Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'quake'

English Word: quake

Key Russian Translations:

• землетрясение [zʲɪmlʲɪˈtrʲasʲɪnʲɪjə] - [Formal, Noun; Used in scientific, news, and general contexts to describe seismic events]

Frequency: Medium (Common in news reports, educational materials, and discussions about natural disasters, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and vocabulary related to geography, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

землетрясение: [zʲɪmlʲɪˈtrʲasʲɪnʲɪjə]

Note on землетрясение: The stress is on the fourth syllable ("trʲasʲɪnʲɪjə"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized consonants (e.g., 'zʲ' sounds like a 'z' with a soft 'y' glide). Practice with native speakers for accuracy.

Audio: Play Pronunciation Audio (Insert actual audio file link here)

Meanings and Usage:

A sudden violent shaking of the ground, typically causing great destruction, as in an earthquake.

Translation(s) & Context:

• землетрясение - Used in formal contexts like news reports, scientific discussions, or emergency announcements; implies a significant seismic event.

Usage Examples:

• Вчера в Калифорнии произошло сильное землетрясение, которое разрушило несколько зданий.

  Yesterday in California, a strong quake occurred that destroyed several buildings.

• Ученые предсказывают, что землетрясение может случиться в этом регионе в ближайшие годы.

  Scientists predict that a quake might happen in this region in the coming years.

• Во время землетрясения люди должны оставаться спокойными и следовать инструкциям спасателей.

  During a quake, people should stay calm and follow the instructions of rescuers.

• Историческое землетрясение 1906 года в Сан-Франциско унесло тысячи жизней.

  The historic quake of 1906 in San Francisco claimed thousands of lives.

• Маленькое землетрясение, которое мы почувствовали, было всего 4 балла по шкале Рихтера.

  The small quake we felt was only 4 on the Richter scale.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Землетрясение is a neuter noun in Russian, which follows standard third-declension patterns. It is inflected based on case, number, and gender. As a compound word, it has regular inflections but can be challenging due to its length.

Note: This word does not change in the plural for some contexts if referring to a single event, but generally follows the above patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Сейсм (Seism; A more technical term for seismic activity, often used in scientific contexts)
• Трясение (Shaking; Less formal, implies milder vibrations but can be a synonym in casual speech)

• No direct antonyms, as "quake" is a specific event; however, "спокойствие" (calmness) could contrast in broader contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Сейсмическая активность - Seismic activity; Refers to ongoing earth movements that could lead to a quake.
• Землетрясение высокой магнитуды - High-magnitude quake; Used in discussions about earthquake intensity.
• Предупреждение о землетрясении - Quake warning; Common in emergency broadcasts.

Usage Notes:

Землетрясение directly corresponds to "quake" or "earthquake" in English and is the most precise translation for formal contexts. It is typically used in singular form for specific events but can be pluralized for series of quakes. Be mindful of Russian case usage; for example, in prepositional phrases like "во время землетрясения" (during the quake). English speakers often confuse it with milder terms like "трясение," which is better for small tremors. Choose this word for accuracy in scientific or news-related discussions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "землетресение" (a misspelling) instead of "землетрясение." Correct: Always spell with "я" for the correct pronunciation. Explanation: This error stems from phonetic confusion with English "quake," leading to altered vowels.
• Mistake: Failing to decline the noun properly, e.g., saying "в землетрясение" instead of "во время землетрясения." Correct: Use the correct case as per the sentence structure. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, discussions about землетрясение often tie into the country's seismic zones, such as the Caucasus or Kamchatka, where earthquakes are more frequent. This word carries a sense of urgency and historical significance, as major quakes have shaped Russian disaster preparedness and folklore, emphasizing community resilience in the face of natural forces.

Related Concepts:

• Цунами (Tsunami)
• Извержение вулкана (Volcanic eruption)
• Стихия (Natural disaster)