Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stone'

English Word: stone

Key Russian Translations:

• камень (/ˈkamʲɪnʲ/) - [Formal, Singular, Used for natural rock or mineral]
• камушек (/ˈkamʊʂək/) - [Informal, Diminutive, Used for a small stone or pebble]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in descriptions of nature or objects)

Difficulty: A1 for basic forms like "камень"; A2 for inflected forms (Beginner level, suitable for new learners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

камень: /ˈkamʲɪnʲ/ (The "й" sound is a palatalized 'n', which may be challenging for English speakers; stress on the first syllable)

камушек: /ˈkamʊʂək/ (Note on камушек: The "ш" is a voiceless retroflex fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'shoe', but with a slight roll; common in informal speech)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A hard, solid piece of mineral matter (e.g., rock or pebble)

Translation(s) & Context:

• камень - Used in formal or neutral contexts, such as describing geological features or everyday objects.
• камушек - Used in informal or affectionate contexts, like talking about small stones in nature or children's play.

Usage Examples:

• Я нашел камень на берегу реки. (I found a stone on the riverbank.)

  Translation: I found a stone on the riverbank. (This example shows "камень" in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting its use in natural settings.)

• Дети собирают камушки на пляже. (Children are collecting pebbles on the beach.)

  Translation: Children are collecting pebbles on the beach. (Here, "камушки" demonstrates the diminutive form in a playful, everyday context.)

• Этот камень очень тяжелый и гладкий. (This stone is very heavy and smooth.)

  Translation: This stone is very heavy and smooth. (Example illustrates "камень" with adjectives, showing basic descriptive usage.)

• В парке валяются мелкие камушки. (Small pebbles are lying around in the park.)

  Translation: Small pebbles are lying around in the park. (This uses "камушки" in a plural, informal setting to describe scattered objects.)

• Камень упал с горы во время дождя. (The stone fell from the mountain during the rain.)

  Translation: The stone fell from the mountain during the rain. (Demonstrates "камень" in a narrative context with verbs.)

Meaning 2: A gemstone or precious stone (e.g., in jewelry)

Translation(s) & Context:

• камень - Used in formal contexts, such as in jewelry or mineralogy, often with modifiers like "драгоценный" (precious).

Usage Examples:

• В кольце сверкает драгоценный камень. (A precious stone sparkles in the ring.)

  Translation: A precious stone sparkles in the ring. (This example shows "камень" in a context related to valuables.)

• Мастер полирует камень для ожерелья. (The craftsman is polishing the stone for the necklace.)

  Translation: The craftsman is polishing the stone for the necklace. (Illustrates "камень" in an artisanal or professional setting.)

• Этот камень стоит дорого из-за своего цвета. (This stone is expensive because of its color.)

  Translation: This stone is expensive because of its color. (Example uses "камень" with reasons or attributes.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Камень" is a masculine noun in Russian, which follows the standard third declension pattern. It has regular inflections based on case and number. "Камушек" is a diminutive form and also masculine, with similar inflections but often used in singular informal contexts.

For "камушек", it is less commonly inflected but follows a similar pattern: Nominative - камушек, Genitive - камушка, etc. Note that it is invariant in some informal uses.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: булыжник (boulder, more specific to larger stones), осколок (fragment, for broken pieces)
• With differences: Булыжник implies a larger, rough stone, often in urban contexts, while осколок suggests something shattered.
• Antonyms: вода (water, as an opposite natural element), воздух (air)

Related Phrases:

• Драгоценный камень - Precious stone (Used in jewelry contexts to denote value and rarity.)
• Камень преткновения - Stumbling block (A idiomatic phrase meaning an obstacle or point of contention.)
• Бросить камень - To throw a stone (Common in literal or metaphorical senses, like in accusations.)

Usage Notes:

The English word "stone" most directly corresponds to "камень" in Russian, but context is key: use "камень" for general or formal references, and "камушек" for diminutive, affectionate, or informal ones. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical cases; for example, in prepositional phrases like "на камне" (on the stone), the case changes. When choosing between translations, opt for "камень" in scientific or descriptive writing, but "камушек" in casual conversation to convey endearment.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "камень" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "Я вижу камень" when it should be "Я вижу на камне" (I see on the stone). Correct: Always adjust for case based on the preposition; incorrect example: "Я иду камень" (wrong), correct: "Я иду к камню" (I am going to the stone).
• Error: Confusing with similar words like "камень" and "каменный" (adjectival form meaning "stony"). Explanation: "Каменный" describes something made of stone, not the noun itself; e.g., don't say "камень дом" for "stone house"—use "каменный дом".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, stones like "камень" often symbolize endurance and history, as seen in folklore where stones are part of ancient tales or monuments. For instance, in Russian literature, stones might represent obstacles in life, drawing from themes in works like those of Pushkin, adding a layer of poetic depth beyond their literal meaning.

Related Concepts:

• горы (mountains)
• минералы (minerals)
• драгоценности (gems)