Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'smokestack'

English Word: smokestack

Key Russian Translations:

• труба [ˈtru.bə] - [Formal, used in industrial or architectural contexts]
• дымовая труба [ˈdɨ.mə.vəjə ˈtru.bə] - [Formal, specifies smoke-emitting structures, often in technical descriptions]

Frequency: Medium - The term is commonly encountered in discussions of industry, architecture, or environmental topics, but not in everyday casual conversation.

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) - Learners at this level can grasp the vocabulary with basic knowledge of Russian nouns and declensions; for "труба," it's straightforward, but "дымовая труба" may require understanding of compound words.

Pronunciation (Russian):

труба: [ˈtru.bə]

дымовая труба: [ˈdɨ.mə.vəjə ˈtru.bə]

Note on труба: The stress is on the first syllable; be mindful of the soft 'b' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers used to harder consonants. Variations in regional accents may soften the vowels.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary meaning: A tall chimney or stack through which smoke or gases from a factory, ship, or industrial process are discharged.

Translation(s) & Context:

• труба - Used in general contexts for chimneys or stacks, such as in factories or buildings; common in formal or technical writing.
• дымовая труба - Applied specifically to smoke-emitting structures, often in environmental or engineering discussions; implies a focus on pollution or industrial output.

Usage Examples:

• В старом заводе стоит высокая труба, из которой выходит дым.

  In the old factory, there stands a tall smokestack from which smoke emerges.

• Дымовая труба на корабле была повреждена во время шторма.

  The smokestack on the ship was damaged during the storm.

• Инженеры изучают, как уменьшить загрязнение от городской трубы.

  Engineers are studying how to reduce pollution from the city's smokestack.

• Эта старая дымовая труба является историческим памятником индустриальной эпохи.

  This old smokestack is a historical monument from the industrial era.

• Фабрика обновила свою трубу, чтобы сделать её более экологичной.

  The factory updated its smokestack to make it more environmentally friendly.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"труба" is a feminine noun of the second declension, which means it follows standard patterns for Russian nouns. It inflects based on case, number, and gender agreement. "дымовая труба" is a compound where "дымовая" is an adjective that agrees with "труба."

For "труба" (singular and plural forms):

Note: "дымовая труба" will inflect with "дымовая" changing to agree: e.g., Genitive singular: дымовой трубы. This follows regular adjective-noun agreement rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • дымоход - Often used interchangeably for chimneys in residential contexts, but less common for industrial smokestacks.
  • трубопровод - Implies a pipe system, with a slight emphasis on functionality in larger systems.
• Antonyms:
  • None directly applicable, as "smokestack" is a specific object; conceptually, something like "очиститель воздуха" (air purifier) could contrast in environmental contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Заводская труба - Factory smokestack; used in discussions of industrial infrastructure.
• Дым из трубы - Smoke from the smokestack; common in environmental or descriptive contexts.
• Высокая дымовая труба - Tall smokestack; emphasizes height in architectural or historical descriptions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "труба" directly corresponds to "smokestack" in industrial settings but can also mean a simple pipe or chimney in everyday language, so context is key. "Дымовая труба" is more precise for smoke-related structures and is preferred in formal or technical English-to-Russian translations. Be aware of gender agreement: as a feminine noun, adjectives and verbs must align (e.g., "высокая труба" for "tall smokestack"). In spoken Russian, regional variations might use it metaphorically, but stick to literal uses for beginners.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using the wrong case, e.g., saying "из труба" instead of "из трубы" (Genitive case). Correct: "Из трубы выходит дым" (Smoke comes out of the smokestack). Explanation: Russian requires proper declension; English speakers often overlook this due to English's lack of cases.
• Mistake: Confusing with "трубка" (a small pipe or tube). Correct: Use "труба" for larger structures. Explanation: "Трубка" is diminutive and unrelated, leading to misunderstandings in size or context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, smokestacks like those on old factories symbolize the industrial era, particularly the Soviet period. They often appear in literature and art as icons of urbanization and environmental impact, such as in works by authors like Maxim Gorky, evoking themes of progress and pollution.

Related Concepts:

• фабрика (factory)
• дым (smoke)
• загрязнение (pollution)
• промышленность (industry)