Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'postbox'

English Word: postbox

Key Russian Translations:

• почтовый ящик [pɐˈʂto.vɨj ˈja.ʂɨk] - [Common noun, Informal/Neutral, Used for physical mailboxes]
• почта [ˈpoʂ.tə] - [Noun, Formal, Used in broader contexts like postal services, but less specific to a box]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday communication related to mail, but not as high-frequency as basic nouns like "дом" [house])

Difficulty: A2 (Basic level; straightforward for beginners, but understanding inflections may require intermediate knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

почтовый ящик: [pɐˈʂto.vɨj ˈja.ʂɨk] (The stress is on the second syllable of "почтовый" and the first of "ящик". The "щ" in "ящик" is a soft, hissing sound.)

Note on почтовый ящик: Be mindful of the palatalized "т" in "почтовый", which can be tricky for English speakers; it sounds softer than a standard "t".

Audio: []

почта: [ˈpoʂ.tə] (Stress on the first syllable; the "щ" sound is similar to the "sh" in "sheep", but with a slight whistle.)

Note on почта: This word is often shortened in casual speech, but the full pronunciation is standard in formal contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A physical box or container for depositing mail.

Translation(s) & Context:

• почтовый ящик - Used in everyday situations for referring to street-side or home mailboxes; neutral and common in both urban and rural contexts.
• почта - Used more broadly for postal services or offices, but can imply a collection point in some contexts; formal or institutional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Я опустил письмо в почтовый ящик на углу улицы. (I dropped the letter into the postbox on the corner of the street.)

  Translation: This example shows the noun in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting its use in daily routines.

• Пожалуйста, проверьте почтовый ящик; там может быть посылка. (Please check the postbox; there might be a package there.)

  Translation: Demonstrates the noun with imperatives and possessive contexts, common in household instructions.

• В нашем районе часто крадут письма из почтовых ящиков. (In our neighborhood, letters are often stolen from postboxes.)

  Translation: Illustrates plural usage and in a negative or cautionary context, showing genitive case application.

• Я всегда использую почту для отправки важных документов. (I always use the postbox for sending important documents.)

  Translation: Here, "почта" is used interchangeably but emphasizes service; note the verb "использую" for habitual actions.

• Почтовый ящик был переполнен из-за забастовки на почте. (The postbox was overflowing due to the strike at the post office.)

  Translation: Combines both translations in one sentence, showing relational contexts like events affecting mail.

Secondary Meaning: Metaphorical or extended use (e.g., email inbox, though less common).

Translation(s) & Context:

• почтовый ящик - In digital contexts, informally for email; modern slang, especially among younger users.

Usage Examples:

• Проверьте свой электронный почтовый ящик; там письмо от начальника. (Check your email postbox; there's a message from the boss.)

  Translation: Adapts to digital scenarios, blending traditional and modern usage.

• Мой почтовый ящик забит спамом. (My postbox is full of spam.)

  Translation: Shows informal, everyday digital complaints.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Почтовый ящик" is a noun phrase where "почтовый" is an adjective and "ящик" is a masculine noun. It follows standard Russian inflection patterns.

For "почта", it is a feminine noun with regular declension: Nominative - почта; Genitive - почты; etc. It does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ящик для почты (More descriptive, used interchangeably in formal writing)
  • почтовая урна (Emphasizes public boxes, with a slight formal connotation)
• Antonyms:
  • мусорный ящик (Trash bin; opposite in function)

Related Phrases:

• Опустить письмо в почтовый ящик (To drop a letter in the postbox) - Common phrase for mailing letters.
• Проверить почту (To check the mail) - Refers to inspecting a postbox or email; versatile in daily use.
• Почтовый ящик на углу (Postbox on the corner) - Describes location-specific contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Почтовый ящик" directly corresponds to "postbox" in English, making it a straightforward translation for physical objects, but it's often inflected based on sentence structure in Russian. For example, use the genitive case when indicating possession or origin. In formal contexts, prefer "почта" for institutional references. English learners should note that Russian requires agreement in gender, number, and case, so adjectives like "почтовый" change form accordingly. When multiple translations exist, choose based on specificity: "почтовый ящик" for literal boxes and "почта" for broader services.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "почта" when specifically meaning a physical box, e.g., saying "Я отправил письмо в почта" instead of "в почту" or "в почтовый ящик".
  Correct: "Я отправил письмо в почтовый ящик". Explanation: "Почта" alone refers to the service, not the container, leading to confusion in context.
• Mistake: Forgetting inflections, e.g., saying "в почтовый ящик" in accusative when it should be genitive in some cases.
  Correct: Adjust to "из почтового ящика" for "from the postbox". Explanation: Russian prepositions dictate case, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, the concept of a "postbox" (почтовый ящик) is tied to the historical postal system under the Soviet era, where public mailboxes were prominent in urban areas. Today, they symbolize reliability in communication, but with the rise of digital alternatives, they carry a nostalgic connotation, often featured in literature or films as a metaphor for waiting or connection.

Related Concepts:

• почтальон (Postman)
• конверт (Envelope)
• посылка (Package)