Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sinkhole'

English Word: sinkhole

Key Russian Translations:

• Провал /prɐˈvaɫ/ - [Formal, Geological term]
• Карстовая воронка /kɐrˈstovəjə vɐˈronkə/ - [Formal, Specific to karst formations]

Frequency: Low (Primarily used in scientific, geological, or environmental contexts; not common in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "Провал"; C1 (Advanced) for "Карстовая воронка" (Requires knowledge of geological terminology and Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Провал: /prɐˈvaɫ/ (Stress on the second syllable; the "р" is a rolled 'r' sound, common in Russian.)

Note on Провал: Be cautious with the soft 'л' sound, which can vary regionally; in standard Russian, it's a clear lateral approximant.

Audio: []

Карстовая воронка: /kɐrˈstovəjə vɐˈronkə/ (Stress on the second syllable of each word; "Карстовая" has a soft 'т' followed by a vowel.)

Note on Карстовая воронка: The adjective "Карстовая" ends in a feminine form, which affects pronunciation in connected speech; practice the vowel reductions in unstressed syllables.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: A natural depression or hole in the ground caused by the collapse of surface layers (e.g., due to erosion or geological activity)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Провал - Used in formal geological reports or discussions about natural disasters; implies a sudden collapse.
• Карстовая воронка - Applied specifically in contexts involving karst topography, such as caves or limestone areas; more precise for scientific writing.

Usage Examples:

• В прошлом году в регионе произошёл провал, который разрушил несколько домов. (In English: Last year, a sinkhole occurred in the region that destroyed several houses.)

  This example shows "провал" in a news or emergency context, highlighting its use as a noun in the nominative case.

• Геологи изучили карстовую воронку, чтобы понять причины подземных обвалов. (In English: Geologists studied the karst sinkhole to understand the causes of underground collapses.)

  Here, "карстовая воронка" is used in an academic setting, demonstrating its role in descriptive scientific language.

• Из-за сильных дождей образовался новый провал на шоссе, и движение было заблокировано. (In English: Due to heavy rains, a new sinkhole formed on the highway, and traffic was blocked.)

  This illustrates "провал" in a practical, everyday scenario involving infrastructure, with the noun in the nominative case.

• В пещерах Крыма часто встречаются карстовые воронки, привлекающие туристов. (In English: Karst sinkholes are often found in the caves of Crimea, attracting tourists.)

  This example uses "карстовая воронка" in a plural context, showing its application in tourism or geographical descriptions.

• Местные жители опасаются провала под их деревней после недавних землетрясений. (In English: Local residents fear a sinkhole under their village after recent earthquakes.)

  Demonstrates "провал" in a genitive construction, emphasizing potential risks in conversational Russian.

Secondary Meaning: Figurative use, such as a sudden failure or collapse in non-literal contexts (e.g., in business or plans)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Провал - Informally used to describe a failure, like in "project sinkhole"; common in metaphorical speech.

Usage Examples:

• Его бизнес потерпел провал из-за экономического кризиса. (In English: His business suffered a sinkhole due to the economic crisis.)

  This figurative use of "провал" shows it in a metaphorical context, akin to English idioms.

• Провал плана стал неожиданностью для всей команды. (In English: The sinkhole in the plan was a surprise for the entire team.)

  Illustrates "провал" in a team or professional setting, with the noun in the nominative case.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "Провал" and "Карстовая воронка" are nouns. "Провал" is a masculine noun (3rd declension), while "Карстовая воронка" is a feminine noun phrase. Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for "Провал" as an example; "Карстовая воронка" follows similar patterns for its components.

For "Карстовая воронка", the adjective "Карстовая" agrees with the noun "Воронка" (feminine) and inflects accordingly, e.g., Genitive: Карстовой воронки. It is a compound phrase and does not change irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Обвал (obval) - Similar to collapse, but more general.
  • Впадина (vpadina) - Emphasizes a depression, often used interchangeably in geological contexts.
  • Кратер (krater) - For crater-like sinkholes, with a nuance of volcanic origin.
• Antonyms:
  • Возвышенность (vozvyšennost') - Meaning elevation or high ground.
  • Плато (plato) - Referring to a flat, stable landform.

Related Phrases:

• Карстовый провал (Karst sinkhole) - A phrase for sinkholes formed in limestone areas; used in scientific discussions.
• Риск провала (Risk of sinkhole) - Common in safety warnings or environmental reports; implies potential danger.
• Подземный обвал с провалом (Underground collapse with sinkhole) - A fixed expression for describing complex geological events.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "Провал" directly corresponds to "sinkhole" in geological contexts but can also metaphorically mean failure, similar to English "sinkhole" in business jargon. Choose "Карстовая воронка" for precise scientific accuracy. Note the formal register; avoid in casual speech. Grammatically, always ensure agreement in gender, number, and case, e.g., use genitive for possession like "причина провала" (cause of the sinkhole).

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "Провал" with "Обвал" and using it interchangeably. Correct: "Обвал" implies a broader landslide, while "Провал" is specific to sinkholes. Example of error: Saying "Обвал в городе" when meaning a sinkhole; Correct: "Провал в городе". Explanation: This mix-up can lead to miscommunication in technical contexts.

• Error: Failing to decline the noun properly, e.g., using nominative in all cases. Correct: In dative case, it should be "Провалу", not "Провал". Example of error: "Дать деньги Провал" (incorrect); Correct: "Дать деньги Провалу" (to give money to the sinkhole, in a metaphorical sense). Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, sinkholes like "Провал" are often associated with regions like the Urals or Crimea, where karst formations are common. They feature in folklore as mysterious or dangerous phenomena, symbolizing instability, which contrasts with English perceptions of them as purely geological events.

Related Concepts:

• Обвал
• Впадина
• Кратер
• Карст