Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'signal'

English Word: signal

Key Russian Translations:

• сигнал /sʲɪˈɡnaɫ/ - [Formal, can be used in technical, everyday, or emergency contexts]
• знак /znɑk/ - [Informal, Plural possible; used when referring to a visual or symbolic indication]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in daily communication, technical discussions, and media)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of Russian nouns and declensions, but straightforward for learners with some vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сигнал: /sʲɪˈɡnaɫ/ (The 'с' is palatalized, making it sound like 's' followed by a soft 'y'; stress on the second syllable)

знак: /znɑk/ (Pronounced with a soft 'з' and stress on the first syllable; the 'к' is a hard stop)

Note on сигнал: Be cautious with the palatalization of 'с' in fast speech, which can vary regionally; it's softer in Moscow dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A message or indication given to convey information (e.g., electronic or visual signal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сигнал - Used in technical or everyday contexts, such as traffic signals or radio signals; appropriate in formal writing or conversations.
• знак - Used for symbolic or visual signals, like road signs; more common in informal or descriptive language.

Usage Examples:

• Русский трафик-светофор подаёт сигнал для остановки. (The traffic light gives a signal to stop.)

  English Translation: The traffic light gives a signal to stop.

• В радиопередаче был сигнал о приближающемся шторме. (In the radio broadcast, there was a signal about an approaching storm.)

  English Translation: In the radio broadcast, there was a signal about an approaching storm.

• Этот знак на дороге означает, что нужно снизить скорость. (This sign on the road means you need to slow down.)

  English Translation: This sign on the road means you need to slow down.

• Сигнал тревоги раздаётся в случае пожара. (The alarm signal sounds in case of a fire.)

  English Translation: The alarm signal sounds in case of a fire.

• В цифровом мире сигнал передаётся через волны. (In the digital world, the signal is transmitted through waves.)

  English Translation: In the digital world, the signal is transmitted through waves.

Meaning 2: A gesture or action used to communicate (e.g., hand signal)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сигнал - Often used in non-verbal communication, like in sports or military contexts; can be formal or informal.
• знак - Applied to gestures or signals in social interactions; plural forms are common for multiple signs.

Usage Examples:

• Тренер подал сигнал игрокам начать игру. (The coach gave a signal to the players to start the game.)

  English Translation: The coach gave a signal to the players to start the game.

• Её жест был знаком согласия. (Her gesture was a sign of agreement.)

  English Translation: Her gesture was a sign of agreement.

• В тишине он подал сигнал рукой. (In the silence, he gave a signal with his hand.)

  English Translation: In the silence, he gave a signal with his hand.

• Звуковой сигнал предупредил о опасности. (The sound signal warned of danger.)

  English Translation: The sound signal warned of danger.

• Эти знаки помогают в общении без слов. (These signs help in communication without words.)

  English Translation: These signs help in communication without words.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "сигнал" (a masculine noun), it follows the standard third declension pattern with regular inflections based on case and number.

For "знак" (also a masculine noun), it has similar regular inflections:

Both words do not have irregular forms, making them relatively easy to inflect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • сигнал: оповещение (notification) - More formal, used in official contexts.
  • знак: указатель (indicator) - Often used interchangeably in directional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • сигнал: тишина (silence) - Implies the absence of any signal.
  • знак: неопределённость (uncertainty) - Refers to the lack of a clear sign.

Related Phrases:

• Сигнал тревоги (Alarm signal) - A phrase used to denote an emergency warning; context: safety protocols.
• Подать знак (To give a sign) - Means to signal non-verbally; used in everyday interactions.
• Знак внимания (Sign of attention) - Refers to a gesture showing care; common in social etiquette.

Usage Notes:

"Сигнал" directly corresponds to the English "signal" in technical and communicative contexts, but it's important to consider the Russian case system when using it in sentences. For instance, use the genitive case after prepositions like "о" (about). "Знак" is better for symbolic meanings and can be pluralized easily. In formal writing, prefer "сигнал" for precision, while "знак" suits informal descriptions. Learners should note that Russian often requires articles or prepositions that English omits, e.g., "сигнал от" instead of just "signal from."

• Choose "сигнал" for electronic or auditory signals.
• Avoid overusing "знак" in technical contexts where "сигнал" is more accurate.

Common Errors:

One common mistake is confusing the inflections: English learners might say "сигналы" incorrectly in the genitive case, using "сигналов" instead of the proper form. Incorrect: "Я слышал сигнал" (when it should be "Я слышал сигнал" in nominative, but errors occur in phrases like "без сигнала" vs. wrongly saying "без сигнал"). Correct: Use genitive "сигнала" in "отсутствие сигнала" (absence of signal). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, so always check the governing preposition.

Another error: Using "знак" where "сигнал" is needed, e.g., saying "Это знак радио" instead of "Это сигнал радио" (This is a radio signal). Correct: "Сигнал радио" to avoid ambiguity.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, signals like "сигнал тревоги" (alarm signal) hold historical significance from Soviet-era emergency broadcasts, often evoking memories of Cold War preparedness. Additionally, hand signals in social settings, such as "знак" for agreement in conversations, reflect a cultural emphasis on non-verbal communication in crowded urban environments like Moscow.

Related Concepts:

• оповещение (notification)
• указатель (indicator)
• тревога (alarm)