Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stopper'

English Word: stopper

Key Russian Translations:

• пробка [ˈprobkə] - [Informal, Common for everyday objects like bottle stoppers]
• вратарь [vrɐˈtarʲ] - [Formal, Sports context, such as in soccer or hockey]

Frequency: Medium (пробка is more frequent in daily conversation; вратарь is context-specific in sports)

Difficulty: B1 for пробка (Intermediate, as it involves basic noun inflections); B2 for вратарь (Upper-Intermediate, due to its specialized vocabulary and inflections)

Pronunciation (Russian):

пробка: [ˈprobkə]

Note on пробка: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the "о" sound, which is pronounced as a short "o" in Russian.

Audio: []

вратарь: [vrɐˈtarʲ]

Note on вратарь: The "р" is rolled, and the stress is on the second syllable; this word often has a palatalized "рʲ" in some dialects, but standard pronunciation uses the soft "й" sound at the end.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A device used to close or seal something, such as a bottle stopper.

Translation(s) & Context:

• пробка - Used in everyday contexts for physical objects like bottle caps or plugs; informal and versatile in general conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Я не могу открыть бутылку, потому что пробка застряла.

  I can't open the bottle because the stopper is stuck.

• В старом доме все пробки в трубах были сделаны из дерева.

  In the old house, all the stoppers in the pipes were made of wood.

• Пробка на флаконе иногда теряется, и тогда приходится искать замену.

  The stopper on the flask sometimes gets lost, and then you have to find a replacement.

• В лаборатории мы используем специальные пробки для химических сосудов.

  In the laboratory, we use special stoppers for chemical vessels.

• После вечеринки пробка от вина валялась на столе.

  After the party, the wine stopper was lying on the table.

Meaning 2: A person or player who stops or blocks, such as a goalkeeper in sports.

Translation(s) & Context:

• вратарь - Used specifically in sports like soccer, hockey, or basketball; formal and context-dependent, often in competitive or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Вратарь команды сделал невероятный сейв в последнюю минуту.

  The team's stopper made an incredible save in the last minute.

• Молодой вратарь тренируется каждый день, чтобы улучшить свою реакцию.

  The young stopper trains every day to improve his reaction time.

• В хоккее вратарь — это ключевой игрок, который защищает ворота.

  In hockey, the stopper is a key player who protects the goal.

• Если вратарь пропустит гол, это может повлиять на исход матча.

  If the stopper lets in a goal, it could affect the outcome of the match.

• Вратарь сборной России известен своими быстрыми рефлексами.

  The Russian national team's stopper is known for his quick reflexes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For пробка (feminine noun, first declension):

This noun follows standard Russian feminine noun patterns with regular inflections. It changes based on case and number.

For вратарь (masculine noun, second declension, animate):

This noun has regular inflections for animate masculine nouns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms for пробка: затычка (zatyčka) - Similar, but often used for makeshift or temporary stoppers; заглушка (zaglushka) - More technical, for plugs in machinery.
• Synonyms for вратарь: голкипер (golkiper) - Direct borrowing from English, used in modern sports contexts; страж (strash) - Poetic or literary term for a guardian or stopper.
• Antonyms: For both, открытка (otkritka) could imply something open, but it's not a direct antonym; in sports, нападающий (napadayushchiy) - Attacker, opposite role to вратарь.

Related Phrases:

• пробка в бутылке - Refers to a bottle stopper; used in contexts of storage or sealing liquids.
• вратарь на воротах - Describes a goalkeeper in position; common in sports commentary.
• закрыть пробкой - To close with a stopper; a fixed phrase for sealing containers.
• вратарь в футболе - Goalkeeper in soccer; highlights the sport-specific usage.

Usage Notes:

The English word "stopper" translates to Russian as пробка for physical objects and вратарь for sports roles. Choose пробка in informal, everyday situations involving sealing or blocking, as it aligns closely with common English usage. For sports, вратарь is the precise equivalent and should be used in formal or professional contexts. Be mindful of Russian case inflections when constructing sentences; for example, in genitive constructions like "stopper of the bottle" (пробки бутылки). Multiple translations exist due to contextual nuances, so select based on the scenario to avoid confusion.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using пробка in sports contexts, e.g., saying "пробка в футболе" instead of "вратарь в футболе". Correct: вратарь is the appropriate term for a goalkeeper. Explanation: This mixes everyday and specialized vocabulary, leading to misunderstanding in sports discussions.
• Error: Forgetting inflections, e.g., using nominative "пробка" in all cases like "открыть пробка" instead of "открыть пробку". Correct: Adjust to accusative "пробку". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which English learners often overlook, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences.
• Error: Pronouncing вратарь with English stress patterns, e.g., stressing the first syllable. Correct: Stress the second syllable [vrɐˈtarʲ]. Explanation: Incorrect stress can make the word sound unnatural or lead to confusion with similar words.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, вратарь holds a heroic status in sports like soccer, symbolizing defense and resilience, as seen in popular events like the FIFA World Cup. The word пробка, while mundane, reflects everyday practicality in Russian life, where sealing food and drinks is culturally important due to harsh winters and home preservation traditions.

Related Concepts:

• затычка
• голкипер
• заглушка
• страж