Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'roller'

English Word: roller

Key Russian Translations:

• валик [ˈvalʲɪk] - [Informal, Common noun]
• роликовый конек [rɐˈlʲikəvɨj ˈkɐnʲɛk] - [Informal, Specific to roller skates]

Frequency: Medium (The word 'валик' is commonly used in everyday contexts like painting or mechanics, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; learners at this level can grasp basic noun forms and usage, though inflection patterns may require practice.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

валик: [ˈvalʲɪk]

роликовый конек: [rɐˈlʲikəvɨj ˈkɐnʲɛk]

Note on валик: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'л' is palatalized, which is a common feature in Russian nouns. Be careful with the soft sign (ь) affecting pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A cylindrical object that rolls, such as a rolling pin or paint roller

Translation(s) & Context:

• валик - Used in contexts like painting, cooking, or machinery; informal and everyday language.

Usage Examples:

• Я взял валик, чтобы покрасить стены в гостиной.

  I took the roller to paint the walls in the living room.

• В кухне хранится деревянный валик для теста.

  In the kitchen, there's a wooden roller for dough.

• Механик использовал валик для нанесения смазки на детали.

  The mechanic used the roller to apply lubricant to the parts.

• Валик в этой машине помогает равномерно распределять краску.

  The roller in this machine helps to evenly distribute the paint.

Meaning 2: Roller skate or related recreational device

Translation(s) & Context:

• роликовый конек - Used in sports or leisure contexts; more specific and informal.

Usage Examples:

• Дети надели роликовые коньки и поехали в парк.

  The children put on roller skates and went to the park.

• В выходные я предпочитаю кататься на роликовых коньках по набережной.

  On weekends, I prefer to roller skate along the embankment.

• Роликовые коньки требуют специальной защиты для безопасности.

  Roller skates require special protective gear for safety.

• Магазин продаёт новые роликовые коньки разных размеров.

  The store sells new roller skates in various sizes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

The primary translation 'валик' is a masculine noun in the second declension. It follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns, which are regular but require attention to cases. 'Роликовый конек' is a phrase where 'роликовый' is an adjective that agrees with the noun.

For 'роликовый конек', the adjective 'роликовый' changes to agree: e.g., роликовых коньков (Genitive plural). These forms are regular and do not have irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • роликовый вал (for mechanical rollers; more technical)
  • каток (specifically for ice or road rollers, with a slight difference in context)
• Antonyms:
  • неподвижный объект (immobile object; not a direct antonym but contrasts the rolling function)

Related Phrases:

• Красящий валик - A painting roller; used in DIY or professional painting contexts.
• Роликовые коньки для фитнеса - Roller skates for fitness; common in health and exercise routines.
• Валик для теста - Roller for dough; a kitchen essential in baking.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'roller' translates to 'валик' in most everyday contexts, but choose based on specific usage—e.g., 'роликовый конек' for sports. In Russian, nouns like 'валик' must agree in case, gender, and number, which differs from English. It's often used in informal settings, but in formal writing, more precise terms might be preferred. When multiple translations exist, select based on context to avoid ambiguity.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'валик' incorrectly in cases, e.g., saying "Я имею валик" instead of "Я имею валик" (correct), but commonly messing up in oblique cases like "of the roller" as "of валик" instead of "of валика".

  Correct: Валика для покраски (Genitive). Explanation: Russian requires case endings, so learners must practice declensions to match sentence structure.

• Error: Confusing 'валик' with 'каток', which means a roller for flattening or an ice rink. For example, saying "Я катаюсь на валике" when meaning roller skates.

  Correct: Я катаюсь на роликовых коньках. Explanation: Context is key; 'валик' is for tools, not skating.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'роликовые коньки' are popular for outdoor recreation, especially in urban parks during summer, reflecting a communal approach to fitness. 'Валик' as a tool symbolizes everyday practicality in Russian households, often seen in traditional baking like making blini.

Related Concepts:

• кисть (brush - often used alongside rollers in painting)
• скейтборд (skateboard - related to recreational rolling devices)
• машина для прокатки (rolling machine - for industrial contexts)