Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'spiral'

English Word: spiral

Key Russian Translations:

• спираль [spʲɪˈralʲ] - [Noun, Feminine, Singular; Used in scientific, mathematical, and everyday contexts]
• спиральный [spʲɪˈralʲnɨj] - [Adjective; Formal, Describes shapes or paths]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical and descriptive language, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of basic noun declensions and adjective agreements, but straightforward for learners familiar with scientific vocabulary)

Pronunciation (Russian):

спираль: [spʲɪˈralʲ]

спиральный: [spʲɪˈralʲnɨj]

Note on спираль: The stress is on the second syllable. The 'р' is rolled, which is a common feature in Russian phonetics and may be challenging for English speakers. Variations in regional accents might soften the 'л' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A curve that winds around a central point at a continuously increasing or decreasing distance from the point (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• спираль - Used in contexts involving geometry, physics, or everyday objects like springs or DNA structures; Informal to Formal.

Usage Examples:

• В галактике Млечный Путь есть огромная спираль. (V galaktike Mlechnyy Put' yest' ogromnaya spiral'.)

  In the Milky Way galaxy, there is a huge spiral. (This example shows the noun in a scientific context, describing astronomical features.)

• Эта лестница сделана в форме спирали. (Eta lestnitsa sdelana v forme spiral'.)

  This staircase is made in the shape of a spiral. (Illustrates everyday architectural use, with the noun in the genitive case.)

• ДНК имеет двойную спираль. (DNK imeet dvoynuyu spiral'.)

  DNA has a double spiral. (Demonstrates use in biological contexts, emphasizing compound structures.)

• Спираль в часах помогает механизму работать. (Spiral' v chasakh pomogaet mekhanizmu rabotat'.)

  The spiral in the watch helps the mechanism work. (Shows application in mechanical engineering.)

Meaning 2: To move in a spiral path or to form a spiral (Verb or Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• спиральный - Used as an adjective to describe motion or shapes in formal or technical writing; e.g., in aviation or mathematics.

Usage Examples:

• Самолет выполнил спиральный маневр. (Samolyot vypolnil spiral'nyy manevr.)

  The plane performed a spiral maneuver. (This highlights the adjective in an action context, such as in flight dynamics.)

• Ее волосы уложены в спиральный узор. (Yeyo volosy ulozheny v spiral'nyy uzor.)

  Her hair is styled in a spiral pattern. (Demonstrates aesthetic or descriptive use in everyday language.)

• Птица спустилась по спирали. (Ptitsa spustilas' po spiral'.)

  The bird descended in a spiral. (Uses the noun form in a verbal context to describe movement.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For спираль (feminine noun, 3rd declension):

For спиральный (adjective), it follows standard adjective declension patterns, agreeing in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. It is invariant in form for most uses but changes endings based on context (e.g., спиральный, спиральная, спиральное).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • завиток (zaviotok) - Similar to a coil, often used interchangeably in artistic contexts.
  • виток (vitok) - Refers to a loop or turn, with a slight emphasis on circular motion.
• Antonyms:
  • прямой (pryamoy) - Straight, contrasting the curved nature.
  • линейный (lineynyy) - Linear, used in mathematical contexts.

Related Phrases:

• Двойная спираль (Dvoynaya spiral') - Double helix; Refers to the structure of DNA.
• Спиральная галактика (Spiral'naya galaktika) - Spiral galaxy; Used in astronomy to describe galaxy types.
• Спиральный подъем (Spiral'nyy pod"yem) - Spiral ascent; Common in descriptions of stairs or paths.

Usage Notes:

The English word "spiral" corresponds most directly to "спираль" in Russian when referring to a noun, but learners should note that Russian adjectives like "спиральный" must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. For example, use "спиральная лестница" for a feminine noun. In formal or scientific contexts, "спираль" is preferred, while in casual speech, it might be simplified. When choosing between translations, opt for "спиральный" for descriptive purposes and "спираль" for objects.

Common Errors:

• Confusing declensions: English speakers often forget to change "спираль" in different cases, e.g., saying "в спираль" instead of "в спирали" (in the spiral). Correct: Use genitive "спирали" after prepositions like "в".
• Adjective agreement: Using "спиральный" without matching the noun, e.g., "спиральный книга" instead of "спиральная книга" (for a feminine noun). Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree; always check the noun's gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of a spiral often appears in folklore and art, symbolizing eternity or cyclical processes, as seen in traditional Slavic patterns. For instance, spiral motifs in Russian iconography or embroidery represent life's continuous flow, reflecting historical influences from pagan beliefs.

Related Concepts:

• завиток (zaviotok)
• виток (vitok)
• галактика (galaktika)