Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'statuary'

English Word: statuary

Key Russian Translations:

• статуя [ˈstatʊjə] - [Formal, refers to a single statue or statues in a collection]
• скульптура [skʊlʲˈpturə] - [Formal, more general term for the art of sculpture or a collection of statues]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in art, history, or museum contexts, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of Russian nouns and cases, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

статуя: [ˈstatʊjə]

Note on статуя: The stress is on the first syllable; be cautious with the 'ya' sound, which is a palatalized 'a' in Russian, often challenging for English speakers.

скульптура: [skʊlʲˈpturə]

Note on скульптура: The 'lʲ' represents a soft 'l' sound; pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech, with emphasis on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. A collection of statues or the art of making statues

Translation(s) & Context:

• статуя - Used in formal or artistic contexts to describe individual statues, often in museums or historical settings.
• скульптура - Applied more broadly to the art form or a group of statues, common in discussions of culture or aesthetics.

Usage Examples:

• В музее выставлена древняя статуя греческого бога.

  In the museum, an ancient statue of a Greek god is displayed.

• Скульптура в этом парке отражает историю города.

  The statuary in this park reflects the city's history.

• Художник создал серию статуй из мрамора.

  The artist created a series of statuary pieces from marble.

• Изучение скульптуры помогает понять культурное наследие.

  Studying statuary helps in understanding cultural heritage.

• Эта статуя символизирует свободу и независимость.

  This statuary symbolizes freedom and independence.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they undergo declension based on case, number, and gender. "Статуя" and "скульптура" follow standard first-declension patterns for feminine nouns ending in -я and -а, respectively. They are regular in most forms but require attention to case changes in sentences.

Note: These forms are regular and do not have irregular variations, making them relatively straightforward for intermediate learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • памятник (pamyatnik) - Often used for monuments or memorials, with a slight historical connotation.
  • изваяние (izvayaniye) - More poetic, referring to sculpted figures.
• Antonyms:
  • развалины (razvaliny) - Refers to ruins, implying destruction rather than creation.

Related Phrases:

• Древняя статуя (Drevnyaya statuya) - Ancient statue; used in historical or archaeological contexts.
• Произведение скульптуры (Proizvedeniye skul'ptury) - Work of statuary; refers to a piece in an art collection.
• Скульптура в парке (Skul'ptura v parke) - Statuary in the park; common for public art installations.

Usage Notes:

"Statuary" in English corresponds most closely to "статуя" for individual pieces and "скульптура" for the broader art form. Use "статуя" in formal or descriptive contexts, such as describing museum exhibits, while "скульптура" is better for discussions of artistic techniques or collections. Be mindful of Russian case requirements; for example, in prepositional phrases, use the prepositional case (e.g., "в статуе" for "in the statue"). If the context involves modern art, "скульптура" might be preferred due to its generality.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "статуя" in the nominative case when another case is needed, e.g., saying "Я смотрю статуя" instead of "Я смотрю на статую" (I am looking at the statue).

  Correct: "Я смотрю на статую." Explanation: Russian requires the accusative case after prepositions like "на," so learners must adjust for case endings to avoid grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing "статуя" with "скульптура" in singular contexts, leading to overuse of "скульптура" for individual items.

  Correct: Use "статуя" for a single statue and "скульптура" for the art form. Explanation: This mix-up can make sentences less precise; for example, "Эта статуя красивая" is better than forcing "скульптура" into the sentence.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, statuary often holds significant historical and symbolic value, as seen in iconic statues like those of Lenin or Peter the Great in public squares. These pieces are not just art but serve as reminders of national history, and discussing them can evoke patriotic sentiments. For instance, "статуя" might reference Soviet-era monuments, highlighting the intersection of art and politics in Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• музей (muzei) - Museum
• художник (khudozhnik) - Artist
• памятник (pamyatnik) - Monument