Russian Translation(s) & Details for '{{sole}}'

English Word: {{sole}}

Key Russian Translations:

• Единственный [jɪˈdʲinstvʲɪnʲɪj] - [Formal, Adjective]
• Подошва [pədɐˈʂva] - [Informal, Noun; Used in everyday contexts like clothing or footwear]

Frequency: Medium (Common in formal writing and speech, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of adjective declensions for 'Единственный' and basic noun forms for 'Подошва')

Pronunciation (Russian):

Единственный: [jɪˈdʲinstvʲɪnʲɪj]

Подошва: [pədɐˈʂva]

Note on Единственный: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'dʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations may occur in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As an adjective meaning "only" or "unique"

Translation(s) & Context:

• Единственный - Used in formal contexts to emphasize exclusivity, such as in legal or descriptive language.

Usage Examples:

• Это был единственный шанс на успех. (This was the only chance for success.)

  English: This was the only chance for success. (Demonstrates basic sentence structure with the adjective modifying a noun.)

• Единственный выживший рассказал свою историю. (The sole survivor told his story.)

  English: The sole survivor told his story. (Shows usage in narrative contexts, highlighting uniqueness.)

• В музее выставлен единственный экземпляр этой картины. (In the museum, the unique copy of this painting is exhibited.)

  English: In the museum, the unique copy of this painting is exhibited. (Illustrates formal, descriptive usage.)

• Единственный путь к миру - через диалог. (The only path to peace is through dialogue.)

  English: The only path to peace is through dialogue. (Emphasizes metaphorical or philosophical contexts.)

Meaning 2: As a noun meaning "the bottom of a shoe"

Translation(s) & Context:

• Подошва - Commonly used in everyday conversations about clothing, repairs, or descriptions of footwear.

Usage Examples:

• Подошва моих ботинок износилась. (The sole of my boots has worn out.)

  English: The sole of my boots has worn out. (Shows practical, everyday usage with a possessive structure.)

• В обувном магазине можно заменить подошву. (At the shoe store, you can replace the sole.)

  English: At the shoe store, you can replace the sole. (Demonstrates commercial or service-related contexts.)

• Подошва этой обуви сделана из резины. (The sole of this footwear is made of rubber.)

  English: The sole of this footwear is made of rubber. (Highlights material descriptions in product discussions.)

• Из-за мокрой подошвы я поскользнулся. (Because of the wet sole, I slipped.)

  English: Because of the wet sole, I slipped. (Illustrates cause-and-effect scenarios in casual storytelling.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'Единственный' (adjective): This is a standard Russian adjective that follows full declension patterns based on gender, number, and case. It changes form irregularly in some cases due to its root.

For 'Подошва' (noun, feminine): This is a first-declension noun with regular inflection patterns. It does not have irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Единственный: Одинаковый (odinakovyy) - Similar but implies sameness rather than uniqueness.
  • Подошва: Основание (osnovaniye) - Used in more abstract or architectural contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Единственный: Множественный (mnogochelovechnyy) - Implies multiplicity.
  • Подошва: Верх (verkh) - Refers to the top or upper part.

Related Phrases:

• Единственный в своём роде - Meaning: One of a kind; Used in contexts praising rarity or originality.
• Сменить подошву - Meaning: To replace the sole; Common in discussions about shoe maintenance.

Usage Notes:

'Единственный' directly corresponds to the English 'sole' in the sense of 'only' or 'unique', but it must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For example, use it in formal writing or speeches. 'Подошва' is more literal for the shoe sole and is neutral in tone. When choosing between translations, opt for 'Единственный' in abstract contexts and 'Подошва' for tangible items. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical agreement to avoid errors in everyday conversation.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'Единственный' without proper declension, e.g., saying "Единственный женщина" instead of "Единственная женщина". Correct: Ensure gender agreement; Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender.
• Mistake: Confusing 'Подошва' with 'Солнце' (sun), leading to mispronunciation. Correct: Practice the 'sh' sound in 'Подошва'; Explanation: This is a common phonetic error for English speakers due to similar sounds.

Cultural Notes:

'Единственный' often carries a sense of Russian cultural emphasis on individuality and resilience, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works, where unique characters drive the narrative. 'Подошва' is mundane but reflects practical aspects of Russian daily life, such as enduring harsh winters, symbolizing durability in footwear.

Related Concepts:

• Уникальный (unikal'nyy)
• Обувь (obuv')