Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'sleeper'

English Word: sleeper

Key Russian Translations:

• спящий [ˈspʲaʂɨj] - [Informal, used for a person or thing that is sleeping or inactive]
• спальный вагон [ˈspalʲnɨj vaˈɡon] - [Formal, specific to contexts like transportation, e.g., a sleeping car on a train]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday conversations and travel-related contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate for 'спящий' as it involves adjective declensions; B2 for 'спальный вагон' due to compound noun usage and contextual specificity, per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

спящий: [ˈspʲaʂɨj]

Note on спящий: The 'щ' sound ([ʂ]) can be challenging for English speakers; it's similar to the 'sh' in 'she' but more palatalized. Pronounce with a soft 's' followed by a fricative.

спальный вагон: [ˈspalʲnɨj vaˈɡon]

Note on спальный вагон: Stress on the second syllable of 'вагон'; the 'лʲ' indicates a soft 'l' sound, common in Russian nouns.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A person or thing that is sleeping or inactive (e.g., someone who sleeps deeply or an undercover agent).

Translation(s) & Context:

• спящий - Used in informal or literary contexts to describe someone asleep or metaphorically inactive, such as in spy thrillers.

Usage Examples:

• Он был спящим агентом в организации. (He was a sleeper agent in the organization.)

  Translation: He was a sleeper agent in the organization. (This example shows metaphorical use in espionage contexts.)

• Мой брат — спящий чемпион, он всегда выигрывает, когда его не ждут. (My brother is a sleeper champion; he always wins when least expected.)

  Translation: My brother is a sleeper champion; he always wins when least expected. (Illustrates idiomatic, informal usage.)

• Спящий ребёнок не должен быть потревожен. (The sleeping child should not be disturbed.)

  Translation: The sleeping child should not be disturbed. (Demonstrates basic descriptive use in everyday scenarios.)

• В поезде есть спящий вагон для длинных поездок. (In the train, there is a sleeper car for long journeys.)

  Translation: In the train, there is a sleeper car for long journeys. (Links to the second translation, showing compound noun in travel context.)

2. A compartment or car on a train designed for sleeping (e.g., in transportation).

Translation(s) & Context:

• спальный вагон - Typically used in formal or practical contexts like booking tickets or travel descriptions.

Usage Examples:

• Мы забронировали спальный вагон для ночного путешествия. (We booked a sleeper car for the overnight trip.)

  Translation: We booked a sleeper car for the overnight trip. (This highlights travel planning in a formal setting.)

• В спальном вагоне есть удобные кровати и занавески. (In the sleeper car, there are comfortable beds and curtains.)

  Translation: In the sleeper car, there are comfortable beds and curtains. (Shows descriptive usage in descriptive narratives.)

• Спальный вагон стал популярным из-за комфорта в длительных поездках. (The sleeper car has become popular due to comfort on long journeys.)

  Translation: The sleeper car has become popular due to comfort on long journeys. (Illustrates modern usage in discussions about transportation.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'спящий' (an adjective), it follows standard Russian adjective declension patterns, which are regular but require attention to gender, number, and case.

For 'спальный вагон' (a noun phrase), 'спальный' declines as an adjective, while 'вагон' is a masculine noun that follows the standard second declension (e.g., вагона in genitive). It does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дремлющий [drʲemˈlʲuʂɨj] (similar to 'спящий' but implies light sleep; often used in poetic contexts)
  • спальное место [ˈspalʲnəje ˈmʲɛstə] (for 'спальный вагон', meaning a sleeping berth; more specific to bedding)
• Antonyms:
  • бодрствующий [bɐdˈrstvujʊʂɨj] (awake or alert, contrasting with 'спящий')
  • сидячий вагон [ˈsʲidʲaʧʲij vaˈɡon] (sitting car, opposing 'спальный вагон')

Related Phrases:

• Спящий режим (Sleep mode) - Refers to a device's low-power state, commonly used in technology contexts.
• Спальный мешок (Sleeping bag) - A portable bed for camping; useful in outdoor activities.
• Агент в спящем состоянии (Agent in sleeper status) - Describes an inactive operative in espionage.

Usage Notes:

'Спящий' directly corresponds to 'sleeper' in literal or metaphorical senses but is more flexible in Russian, often used adjectivally. Choose 'спальный вагон' for transportation contexts to match formal English usage. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences, as Russian adjectives must agree with the noun they modify. In informal speech, 'спящий' can imply laziness, so context is key to avoid misunderstandings.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'спящий' without proper declension, e.g., saying "спящий женщина" instead of "спящая женщина".
  Correct: Ensure adjective agrees in gender and case.
  Explanation: Russian requires grammatical agreement, unlike English, which can lead to confusion for beginners.
• Error: Confusing 'спящий' with 'спальный вагон' in non-travel contexts, e.g., using 'спальный вагон' for a person sleeping.
  Correct: Use 'спящий' for people or general inactivity.
  Explanation: These are distinct; misapplication can make the sentence nonsensical or overly literal.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'спящий' in metaphorical contexts, like a 'sleeper agent', often evokes Cold War espionage themes, reflecting Russia's historical intelligence legacy. Additionally, 'спальный вагон' symbolizes long-distance travel adventures in Russian literature, such as in Tolstoy's works, emphasizing endurance and introspection during journeys.

Related Concepts:

• Сон (sleep)
• Агент (agent)
• Поезд (train)