DIY projects, symbolizing resourcefulness. 'Колышек' is commonly associated with outdoor activities like camping, which are popular in Russian recreational traditions, such as in dachas or national parks.

Related Concepts:

• Инструмент (instrument)
• Крепление (krepelenie)
• Строительство (stroitelstvo)