Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'strip'

English Word: strip

Key Russian Translations:

• полоса [pɐˈlosə] - [Formal, Singular, Used for physical strips like land or paper]
• лоскут [ˈloskʊt] - [Informal, Plural contexts, Used for fabric or cloth strips]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday contexts like descriptions of objects, but not as frequent as basic nouns in casual speech)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of noun declensions, but straightforward for learners familiar with basic Russian grammar)

Pronunciation (Russian):

полоса: [pɐˈlosə] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'о' is pronounced as a schwa sound in unstressed positions)

Note on полоса: Be careful with the soft sign (ь) at the end, which softens the preceding consonant but doesn't affect the vowel sound significantly. In fast speech, it may sound like [pɐˈlosə].

лоскут: [ˈloskʊt] (Stress on the first syllable; the 'у' is a back vowel, similar to 'oo' in "book")

Note on лоскут: This word may have regional variations in pronunciation, with a harder 'т' in some dialects.

Audio: Audio placeholder for полоса.mp3 (Click to play pronunciation)

Audio: Audio placeholder for лоскут.mp3 (Click to play pronunciation)

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A long, narrow piece of material, land, or other substance (e.g., a strip of paper)

Translation(s) & Context:

• полоса - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as geography or manufacturing, to describe linear features.
• лоскут - Common in everyday or informal settings, especially for fabric or clothing-related strips.

Usage Examples:

• Я нарезал полосу бумаги для поделки.

  I cut a strip of paper for the craft. (This example shows the noun in a singular, nominative case, in a creative context.)

• На пляже была узкая полоса песка.

  There was a narrow strip of sand on the beach. (Demonstrates use in a geographical description, with an adjective for emphasis.)

• Она сшила платье из лоскутов ткани.

  She sewed a dress from strips of fabric. (Illustrates plural usage in a domestic or crafting scenario.)

• В магазине продают лоскуты для квилтинга.

  The store sells strips for quilting. (Shows commercial context, with genitive case implied in related phrases.)

• Полоса асфальта была повреждена дождем.

  The strip of asphalt was damaged by the rain. (Example in a real-world, environmental context, highlighting durability.)

Meaning 2: A sequence or area, such as in comics or urban planning (e.g., a comic strip)

Translation(s) & Context:

• полоса - Used metaphorically for sequential strips, like in media or design.

Usage Examples:

• Он рисует комиксы в форме полос.

  He draws comics in the form of strips. (This shows the word in an artistic context, with instrumental case.)

• В газете есть ежедневная полоса с карикатурами.

  The newspaper has a daily strip with cartoons. (Demonstrates media usage, in a prepositional phrase.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are feminine nouns in Russian, which means they follow standard first-declension patterns. They decline based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for 'полоса' as an example; 'лоскут' follows similar rules but can be irregular in plural forms.

For 'лоскут', it is also a masculine noun in some contexts, making its declension slightly different: Nominative Singular - лоскут, Genitive Singular - лоскута, etc. It remains unchanged in plural for some cases due to its root.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • лента (for ribbon-like strips, often more flexible)
  • полоска (a diminutive form, implying something smaller)
• Antonyms:
  • кусок (piece, implying irregularity or bulkiness)
  • масса (mass, for something large and formless)

Related Phrases:

• полоса отчуждения - A buffer zone or demilitarized strip (Used in military or geopolitical contexts).
• лоскутное одеяло - A patchwork quilt (Common in descriptions of handmade items or metaphors for diversity).
• широкая полоса - A wide strip (Emphasizes size in descriptions of roads or fabrics).

Usage Notes:

• Choose 'полоса' for more formal or precise contexts, as it directly corresponds to the English 'strip' in shape and function, especially in technical English.
• 'Лоскут' is better for informal or creative scenarios, like sewing, and may imply a sense of irregularity that 'strip' doesn't always convey in English.
• Be mindful of gender agreement in Russian sentences; 'полоса' is feminine, so adjectives and verbs must agree (e.g., "узкая полоса" for "narrow strip").
• In plural forms, 'полосы' can refer to multiple strips, which is useful when translating phrases like "strips of bacon."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'полос' as a singular form, thinking it's like English. Correct: 'Полос' is genitive plural; for singular, use 'полоса'. Example of error: "Я имею полос" (wrong) vs. "Я имею полосу" (correct) – This confuses cases and leads to grammatical errors.
• Error: Confusing with 'полка' (shelf), which sounds similar. Correct: Always check context; 'strip' relates to shape, not storage. Example: "Полка" might be mistakenly used for "a strip of wood," but 'полоса' is accurate.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'полоса' can evoke imagery from literature or history, such as the 'полосы' in traditional folk art like matryoshka paintings, where strips represent patterns of life or nature. This reflects a broader appreciation for geometric designs in Russian decorative arts.

Related Concepts:

• лента
• полоска
• край