Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'squall'

English Word: squall

Key Russian Translations:

• шквал [ʃkvaɫ] - [Formal; Used in meteorological or weather-related contexts]
• вопить [vɐˈpʲitʲ] - [Informal; Used for sudden, loud crying or screaming, less common for this word]

Frequency: Medium (The word is moderately used in contexts like weather reports, literature, or discussions about storms, but not everyday conversation.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires familiarity with Russian weather vocabulary and basic noun declensions. For 'вопить' as a verb, it may be B2 due to its expressive nature and irregular conjugations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

шквал: [ʃkvaɫ] (The 'ш' is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'sheep'; stress on the first syllable.)

вопить: [vɐˈpʲitʲ] (The 'в' is a voiced labiodental fricative; the 'пь' involves a palatalized 'p' sound, which can be tricky for learners.)

Note on шквал: Be mindful of the soft 'л' sound, which is palatalized; it may vary slightly in fast speech.

Note on вопить: This verb has a strong, emphatic pronunciation; the stress on the second syllable can affect vowel reduction in casual speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A sudden violent gust of wind or localized storm (Noun form).

Translation(s) & Context:

• шквал - Used in formal weather descriptions, such as in forecasts, nautical contexts, or literature to describe brief, intense winds.
• вопить - Less directly related, but applicable in contexts of sudden emotional outbursts, like a child crying; typically informal or literary.

Usage Examples:

• Внезапный шквал обрушился на побережье, заставив лодки укрыться в бухте.

  A sudden squall hit the coast, forcing the boats to take shelter in the bay.

• Во время шторма шквал ветра сорвал крышу с дома.

  During the storm, a squall of wind tore the roof off the house.

• Ребёнок начал вопить, как в шквале, когда увидел грозу.

  The child started squalling like in a squall when they saw the thunderstorm.

• Метеорологи предупредили о возможном шквале в горах.

  Meteorologists warned of a possible squall in the mountains.

• Под шквалом дождя и ветра улица опустела за минуты.

  Under the squall of rain and wind, the street emptied in minutes.

To cry or scream violently (Verb form, less common for 'squall').

Translation(s) & Context:

• вопить - Used in informal or emotional contexts, such as describing a baby's cry or a sudden outburst; not the primary translation for weather-related 'squall'.

Usage Examples:

• Младенец начал вопить посреди ночи, разбудив всю семью.

  The infant started squalling in the middle of the night, waking up the whole family.

• Вопя от страха, она бежала от шквала дождя.

  Screaming in fear, she ran from the squall of rain.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Шквал' is a masculine noun in Russian, and it follows the standard first-declension pattern for most masculine nouns ending in a consonant. It is not irregular but can vary by case and number. 'Вопить' is a verb and conjugates according to standard patterns, with some palatalization in certain forms.

For 'вопить' (verb), it is an imperfective verb: Present: я воплю, ты вопишь; Past: вопил, вопила; Future: буду вопить. It does not have significant irregularities but requires attention to palatalization in endings.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • буря (bura) - A general storm, often more prolonged than a squall.
  • порыв ветра (poriv vetra) - A gust of wind, similar but less intense.
• Antonyms:
  • штиль (shtil') - Calm, windless conditions.
  • тишина (tishina) - Silence, for the verb form.

Related Phrases:

• Шквал ветра - A squall of wind; used in weather reports to describe sudden gusts.
• Вопить от боли - To squall in pain; an expression for intense emotional or physical distress.
• Шквал дождя - A downpour squall; common in describing sudden rainstorms.

Usage Notes:

'Шквал' directly corresponds to the noun form of 'squall' in English, focusing on weather phenomena, and is preferred in formal or technical contexts. Avoid using 'вопить' for weather unless drawing a metaphorical parallel, as it leans towards emotional expressions. In Russian, always consider the case of 'шквал' based on its role in the sentence (e.g., genitive after prepositions like 'из'). For learners, choose 'шквал' for meteorological discussions and 'вопить' for vivid descriptions of sounds to match the appropriate register.

• Grammar note: 'Шквал' requires declension, so pay attention to agreements with adjectives or verbs.
• Context tip: In Russian media, 'шквал' often appears in forecasts, while 'вопить' is more literary or colloquial.

Common Errors:

• Confusing 'шквал' with 'ураган' (hurricane) - Error: Using 'шквал' for a large-scale storm. Correct: 'Шквал' is for brief gusts, not prolonged events. Example of error: "Ураган вчера был сильным" (mistakenly saying it for a squall); Correct: "Шквал вчера был сильным".
• Overusing 'вопить' in formal contexts - Error: Saying "Дитя вопило" in a professional report; Correct: Use 'плакать' (to cry) for neutral descriptions. Explanation: 'Вопить' implies intensity, which may exaggerate in non-emotional contexts.
• Forgetting declensions - Error: Saying "в шквал" instead of "в шквале"; Correct: "в шквале" for prepositional case. This is common for English speakers unused to Russian cases.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'шквал' often evoke imagery from literature, such as in works by Pushkin or modern media, where sudden storms symbolize chaos or change. This reflects Russia's vast landscapes and harsh weather, making such vocabulary integral to discussions of nature's unpredictability, unlike in more temperate regions.

Related Concepts:

• ураган
• буря
• порыв
• гроза