Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ream'

English Word: ream

Key Russian Translations:

• пачка [ˈpatʲkə] - [Informal; Used for quantities of paper or other items, e.g., in everyday commerce]
• упаковка [ʊˈpakəfkə] - [Formal; Often used in professional or technical contexts for packaged goods]

Frequency: Low - This term is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation but appears in specific contexts like office supplies or printing.

Difficulty: Intermediate (B1) - The vocabulary is straightforward for learners with basic knowledge, but understanding inflections and contexts requires some familiarity with Russian noun cases.

Pronunciation (Russian):

пачка: [ˈpatʲkə]

упаковка: [ʊˈpakəfkə]

Note on пачка: The 'ч' sound is a soft palatal fricative, similar to the 'ch' in 'loch' in Scottish English. Stress is on the first syllable, and it may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A quantity of paper, specifically 500 sheets (as in paper products).

Translation(s) & Context:

• пачка бумаги - Used in casual or commercial settings when referring to a standard pack of paper, equivalent to a 'ream' in English printing contexts.
• упаковка бумаги - Applied in more formal or industrial contexts, such as warehouses or manufacturing, to denote a packaged unit.

Usage Examples:

• Я купил пачку бумаги для принтера в магазине.

  I bought a ream of paper for the printer at the store. (This example shows the word in a simple purchase scenario, highlighting everyday noun usage.)

• Эта упаковка содержит ровно пятьсот листов высококачественной бумаги.

  This package contains exactly five hundred sheets of high-quality paper. (Illustrates formal contexts, such as specifications in business or technical writing.)

• В офисе мы всегда держим несколько пачек под рукой на случай нехватки.

  In the office, we always keep a few reams on hand in case of shortage. (Demonstrates plural usage and practical application in a work environment.)

• После распаковки пачки, листы были распределены по ящикам.

  After unpacking the ream, the sheets were distributed into drawers. (Shows the word in a process-oriented sentence, involving genitive case.)

• Он заказал большую партию, включая несколько упаковок бумаги для проекта.

  He ordered a large batch, including several reams of paper for the project. (Exemplifies use in larger quantities and project-related contexts.)

Meaning 2: Figurative or extended use (e.g., a large amount, though less common in Russian).

Translation(s) & Context:

• пачка (in a metaphorical sense) - Rarely used this way in Russian; prefer 'куча' or 'много' for 'a ream' meaning abundance.

Usage Examples:

• У него была целая пачка идей, но ни одной реализуемой.

  He had a whole ream of ideas, but none were feasible. (This shows a figurative extension, though 'пачка' is not the most idiomatic choice here.)

• Пачки документов накопились на столе, требуя срочной обработки.

  Reams of documents piled up on the desk, needing urgent processing. (Illustrates the word in a bureaucratic context with plural forms.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. 'Пачка' is a feminine noun (3rd declension), and 'упаковка' is also feminine. Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for 'пачка' as an example; 'упаковка' follows similar patterns.

For 'упаковка', it is invariable in most forms but changes as: Nominative singular - упаковка; Plural - упаковки. These are regular feminine declensions with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • стопка - Often used interchangeably for a stack, but implies a smaller, stacked quantity.
  • пачкаж - A less common variant, specific to certain dialects.
• Antonyms:
  • одиночный лист - Meaning a single sheet, contrasting with a bulk quantity.

Related Phrases:

• пачка бумаги - A pack of paper; Common in retail contexts for buying office supplies.
• упаковка товаров - Packaging of goods; Used in logistics to refer to bundled items like a ream.
• пачка сигарет - A pack of cigarettes; While not directly related, it shows 'пачка' in a similar quantitative sense.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'пачка' is the most direct equivalent to 'ream' for paper, but it's more general and can refer to any packaged unit. Use 'пачка' in informal settings and 'упаковка' for formal ones. Be mindful of noun cases; for example, in genitive constructions like "пачки бумаги", it indicates possession. When choosing between translations, opt for 'пачка' if the context is everyday, and 'упаковка' for technical specifications. This word doesn't have direct cultural connotations but reflects Russian commerce practices.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'пачка' without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "Я взял пачка" instead of "Я взял пачку". Correct: Always inflect based on the sentence role (accusative here). Explanation: Russian requires nouns to agree in case, which English learners often overlook.

• Error: Confusing 'пачка' with 'пачкать' (to dirty). Correct: 'Пачка' is a noun; 'пачкать' is a verb. Example of error: "Я пачка бумагу" (wrong); Correct: "Я пачкаю бумагу" if meaning to dirty, or "Я беру пачку" for a pack.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'пачка' are practical in everyday life, especially in post-Soviet contexts where bulk purchasing of supplies like paper was common due to economic factors. It doesn't carry deep historical connotations but reflects the influence of industrialization on language.

Related Concepts:

• бумага
• принтер
• упаковочный материал