Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'puddle'

English Word: puddle

Key Russian Translations:

• лужа [ˈluʐə] - [Informal, Common everyday usage for a small pool of water]

Frequency: Medium (The word is commonly encountered in everyday Russian conversations, especially in weather-related contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic words like 'дом' for 'house').

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; as a simple feminine noun, it is straightforward for English learners to grasp, with no complex grammar rules initially required).

Pronunciation (Russian):

лужа: [ˈluʐə]

Note on лужа: The 'ж' sound (as in [ʐ]) is a voiced retroflex fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English. Be careful with the stress on the first syllable; misplacing it can alter perception. Variations may occur in dialects, but standard Russian uses this pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A small pool of liquid, especially rainwater, on the ground.

Translation(s) & Context:

• лужа - Typically used in informal, everyday contexts to describe a temporary water accumulation, such as after rain on streets or sidewalks.

Usage Examples:

• На улице большая лужа после дождя.

  On the street, there's a big puddle after the rain. (This example shows the noun in a nominative case, describing a common outdoor scene.)

• Дети любят прыгать в лужи во время прогулки.

  Children love jumping into puddles during a walk. (Illustrates the noun in the accusative case within a playful, informal context.)

• Из-за луж на дороге пришлось обходить лужу.

  Because of the puddles on the road, we had to go around the puddle. (Demonstrates the genitive case and repetition for emphasis in a practical scenario.)

• После ливня вся дорога превратилась в одну большую лужу.

  After the downpour, the entire road turned into one big puddle. (Shows the noun in various forms to describe transformation, highlighting its use in descriptive narratives.)

• В луже отразилось небо, и она выглядела как зеркало.

  In the puddle, the sky was reflected, and it looked like a mirror. (This poetic usage demonstrates the prepositional case in metaphorical or observational contexts.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Лужа" is a feminine noun of the first declension in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns for case changes. It is invariant in the plural form but changes based on grammatical case. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: As a first-declension noun, its changes are regular and predictable, making it easy for beginners. There are no irregular forms for "лужа".

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • калюжа - A smaller or shallower puddle, often used interchangeably but implies something less significant.
  • болотце - More poetic, for a marshy or semi-permanent puddle, with a connotation of nature.
• Antonyms:
  • сухость - Dryness, referring to the absence of water.
  • пустыня - Desert, for an extreme opposite in a broader context.

Related Phrases:

• Прыгнуть в лужу - To jump into a puddle (Often used in playful or childhood contexts; implies fun or mischief).
• Обходить лужу - To go around a puddle (Common in everyday situations, emphasizing caution or avoidance).
• Лужа после дождя - A puddle after rain (A fixed phrase for describing post-rain scenarios, highlighting temporary water accumulation).

Usage Notes:

"Лужа" directly corresponds to the English "puddle" as a basic noun, making it a straightforward translation for beginners. It is most commonly used in informal settings, such as casual conversations about weather or daily life, and rarely in formal writing. Grammatically, always treat it as a feminine singular noun, and be mindful of case endings to fit the sentence structure. When choosing between synonyms like "калюжа", opt for "лужа" for general purposes, as it is more neutral and widely understood. In spoken Russian, it can appear in idioms related to resilience, e.g., enduring "jumping into puddles" metaphorically for facing challenges.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse the case endings, such as using "лужа" in the accusative case incorrectly. For example: Incorrect: "Я видел лужа" (wrong case); Correct: "Я видел лужу". Explanation: Russian requires the accusative case for direct objects, so always adjust based on the sentence role.

• Another common mistake is overgeneralizing to plural forms unnecessarily. For instance: Incorrect: "Лужи на дороге нет" when only one puddle is meant; Correct: "Лужи нет" if plural, or "Лужа нет" is incorrect—use "Нет лужи" for singular. Explanation: Ensure the noun agrees with the context to avoid sounding unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "лужа" (puddle) often appears in folklore and children's stories as a symbol of simple, everyday adventures or mishaps, such as in tales where characters splash through puddles during rainy days. This reflects a broader appreciation for nature's unpredictability in Russian literature, like in works by Chekhov, where mundane elements like puddles evoke themes of resilience and the passage of seasons.

Related Concepts:

• дождь (rain)
• вода (water)
• улица (street)