Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spade'

English Word: spade

Key Russian Translations:

• лопата [lɐˈpatə] - [Informal, Common everyday tool]
• пика [ˈpʲikə] - [Used in card games, Neutral]

Frequency: Medium (лопата is frequently used in practical contexts like gardening; пика appears in recreational or gaming discussions, but less universally)

Difficulty: A2 for лопата (Beginner level, as it's a basic noun); B1 for пика (Intermediate, due to its specific cultural and contextual usage in card games)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лопата: [lɐˈpatə]

Note on лопата: The stress falls on the second syllable ("pa"), which is common in Russian feminine nouns. Be careful with the soft "л" sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Audio: []

пика: [ˈpʲikə]

Note on пика: The initial "п" is palatalized (soft), influenced by the following "и", making it sound like "pyi-ka". This palatalization is a key feature of Russian phonetics.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A tool for digging, such as a shovel used in gardening or construction

Translation(s) & Context:

• лопата - Typically used in informal or practical settings, like outdoor work or DIY projects.

Usage Examples:

• Я взял лопату и начал копать яму в саду.

  I took the spade and started digging a hole in the garden.

• Лопата нужна для уборки снега зимой.

  A spade is needed for shoveling snow in the winter.

• В магазине продают разные виды лопат для фермеров.

  Stores sell various types of spades for farmers.

• Она использовала лопату, чтобы разровнять землю.

  She used the spade to level the ground.

• Без лопаты невозможно построить ровный фундамент.

  Without a spade, it's impossible to build a level foundation.

Meaning 2: One of the suits in a deck of playing cards, often depicted as a black symbol

Translation(s) & Context:

• пика - Used specifically in the context of card games, such as poker or bridge, and is neutral in formality.

Usage Examples:

• В колоде карт пика считается одной из мастей.

  In a deck of cards, spade is considered one of the suits.

• Он выиграл, потому что у него была пика в руке.

  He won because he had a spade in his hand.

• Игра требует, чтобы пика била другие масти.

  The game requires that spade trumps other suits.

• Дети учились различать пику и другие символы на картах.

  Children were learning to distinguish spades from other symbols on cards.

• В этой колоде пика ассоциируется с силой и удачей.

  In this deck, spade is associated with strength and luck.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For лопата (a feminine noun, first declension):

It follows regular Russian noun declension patterns. Here's a table of its inflections:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	лопата	лопаты
Genitive	лопаты	лопат
Dative	лопате	лопатам
Accusative	лопату	лопаты
Instrumental	лопатой	лопатами
Prepositional	лопате	лопатах

Note: лопата is invariant in gender and does not have irregular forms.

For пика (also a feminine noun, first declension, but often used in fixed phrases):

It has similar regular inflections:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	пика	пики
Genitive	пики	пик
Dative	пике	пикам
Accusative	пику	пики
Instrumental	пикой	пиками
Prepositional	пике	пиках

пика is straightforward and does not vary irregularly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for лопата: shovel (but in Russian: совок [ˈsovək] - more for scooping; мотыга [mɐˈtɨɡə] - for hoeing). Note: совок is often used interchangeably in casual contexts but implies a smaller tool.
• Synonyms for пика: трефa (for clubs in cards, but not exact); бубны (for diamonds). No direct synonyms for пика as a suit.
• Antonyms for лопата: None directly, as it's a tool (perhaps лопата vs. a non-digging tool like кисть [brush]).
• Antonyms for пика: Other suits like черви (hearts) or бубны (diamonds), which are contrasting in card games.

Related Phrases:

• Лопата для снега - A snow shovel; used for clearing paths in winter weather.
• Пика в колоде - Spade in a deck; refers to its role in card games like preference.
• Взять лопату на руки - To take up the spade; implies starting manual labor.
• Пика ас - Ace of spades; a common phrase in gambling contexts, symbolizing high value.

Usage Notes:

In English, "spade" can be a direct equivalent to лопата for tools, but in Russian, ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion with gardening vs. construction. For пика, it's specifically tied to card games, so use it only in recreational contexts. When choosing between translations, opt for лопата in everyday scenarios and пика in games. Grammatically, both are feminine nouns, so adjectives and verbs must agree in gender and number. For English learners, remember that Russian nouns require case endings, which can change based on sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing лопата as [lo-pa-ta] without the soft "л" sound. Correct: [lɐˈpatə] – Explanation: The soft consonant is essential; practice with native audio to avoid sounding unnatural.
• Error: Using пика in non-card contexts, e.g., saying "пика" for a digging tool. Correct: Use лопата for tools – Explanation: This confuses the two meanings of "spade" in English; always specify the context to prevent lexical errors.
• Error: Forgetting declension, e.g., saying "Я имею пика" instead of "Я имею пику". Correct: "Я имею пику" – Explanation: Russian requires accusative case for direct objects, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

The term пика is deeply rooted in Russian card-playing culture, often featured in traditional games like "durak" or "preference." In Russian folklore, the ace of spades (туз пики) can symbolize fate or risk, reflecting historical influences from French card decks introduced during the 18th-century Europeanization of Russia. This adds a layer of cultural nuance, where cards are not just games but social rituals.

Related Concepts:

• мотыга (hoe)
• трефа (clubs, in cards)
• бубны (diamonds)
• черви (hearts)