Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ring'

English Word: ring

Key Russian Translations:

• кольцо [ˈkolʲ.tsə] - [Noun, Formal, Common for jewelry or circular objects]
• звонить [ˈzvonʲ.itʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used for the action of ringing a bell or phone]

Frequency: High (e.g., 'кольцо' is commonly used in everyday conversation; 'звонить' is medium in phone-related contexts)

Difficulty: A2 for 'кольцо' (Beginner, as it's a basic noun); B1 for 'звонить' (Intermediate, due to verb conjugation)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кольцо: [ˈkolʲ.tsə]

Note on кольцо: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'л' is palatalized, which can be challenging for beginners.

звонить: [ˈzvonʲ.itʲ]

Note on звонить: The verb has a soft 'н' sound; pronunciation varies slightly in imperfective forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A circular band of metal worn as jewelry

Translation(s) & Context:

• кольцо - Used in formal and everyday contexts, such as describing jewelry or symbols (e.g., wedding rings).

Usage Examples:

• Она надела новое золотое кольцо на палец.

  She put on a new gold ring on her finger.

• Это кольцо передается в нашей семье из поколения в поколение.

  This ring is passed down in our family from generation to generation.

• В магазине есть разные кольца: серебряные и платиновые.

  In the store, there are various rings: silver and platinum ones.

• Кольцо потерялось во время прогулки в парке.

  The ring was lost during a walk in the park.

The sound of a bell or phone ringing

Translation(s) & Context:

• звонить - Used in informal or everyday situations, such as answering calls or alarms (e.g., phone etiquette).

Usage Examples:

• Телефон начал звонить посреди ночи.

  The phone started ringing in the middle of the night.

• Он звонит в дверь, но никто не отвечает.

  He is ringing the doorbell, but no one is answering.

• Звонить по телефону – это часть моей ежедневной рутины.

  Ringing/making phone calls is part of my daily routine.

• Церковные колокола звонят каждое утро.

  The church bells ring every morning.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'кольцо' (neuter noun, 2nd declension):

It follows regular noun declension patterns. Below is a table of its inflections:

For 'звонить' (imperfective verb, 1st conjugation):

It is an irregular verb in some forms. Key inflections include present tense variations:

Note: 'звонить' has an aspectual pair 'позвонить' (perfective), which is used for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: перстень (for ring as jewelry, implying a finger ring); звон (for the sound of ringing)
• Antonyms: тишина (silence, for ringing sounds)

Related Phrases:

• Золотое кольцо - A phrase for a gold ring; often used in contexts of value or tradition.
• Звонить в дверь - Means "to ring the doorbell"; commonly used in everyday interactions.
• Кольцо Саурона - Refers to "The One Ring" from literature; a cultural reference to power and temptation.

Usage Notes:

'Кольцо' directly corresponds to the English 'ring' as a noun for circular objects or jewelry, but in Russian, it's important to consider gender and case for grammatical agreement. For 'звонить', it's a verb that implies ongoing action, so use it for habitual ringing, whereas 'позвонить' is for one-time events. In formal contexts, prefer 'кольцо' over slang variants, and always conjugate verbs based on subject. When choosing between translations, opt for 'кольцо' for physical objects and 'звонить' for auditory actions.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'кольцо' without proper declension, e.g., saying "в кольцо" instead of "в кольце" for "in the ring".
  Correct: "в кольце" – This ensures proper prepositional case usage.
• Mistake: Confusing 'звонить' with 'позвонить', e.g., using 'звонить' for a completed call.
  Correct: Use 'позвонить' for finished actions, like "Я позвонил другу" (I called my friend), to avoid implying ongoing action.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, a 'кольцо' like a wedding ring symbolizes eternal love and is often exchanged during Orthodox wedding ceremonies. Additionally, references to rings in folklore, such as in fairy tales or historical epics, can carry connotations of magic or destiny, as seen in stories like those of J.R.R. Tolkien adapted into Russian media.

Related Concepts:

• браслет (bracelet)
• ожерелье (necklace)
• сигнал (signal, related to ringing sounds)