Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'petrol'

English Word: petrol

Key Russian Translations:

• бензин /bɛnˈzʲin/ - [Formal, Commonly used in everyday contexts related to vehicles and fuel]

Frequency: High (This word is frequently encountered in modern Russian, especially in discussions about transportation, automotive industries, and daily life.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level, as it involves basic vocabulary related to technology and everyday items, but requires understanding of noun declensions for correct usage.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

бензин: /bɛnˈzʲin/

Note on бензин: The stress is on the second syllable (/ˈzʲin/), and the 'з' sound is a voiced alveolar fricative, which may be challenging for English speakers. Pay attention to the palatalized 'н' in some regional variants.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: A flammable liquid used as fuel for internal combustion engines.

Translation(s) & Context:

• бензин - Used in formal and informal contexts when referring to gasoline or petrol in automotive or industrial settings, such as at gas stations or in mechanical discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Я заправил машину бензином на заправке. (Ya zapravil mashinu benzinyom na zapravke.)

  I filled up the car with petrol at the gas station.

• Цена бензина выросла из-за глобального кризиса. (Tsena benzina vyrosla iz-za globalnogo krizisa.)

  The price of petrol has risen due to the global crisis.

• В этой стране бензин дороже, чем в моей. (V etoy strane benzine dorozhe, chem v moyey.)

  Petrol is more expensive in this country than in mine.

• Без бензина машина не заведётся. (Bez benzina mashina ne zavedyotsya.)

  The car won't start without petrol.

• Он работает на заправочной станции, продавая бензин. (On rabotaet na zapravchnoy stantsii, prodavaya benzine.)

  He works at the gas station, selling petrol.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Бензин" is a masculine noun (3rd declension) in Russian, which means it follows standard patterns for masculine inanimate nouns. It is inflected based on case and number. Below is a table outlining its primary forms:

Note: As an uncountable noun in most contexts, the plural form is infrequently used. It does not have gender variations beyond its masculine base.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Горючее (goryucheye) - More general term for fuel, often used interchangeably in broader contexts.
  • Топливо (toplivo) - Refers to fuel in general, but can be specified for petrol.
• Antonyms:
  • Вода (voda) - Water, as it is the opposite in terms of substance and use.

Related Phrases:

• Заправить бензином (Zapravit benzinyom) - To fill up with petrol; Used when referring to refueling a vehicle.
• Цена на бензин (Tsena na benzine) - Petrol price; Common in economic or daily conversations.
• Бензин премиум-класса (Benzin premium-klassa) - Premium petrol; Refers to high-quality fuel options.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "бензин" directly corresponds to the British English "petrol" and is the standard term for gasoline. It is versatile across formal and informal settings but is most common in practical, everyday language. Note that in American English contexts, "gasoline" might be more familiar, but "бензин" aligns closely with "petrol." When using it in sentences, ensure proper case agreement with verbs and prepositions (e.g., accusative for direct objects). If multiple fuel types are discussed, specify with adjectives like "этилированный бензин" for leaded petrol to guide learners on word choice.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "бензин" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я купил бензин" incorrectly in a context requiring genitive, like "Я не имею бензина" (should be "бензина" for genitive).
  Correct: "Я не имею бензина." (I don't have petrol.)
  Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case with their grammatical role; beginners often overlook this, leading to awkward phrasing.
• Mistake: Confusing "бензин" with "дизель" (diesel), e.g., using "бензин" for diesel engines.
  Correct: Use "дизельное топливо" for diesel.
  Explanation: These are distinct fuels, and mixing them can cause confusion in real-world applications like vehicle maintenance.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, discussions about "бензин" often tie into broader themes of automotive reliance and economic fluctuations, especially given Russia's history with oil exports. For instance, petrol prices can reflect geopolitical events, making the word a common topic in media and daily conversations, symbolizing modernity and mobility in urban life.

Related Concepts:

• Дизель (dizel)
• Топливо (toplivo)
• Автомобиль (avtomobil)