Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'runoff'

English Word: runoff

Key Russian Translations:

• повторное голосование [pɐvˈtornəjə ɡɫɐsəvɐˈvanʲɪjə] - [Formal, used in political contexts]
• сток [stok] - [Common, neutral, used in environmental or hydrological contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The term is encountered in specific domains like politics and environmental science, but not in everyday casual conversation.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian compound nouns and contextual usage. For "повторное голосование," it may be B2 due to political terminology.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

повторное голосование: [pɐvˈtornəjə ɡɫɐsəvɐˈvanʲɪjə]

сток: [stok]

Note on повторное голосование: The stress falls on the third syllable of "повторное" and the fourth of "голосование." Be mindful of the soft sign (ь) in "голосование," which affects pronunciation subtly.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: In the context of elections (a second round of voting)

Translation(s) & Context:

• повторное голосование - Used in formal political discussions, such as describing runoff elections in democratic processes.

Usage Examples:

• В случае, если ни один кандидат не набрал большинство, проводится повторное голосование.

  In case no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election is held.

• Политические партии часто готовятся к повторному голосованию, чтобы убедиться в победе.

  Political parties often prepare for the runoff to ensure victory.

• После первого тура выборов было объявлено о необходимости повторного голосования.

  After the first round of elections, the need for a runoff was announced.

• Повторное голосование может изменить исход, если избиратели изменят свои предпочтения.

  A runoff can change the outcome if voters change their preferences.

Meaning 2: In the context of water or drainage (excess water flowing away)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сток - Used in everyday or technical discussions about water management, such as stormwater runoff.

Usage Examples:

• Во время дождя сток с улиц может привести к наводнению.

  During rain, runoff from the streets can lead to flooding.

• Системы стока в городах предназначены для отвода дождевой воды.

  Runoff systems in cities are designed to divert rainwater.

• Загрязненный сток из фабрик вреден для рек и озер.

  Polluted runoff from factories is harmful to rivers and lakes.

• Экологи изучают сток в сельских районах, чтобы предотвратить эрозию почвы.

  Ecologists study runoff in rural areas to prevent soil erosion.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "повторное голосование" (a noun phrase): This is a compound noun. "Повторное" is an adjective that agrees with "голосование" in case, number, and gender. "Голосование" is a neuter noun in the nominative singular form and follows standard second-declension patterns.

For "сток" (a masculine noun): It is an inanimate noun that follows the standard first-declension pattern and has no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дополнительное голосование (for elections; implies an extra vote with slight emphasis on addition)
  • отток (for water; more specific to flow away)
• Antonyms:
  • первое голосование (for elections; first round)
  • задержка (for water; retention or holding back)

Related Phrases:

• Повторное голосование в парламенте - A second vote in parliament (used in formal political settings).
• Дождевой сток - Rainwater runoff (common in environmental discussions).
• Сток с полей - Runoff from fields (refers to agricultural water flow).

Usage Notes:

• "Повторное голосование" directly corresponds to electoral runoff and is typically used in formal, official contexts, avoiding slang. Choose this over other phrases when discussing democratic processes.
• "Сток" is more neutral and versatile for environmental topics; it's often paired with adjectives like "дождевой" to specify type.
• Be cautious with case agreements in Russian sentences, as both terms inflect based on their role.
• In informal speech, Russians might simplify "повторное голосование" to just "второй тур," but this is less precise.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "повторное голосование" in non-political contexts, such as for water. Correct: Use "сток" instead. Example of error: *Повторное голосование с улиц* (incorrect). Correct: Сток с улиц. Explanation: These terms are domain-specific; mixing them confuses meaning.
• Error: Forgetting case inflections, e.g., saying "в повторное голосование" instead of "в повторном голосовании." Correct: Always adjust for prepositional case. Explanation: Russian requires precise grammatical agreement, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "повторное голосование" reflects the democratic processes influenced by Western models, especially in post-Soviet states. It symbolizes fairness in elections but can also highlight political tensions, as seen in historical events like the 1996 Russian presidential runoff.

Related Concepts:

• выборы (lections)
• эрозия (erosion)
• водоотвод (drainage)