Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stanza'

English Word: stanza

Key Russian Translations:

• строфа [ˈstro.fə] - [Formal, Literary; Used in poetic or literary contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literary discussions but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires familiarity with literary terminology and basic Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

строфа: [ˈstro.fə]

Note on строфа: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'ф' sound is similar to the English 'f'. Be cautious with the soft 'а' at the end, which can vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A structured division in poetry or verse

Translation(s) & Context:

• строфа - Used in formal literary analysis or when discussing poetry structure.

Usage Examples:

• Каждый стихотворный отрывок состоит из отдельных строф, которые передают разные эмоции.

  Each poetic excerpt consists of individual stanzas that convey different emotions.

• В этой поэме строфа о любви особенно трогательна.

  In this poem, the stanza about love is particularly touching.

• Поэт мастерски использует строфы для создания ритма и рифмы.

  The poet masterfully uses stanzas to create rhythm and rhyme.

• Строфа в конце главы подводит итог основным темам.

  The stanza at the end of the chapter summarizes the main themes.

• Изучая классику, обратите внимание на строфы, которые повторяются.

  When studying classics, pay attention to the stanzas that repeat.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Строфа" is a feminine noun in Russian, and it follows the standard first-declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -а. It has regular inflections based on case and number. Below is a table of its declensions in the singular form (plural is less common but follows similar patterns).

Note: In plural, it becomes "строфы" in nominative, with further changes in other cases. This word does not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • куплет (kuplet) - Often used for song verses, with a slightly more musical connotation.
  • отрывок (otryvok) - More general, meaning excerpt, but can apply in literary contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • проза (proza) - Refers to prose, contrasting with structured poetic forms.

Related Phrases:

• строфа поэмы (strofa poemy) - A stanza of a poem; Used when specifying parts of longer works.
• завершающая строфа (zavershayushchaya strofa) - Closing stanza; Implies a concluding section in poetry.
• ритмичная строфа (ritmicheskaya strofa) - Rhythmic stanza; Highlights the metrical aspect in verse.

Usage Notes:

"Строфа" directly corresponds to the English "stanza" in literary contexts, but it's primarily used in formal or academic discussions of poetry. English speakers should note that Russian poetry often emphasizes rhythm and rhyme more heavily, so this term may appear in critiques or analyses. When choosing between translations like "куплет" for songs, opt for "строфа" in purely poetic scenarios. Grammatically, always decline it according to the sentence's case to maintain accuracy.

• Avoid using it in casual conversation; it's domain-specific.
• In compound phrases, it often pairs with adjectives to describe style, e.g., "классическая строфа" for a classical stanza.

Common Errors:

One common mistake for English learners is confusing "строфа" with "куплет," using it interchangeably for song lyrics. For example, an incorrect usage might be: "В песне есть красивая строфа" (meaning "In the song, there is a beautiful stanza"), when "куплет" would be more appropriate for music. Correct version: "В песне есть красивый куплет." This error stems from overlapping meanings, but "строфа" is strictly for poetry, not songs. Another error is failing to decline it properly, e.g., saying "Я читаю строфа" instead of "Я читаю строфу" in accusative case.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "строфа" is deeply tied to the rich tradition of poetry, influenced by figures like Pushkin and Lermontov. It often carries emotional or patriotic connotations in national literature, where stanzas are used to build narrative depth or evoke historical events, reflecting Russia's emphasis on lyrical expression in art and education.

Related Concepts:

• стихотворение (stikhotvorenie) - Poem
• рифма (rifma) - Rhyme
• метр (metr) - Meter (in poetry)