Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'ship'

English Word: ship

Key Russian Translations:

• корабль /kɐˈrabʲlʲ/ - [Formal, used for larger vessels like naval or merchant ships]
• судно /ˈsudnə/ - [General, informal, applicable to any type of watercraft]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday language, literature, and media related to travel, history, and transportation)

Difficulty: A2 (elementary level; basic vocabulary for beginners, but inflections may require intermediate practice)

Pronunciation (Russian):

корабль: /kɐˈrabʲlʲ/

Note on корабль: The 'л' is palatalized, which can be challenging for English speakers; it sounds softer, almost like 'l' in "million". Pronounce with stress on the second syllable.

судно: /ˈsudnə/

Note on судно: The 'у' is pronounced as a short 'u' sound, similar to 'oo' in "book". Stress is on the first syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: A large boat or vessel used for transportation on water, often implying size and purpose (e.g., naval, commercial).

Translation(s) & Context:

• корабль - Used in formal or historical contexts, such as describing warships or exploratory vessels; common in literature and news.
• судно - More general and informal, applied to any ship or boat; often used in everyday conversations about travel or logistics.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Большой корабль плыл по океану, перевозя грузы из Европы.

  English translation: A large ship sailed across the ocean, carrying cargo from Europe.

• Русский пример: Моряки готовили судно к длительному путешествию в Арктику.

  English translation: The sailors were preparing the ship for a long journey to the Arctic.

• Русский пример: В музее есть модель старинного корабля, который открыл новые земли.

  English translation: In the museum, there's a model of an ancient ship that discovered new lands.

• Русский пример: Это судно используется для рыбалки, а не для пассажирских перевозок.

  English translation: This ship is used for fishing, not for passenger transport.

• Русский пример: Корабль во время шторма потерял связь с берегом.

  English translation: The ship lost contact with the shore during the storm.

Meaning: As a verb (to ship), meaning to transport goods, though less common in direct noun translation.

Translation(s) & Context:

• корабль (in nominalized contexts) or more commonly отправлять/грузить - Used when discussing logistics; e.g., shipping goods via sea.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Компания будет кораблить товары на судне в следующем месяце.

  English translation: The company will ship the goods on a vessel next month. (Note: More naturally phrased as "отправлять на судне".)

• Русский пример: Мы отправляем судно с товарами в Россию каждую неделю.

  English translation: We ship a vessel with goods to Russia every week.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "корабль" and "судно" are masculine nouns in Russian. "Корабль" follows the first declension pattern with regular inflections, while "судно" is also regular but less variable in some cases.

Note: "Судно" has relatively regular inflections with no irregularities, making it easier for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: судно, пароход (steamboat; more specific to powered vessels), фрегат (frigate; military context)
• Antonyms: суша (land; implies the opposite of water-based transport)

Explanation: "Пароход" is a synonym with a historical connotation for steam-powered ships, while "суша" is not a direct antonym but contrasts the concept of sea travel.

Related Phrases:

• Кораблекрушение - Shipwreck (a phrase referring to the destruction of a ship, often used in disaster contexts)
• Морское судно - Seagoing vessel (a common phrase for ships designed for ocean travel)
• Отправить на корабле - To send by ship (used in logistics for transporting goods)

Usage Notes:

Choose "корабль" for more formal or literary contexts, as it evokes images of large, historical vessels, while "судно" is versatile for everyday use. Be mindful of Russian case endings, as they change based on sentence structure (e.g., use genitive for possession: "корабля капитана"). English speakers often confuse "ship" with smaller boats, so in Russian, opt for "корабль" only for larger ones to maintain accuracy. If the context involves modern shipping, "судно" pairs well with verbs like "отправлять".

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "корабль" for small boats, e.g., saying "маленький корабль" for a rowboat. Correct: Use "лодка" instead. Explanation: "Корабль" implies size and significance, leading to unnatural phrasing.

• Error: Forgetting inflections, e.g., saying "в корабль" instead of "на корабле". Correct: "На корабле" (on the ship) in prepositional case. Explanation: Russian requires precise case agreement, which English lacks, so learners must practice declensions.

• Error: Mixing with English loanwords, e.g., using "шип" (which means "ship" as in a nail or projection). Correct: Stick to "корабль" for the intended meaning. Explanation: "Шип" is a false cognate, causing confusion in vocabulary selection.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "корабль" often carry historical significance, evoking Russia's naval heritage, such as Peter the Great's reforms and the role of ships in explorations like those of the Arctic or World War II. This can add poetic or patriotic undertones in literature, contrasting with more utilitarian uses in modern contexts.

Related Concepts:

• Море (sea)
• Порт (port)
• Матрос (sailor)