Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ridge'

English Word: ridge

Key Russian Translations:

• хребет [xʐʲɪˈbʲɛt] - [Formal, Geographical context]
• гребень [ɡrʲɪˈbʲenʲ] - [Informal, Often for roof ridges or smaller elevations]

Frequency: Medium (Common in geographical, scientific, or descriptive contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun declensions and vocabulary related to nature, with variations by translation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

хребет: [xʐʲɪˈbʲɛt]

гребень: [ɡrʲɪˈbʲenʲ]

Note on хребет: The initial "х" is a voiceless velar fricative, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like a rough "h" in "loch". Variations may occur in dialects.

Note on гребень: The "г" is a voiced velar plosive, similar to "g" in "go", but ensure the stress on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A long narrow elevated landform (e.g., mountain ridge)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хребет - Used in formal geographical or natural descriptions, often for large mountain ranges.
• гребень - Applied in contexts like architecture or smaller ridges, such as on a roof or wave crest.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Мы поднялись на хребет, откуда открывался великолепный вид на долину.

  English: We climbed the ridge, from where a magnificent view of the valley opened up.

• Русский: Гребень крыши был покрыт снегом после бури.

  English: The ridge of the roof was covered in snow after the storm.

• Русский: Геологи изучили хребет, чтобы понять тектонические процессы.

  English: Geologists studied the ridge to understand tectonic processes.

• Русский: Ветер свистел над гребнем волны, создавая опасные условия для серферов.

  English: The wind whistled over the wave ridge, creating dangerous conditions for surfers.

• Русский: Хребет гор разделял две республики на границе.

  English: The mountain ridge divided the two republics at the border.

2. A raised line or edge (e.g., in anatomy or objects)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гребень - Common in metaphorical or physical contexts, like a bone ridge or fabric edge.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Гребень позвоночника был виден под кожей у истощенного животного.

  English: The ridge of the spine was visible under the skin of the emaciated animal.

• Русский: На ткани появился гребень от шва, что испортило внешний вид.

  English: A ridge appeared on the fabric from the seam, ruining the appearance.

• Русский: Хребет листа растения помогал ему удерживать воду.

  English: The ridge of the plant leaf helped it retain water.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. "Хребет" is a masculine noun (3rd declension), and "гребень" is also masculine (2nd declension). Russian nouns inflect for case, number, and gender. Below is a table for "хребет" as an example; "гребень" follows similar patterns but with slight variations.

For "гребень": It is irregular in plural forms (e.g., nominative plural: гребни). Both words do not change in gender but must agree with adjectives and verbs in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • гора (гора) - More general for mountains, but less specific for elongated ridges.
  • выступ (výstup) - Used for protrusions or edges, with a subtle difference in implying a smaller scale.
• Antonyms:
  • долина (dolína) - Valley, representing a low-lying area opposite to a ridge.
  • равнина (ravnina) - Plain, indicating flat terrain without elevations.

Related Phrases:

• Горный хребет - Mountain ridge; Used in descriptions of landscapes or geography.
• Крышный гребень - Roof ridge; Common in construction or architectural contexts.
• Волновой гребень - Wave crest; Refers to the top of a wave, often in oceanic or surfing scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Ridge" translates most accurately to "хребет" in natural or geographical contexts, but "гребень" is preferred for man-made or smaller structures. Be mindful of formal vs. informal usage: "хребет" is more academic, while "гребень" suits everyday speech. In Russian, these nouns must agree in case with prepositions (e.g., "на хребте" for "on the ridge"). When choosing between translations, consider the scale and context—opt for "хребет" for large features and "гребень" for precise, smaller ones. English users should note that Russian often pairs these with adjectives for specificity, like "высокий хребет" (high ridge).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "хребет" interchangeably with "гора" without considering scale. For example, learners might say "Я увидел хребет в парке" when meaning a small hill, which is incorrect.

  Correct: "Я увидел гребень в парке" or "Я увидел холм в парке" (I saw a hill in the park). Explanation: "Хребет" implies a long, prominent ridge, not a minor elevation, leading to confusion in descriptive accuracy.

• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., saying "в хребет" instead of "в хребте" for "in the ridge".

  Correct: "в хребте". Explanation: Russian requires the prepositional case for locations, so always check the case based on the preposition used.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "хребет" often appear in literature and folklore, such as in descriptions of the Ural Mountains (Уральский хребет), which historically divided Europe and Asia. This evokes a sense of vastness and national identity, symbolizing barriers or natural boundaries in works by authors like Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• гора (mountain)
• долина (valley)
• плато (plateau)