Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stake'

English Word: stake

Key Russian Translations:

• ставка [ˈstavkə] - [Formal, used in contexts like gambling or investments]
• акция [ɐkˈtsɨjə] - [Formal, primarily for financial shares or stocks]
• кол [kol] - [Informal, for a physical stake like a wooden post]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in business, gambling, and everyday contexts, but not as ubiquitous as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (for 'ставка' and 'акция' due to noun declensions; 'кол' is A2 Beginner as it has fewer inflections)

Pronunciation (Russian):

ставка: [ˈstavkə]

Note on ставка: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'a' in the second syllable is reduced in fast speech, common in Russian phonetics.

акция: [ɐkˈtsɨjə]

Note on акция: The 'ts' sound is a palatalized affricate; be careful with the stress on the second syllable to avoid confusion with similar words.

кол: [kol]

Note on кол: This is a simple consonant-vowel structure; no major reductions, making it straightforward for beginners.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A sum of money or something of value risked on an uncertain event (e.g., gambling or betting)

Translation(s) & Context:

• ставка - Used in formal or informal betting scenarios, such as sports or games.

Usage Examples:

• Я поставил высокую ставку на финал футбольного матча.

  I placed a high stake on the final of the football match.

• В казино люди часто рискуют ставкой, чтобы выиграть больше.

  In the casino, people often risk their stake to win more.

• Если ставка слишком высока, лучше подумать дважды перед игрой.

  If the stake is too high, it's better to think twice before playing.

• Моя ставка на эту лошадь оказалась удачной.

  My stake on this horse turned out to be successful.

Meaning 2: A share or interest in a business or enterprise

Translation(s) & Context:

• акция - Used in formal financial or business contexts, such as stock markets.

Usage Examples:

• Инвесторы купили акции компании, чтобы увеличить свою ставку в рынке.

  Investors bought shares in the company to increase their stake in the market.

• Его ставка в виде акций принесла значительную прибыль.

  His stake in the form of shares brought significant profit.

• Компания выпустила новые акции, чтобы привлечь инвесторов с высокой ставкой.

  The company issued new shares to attract investors with a high stake.

• Владельцы имеют большую ставку в бизнесе через свои акции.

  Owners have a large stake in the business through their shares.

Meaning 3: A pointed piece of wood or metal driven into the ground

Translation(s) & Context:

• кол - Used in practical or rural contexts, such as fencing or construction.

Usage Examples:

• Мы использовали кол как опору для забора.

  We used the stake as a support for the fence.

• В саду вбили несколько колов, чтобы натянуть веревку.

  In the garden, we drove several stakes to stretch the rope.

• Этот кол сломался от сильного ветра.

  This stake broke due to the strong wind.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'ставка' (feminine noun, 1st declension):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	ставка	ставки
Genitive	ставки	ставок
Dative	ставке	ставкам
Accusative	ставку	ставки
Instrumental	ставкой	ставками
Prepositional	ставке	ставках

For 'акция' (feminine noun, similar to 'ставка'):

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	акция	акции
Genitive	акции	акций

For 'кол' (masculine noun, does not change in most cases, invariable in plural):

This word is largely uninflected in modern usage, remaining 'кол' in nominative singular and plural contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: пари (bet, similar to ставка but more specific to wagers), вклад (investment, for акция contexts)
• Antonyms: выигрыш (win), проигрыш (loss)

Related Phrases:

• Высокая ставка - A high stake; used in risky decisions or investments.
• Поставить на кон - To put at stake; implies gambling or taking a risk.
• Акции компании - Company shares; common in financial discussions.

Usage Notes:

'Stake' translates variably in Russian based on context: use 'ставка' for gambling or bets, 'акция' for financial interests, and 'кол' for physical objects. In formal settings, prefer 'ставка' or 'акция' to match the English nuance. Be mindful of Russian case endings, as they change based on sentence structure (e.g., genitive for possession). When choosing between translations, consider the domain: business vs. everyday language.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'ставка' interchangeably with 'акция' in financial contexts. Correct: 'Акция' specifically means shares; example: Incorrect: "Я купил ставку в компании" (wrong), Correct: "Я купил акцию в компании" (I bought a share in the company). This confuses betting with investment.
• Error: Forgetting declensions, e.g., saying "на ставка" instead of "на ставку". Correct: Always adjust for prepositional case; explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English lacks.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'ставка' in gambling contexts reflects a historical passion for games like cards or sports betting, influenced by traditions from the Soviet era. 'Акция' ties into Russia's evolving stock market, symbolizing post-Soviet economic reforms and the risks of investment in a volatile economy.

Related Concepts:

• риск
• инвестиция
• забор