Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scud'

English Word: scud

Key Russian Translations:

• скользить [skɐlʲˈzʲitʲ] - [Verb, Informal, often used for swift, low movement like gliding]
• Скад [skad] - [Noun, Proper, refers specifically to a missile type]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in contexts like weather descriptions or military discussions, but not everyday casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate level; requires basic understanding of Russian verbs and nouns, with 'скользить' being more challenging due to verb conjugations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

скользить: [skɐlʲˈzʲitʲ] (The stress is on the second syllable; note the soft 'л' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

Note on скользить: The 'ж' sound is pronounced like the 's' in 'measure', and it varies slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Скад: [skad] (Pronounced with a hard 'k' and short 'a' sounds; it's a loanword with minimal variation.)

Note on Скад: As a proper noun, pronunciation is straightforward but may have regional accents in Russian-speaking areas.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To move swiftly and low over a surface (e.g., clouds or objects gliding quickly)

Translation(s) & Context:

• скользить - Used in informal or descriptive contexts, such as weather or motion descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Облака скользят по небу во время шторма.

  The clouds scud across the sky during the storm.

• Лодка скользит по волнам, уносясь от берега.

  The boat scuds over the waves, speeding away from the shore.

• Ветер заставляет листья скользить по земле.

  The wind makes the leaves scud along the ground.

• Самолёт низко скользит над полями, готовясь к посадке.

  The plane scuds low over the fields, preparing for landing.

• Дети скользят на санках по заснеженному склону.

  The children scud down the snowy hill on sleds.

Meaning 2: A type of ballistic missile (e.g., the Scud missile)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Скад - Used in military, historical, or news contexts; it's a direct transliteration of the English term.

Usage Examples:

• Во время конфликта были запущены ракеты типа Скад.

  Scud missiles were launched during the conflict.

• Скад считается устаревшим, но всё ещё опасным оружием.

  The Scud is considered outdated but still a dangerous weapon.

• В музее выставлен макет ракеты Скад для образовательных целей.

  A model of the Scud missile is displayed in the museum for educational purposes.

• Скад использовался в нескольких войнах XX века.

  The Scud was used in several wars of the 20th century.

• Модернизированные версии Скада всё ещё применяются в некоторых регионах.

  Modernized versions of the Scud are still used in some regions.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'скользить' (a verb), it follows the standard Russian first conjugation pattern. It is an imperfective verb and changes based on tense, aspect, and person. Below is a basic conjugation table:

For 'Скад' (a masculine noun, indeclinable as a proper noun), it does not change in most cases: Nominative: Скад; Genitive: Скада (in some contexts, but often unchanged).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • промчаться (to dash quickly; similar to скользить but implies more speed)
  • лететь низко (to fly low; less formal alternative for motion)
  • Для Скад: ракета (missile; general term)
• Antonyms:
  • застрять (to get stuck; opposite of swift movement)
  • остановиться (to stop; contrasts with scudding motion)

Related Phrases:

• Скользить по льду - Skating or gliding on ice; used in recreational or descriptive contexts.
• Запуск Скада - Launching a Scud missile; refers to military operations.
• Облака скользят быстро - Clouds are scudding quickly; common in weather reports.

Usage Notes:

'Скользить' directly corresponds to the verbal sense of 'scud' in English, emphasizing smooth, low-speed movement, but it's more commonly used for physical gliding. In formal contexts, prefer 'промчаться' for faster actions. 'Скад' is a specific term for the missile and doesn't have direct equivalents in everyday Russian; use it in historical or technical discussions. When choosing between translations, consider the context: verb for motion, noun for weaponry.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Confusing 'скользить' with 'скользкий' (slippery). English learners might say 'скользкий' when meaning the action. Correct: Use 'скользить' for the verb; e.g., Wrong: "Облака скользкий." Right: "Облака скользят."
• Mistake: Over-conjugating 'Скад' as if it were a regular noun. Correct: It remains mostly unchanged; e.g., Wrong: "Скадом" in all cases; Right: Use "Скад" in nominative and adjust minimally in genitive if needed.

Cultural Notes:

'Скад' refers to the Soviet-era Scud missile, which played a significant role in Cold War history and modern conflicts. In Russian culture, it symbolizes military technology from the USSR era, often discussed in media with undertones of national pride or criticism of arms proliferation.

Related Concepts:

• ракета (rocket)
• шторм (storm, related to weather-induced scudding)
• скольжение (gliding)