Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'slew'

English Word: slew

Key Russian Translations:

• Много [ˈmnoxə] - [Formal, used for quantities]
• Масса [ˈmasə] - [Informal, plural context]
• Куча [ˈkuʧə] - [Informal, colloquial for a heap or lot]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday Russian speech, especially in descriptive contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of quantity expressions, with 'Много' being straightforward for learners, while nuances of 'Масса' or 'Куча' may vary by context)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Много: [ˈmnoxə]

Масса: [ˈmasə]

Куча: [ˈkuʧə]

Note on Много: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the soft 'н' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on Масса: Pronounced with a soft 'с' in some dialects; listen for regional variations.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a noun, meaning 'a large number or quantity' (e.g., a slew of problems)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Много - Used in formal or everyday contexts to describe a large amount, often with countable nouns.
• Масса - Informal, for emphasizing a great deal, especially in plural or abstract scenarios.
• Куча - Colloquial, for informal speech, implying a disorganized or excessive pile.

Usage Examples:

• У нас есть много проблем с этим проектом.

  We have a slew of problems with this project. (Shows 'Много' in a formal context with a noun.)

• Масса людей пришла на концерт вчера вечером.

  A slew of people came to the concert last night. (Illustrates 'Масса' for a large crowd in an informal setting.)

• В его комнате куча книг, которые он ещё не прочитал.

  There's a slew of books in his room that he hasn't read yet. (Demonstrates 'Куча' in a casual, everyday description.)

• Много идей пришло в голову во время встречи.

  A slew of ideas came to mind during the meeting. (Varied grammar, showing 'Много' with abstract nouns.)

Meaning 2: As a verb, meaning 'to turn or swing around' (e.g., the car slewed on the ice)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Повернуть - Formal, for deliberate turning or rotating actions.
• Развернуть - Used in contexts involving sudden or wide turns, often vehicular.

Usage Examples:

• Машина повернула на скользкой дороге и чуть не столкнулась.

  The car slewed on the slippery road and almost crashed. (Basic verb usage in a dangerous scenario.)

• Он развернул велосипед, чтобы избежать препятствия.

  He slewed the bicycle to avoid the obstacle. (Shows action in motion with 'Развернуть'.)

• Водитель повернул руль sharply во время дождя.

  The driver slewed the wheel sharply during the rain. (Emphasizes sudden movement.)

• Лодка развернулась по ветру.

  The boat slewed with the wind. (Contextual variation in nautical settings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Много' is an adverb/indefinite quantifier and does not inflect for case, number, or gender; it remains unchanged in most contexts.

'Масса' is a feminine noun and follows standard Russian declension:

'Куча' is also a feminine noun with similar declension patterns as above.

For verbs like 'Повернуть', it is irregular: Infinitive - Повернуть; Past - Повернул (m.), Повернула (f.); Future - Буду поворачивать. Use a conjugation table for full forms:

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Множество (a multitude; more formal than Много)
  • Куча (for informal heaps, with a connotation of disorder)
  • Туча (a cloud or swarm, implying abundance in a specific way)
• Antonyms:
  • Мало (few, little)
  • Немного (a little)

Related Phrases:

• Много чего - A lot of things; used in casual conversation to mean a variety of items.
• Масса времени - A slew of time; implies plenty of time available.
• Куча работы - A heap of work; common for describing overwhelming tasks.
• Повернуть вспять - To turn back; a phrase for reversing direction.

Usage Notes:

'Slew' as a noun often corresponds to 'Много' in Russian for general quantities, but choose 'Масса' or 'Куча' based on context—'Масса' for more emphatic or plural scenarios, and 'Куча' for informal, everyday talk. As a verb, 'Повернуть' is precise for turning, but ensure correct aspect (perfective for completed actions). English users should note that Russian quantity words like 'Много' don't change form, making them easier, but pay attention to case agreement with accompanying nouns.

• In formal writing, prefer 'Много' over slang like 'Куча'.
• When translating phrases like 'a slew of emails', use 'Много писем' for accuracy.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse case with nouns like 'Масса', e.g., saying "У меня масса проблем" (correct) but incorrectly as "У меня массы проблем" in nominative when genitive is needed. Error: "Я имею куча книг" (wrong, as 'Куча' should be in the proper case); Correct: "У меня куча книг". This happens because English doesn't have cases, so remember to adjust for genitive in possession contexts.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like 'Куча' can imply not just quantity but also clutter or excess, reflecting a cultural value on organization in daily life. For example, in literature, 'много' might be used in proverbs to discuss abundance versus scarcity, tying into historical contexts of resource availability in Russia.

Related Concepts:

• Избыток (excess)
• Недостаток (shortage)
• Поворот (turn, as in direction)