Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'school'

English Word: school

Key Russian Translations:

• школа [ʃˈkoɫə] - [Formal, Singular]

Frequency: High (The word is commonly used in everyday conversations, education, and media in Russian-speaking contexts.)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level, as it is a basic noun with straightforward pronunciation and usage, suitable for new learners of Russian.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

школа: [ʃˈkoɫə]

Note on школа: The "ш" sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to the 'sh' in 'shoe'. The 'л' can have a dark 'l' sound in some dialects, but in standard Russian, it's pronounced as a clear [ɫ]. Pay attention to the stress on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: An educational institution for children or students.

Translation(s) & Context:

• школа - Used in formal and everyday contexts to refer to a building or system of education, such as primary or secondary schools.

Usage Examples:

• Я хожу в школу каждый день. (Ya hodu v shkolu kazhdyy den.)

  I go to school every day. (This example shows the word in a daily routine context, with the noun in the accusative case after the preposition 'в'.)

• В нашей школе есть хорошие учителя. (V nashey shkole yest' khoroshiye uchitelya.)

  In our school, there are good teachers. (Demonstrates the word in a possessive context, highlighting its use with adjectives and in the prepositional case.)

• Школа начинается в сентябре. (Shkola nachinaetsya v sentyabre.)

  School starts in September. (This illustrates the word in a temporal context, referring to the academic year.)

• Моя дочь учится в частной школе. (Moya doch' uchitsya v chastnoy shkole.)

  My daughter studies at a private school. (Shows the word with modifiers like 'частной' to specify type, in a family discussion scenario.)

• После школы я пойду в университет. (Posle shkoly ya poydu v universitet.)

  After school, I will go to university. (This example places the word in a future-oriented sentence, linking to educational progression.)

Secondary Meaning: A group of fish or metaphorical group (less common in modern usage).

Translation(s) & Context:

• косяк (kos'yak) - Used informally for a school of fish; not directly related to education but can be metaphorical.

Usage Examples:

• Мы увидели косяк рыб в реке. (My uvydeli kos'yak ryb v reke.)

  We saw a school of fish in the river. (This shows a non-educational context, emphasizing the metaphorical extension.)

• В толпе была настоящая школа людей. (V tolpe byla nastoyashchaya shkola lyudey.)

  In the crowd, there was a real school of people. (Rare metaphorical use, illustrating group dynamics.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Школа" is a feminine noun in Russian, belonging to the first declension. It follows regular patterns for most cases but has specific changes based on number and case. Below is a table outlining its inflections:

For the secondary translation "косяк", it is a masculine noun with its own inflections, but it is less relevant here. Note that "школа" does not have irregular forms, making it straightforward for beginners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • учебное заведение (uchebnoye zavedeniye) - More formal, used for any educational institution.
  • лицей (litsey) - Specifically for advanced or specialized schools; implies a higher level.
• Antonyms:
  • университет (universitet) - Higher education, contrasting with primary/secondary school.
  • дом (dom) - Home, as in homeschooling or non-institutional learning.

Related Phrases:

• Школьный год (Shkol'nyy god) - School year; refers to the academic calendar period.
• После школы (Posle shkoly) - After school; commonly used for activities following classes.
• Школьная форма (Shkol'naya forma) - School uniform; a phrase related to dress codes in Russian schools.

Usage Notes:

• Russian "школа" directly corresponds to the English "school" in most educational contexts, but it typically refers to K-12 institutions. For universities, use "университет" instead.
• It is neutral in terms of formality but can be adjusted with adjectives (e.g., "государственная школа" for public school). Be mindful of case endings when using in sentences.
• When choosing between translations, "школа" is the most straightforward for beginners, while "косяк" is reserved for non-educational metaphors.
• In spoken Russian, stress the first syllable to avoid mispronunciation.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse the genitive case: Incorrect - "Я из школа" (wrong case). Correct - "Я из школы" (genitive for "from school"). Explanation: Russian requires proper case agreement with prepositions.
• Another error is overusing "школа" for higher education: Incorrect - "Я учусь в школе" for university. Correct - "Я учусь в университете". Explanation: This can lead to misunderstandings about educational levels.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "школа" often evokes memories of the Soviet-era education system, which emphasized discipline and collective activities. School years are highly valued, with traditions like the "последний звонок" (last bell ceremony) marking graduations, reflecting a strong emphasis on community and national identity in education.

Related Concepts:

• университет (university)
• детский сад (kindergarten)
• обучение (education)