Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'stroll'

English Word: stroll

Key Russian Translations:

• гулять [ɡuˈlʲatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Used in everyday conversations]
• прогулка [prəˈɡulʲkə] - [Noun, Formal or Neutral, Refers to the act or instance of walking leisurely]

Frequency: Medium (Common in daily language, especially in casual or descriptive contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner level; straightforward for English speakers to grasp with basic verb and noun structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

гулять: [ɡuˈlʲatʲ]

Note on гулять: The 'лʲ' sound is a palatalized L, which may be challenging for English speakers; it sounds like a soft 'l' as in 'million'. Pronounce with emphasis on the second syllable.

прогулка: [prəˈɡulʲkə]

Note on прогулка: Stress on the second syllable; the 'у' is pronounced like 'oo' in 'book', and 'лʲ' is again palatalized.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To walk leisurely or for pleasure (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гулять - Used in informal settings to describe casual walking, often in parks or streets, implying relaxation and no hurry. Common in spoken language among friends or family.

Usage Examples:

• Я гуляю в парке по вечерам, чтобы расслабиться.

  I stroll in the park in the evenings to relax.

• Мы часто гуляем вдоль реки в выходные.

  We often stroll along the river on weekends.

• Дети любят гулять с друзьями после школы.

  Children love to stroll with friends after school.

• Он гуляет по городу, размышляя о жизни.

  He strolls around the city, pondering life.

Meaning 2: A leisurely walk or outing (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• прогулка - Used to refer to the event or instance of walking, often planned or recreational, in more neutral or formal contexts like travel descriptions or schedules.

Usage Examples:

• Эта прогулка по Кремлю была незабываемой.

  This stroll through the Kremlin was unforgettable.

• Мы отправились на вечернюю прогулку в парк.

  We went for an evening stroll in the park.

• Прогулка по пляжу помогает снять стресс.

  A stroll along the beach helps relieve stress.

• Его ежедневная прогулка улучшает здоровье.

  His daily stroll improves his health.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For гулять (verb, first conjugation): This is an imperfective verb that changes based on tense, person, and number. It follows regular patterns but has palatalization in some forms.

For прогулка (noun, feminine, first declension): This noun declines based on case and number. It is regular and follows standard patterns for feminine nouns ending in -a.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: прогуливаться (more formal, implies a longer walk), ходить пешком (walking on foot, neutral)
• Antonyms: бежать (to run, implies speed), спешить (to hurry, suggests urgency)

Related Phrases:

• Вечерняя прогулка - An evening stroll, often used to describe relaxed outdoor activities in the evening.
• Гулять с собакой - To stroll with a dog, a common phrase for walking pets leisurely.
• Прогулка по городу - A city stroll, referring to exploring urban areas on foot for leisure.

Usage Notes:

Use гулять for dynamic, ongoing actions like casually walking in informal contexts, while прогулка is better for nouns describing the event itself. In Russian, гулять can also imply wandering without a specific destination, which aligns closely with the English 'stroll'. Be mindful of context: in formal writing, opt for прогуливаться instead. Grammatically, verbs like гулять require agreement with subject in person and number.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing the verb гулять with the noun прогулка and using them interchangeably without proper inflection. For example, saying "Я хочу прогулка" instead of "Я хочу погулять" (I want to go for a stroll).

  Correct: Я хочу погулять. Explanation: Use the infinitive form of the verb for intentions, not the noun.

• Error: Mispronouncing the palatalized 'лʲ' in гулять as a hard 'l', which can make it sound like "gu-lat" instead of "gu-lyat'".

  Correct: Practice the soft 'l' sound. Explanation: This changes the word's clarity and may lead to misunderstandings in spoken Russian.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, strolling (гулять or прогулка) is a cherished activity, especially in parks like Gorky Park in Moscow. It often symbolizes leisure and social interaction, rooted in traditions from 19th-century literature where characters reflect during walks, emphasizing a deeper connection to nature and introspection.

Related Concepts:

• парк (park)
• прогулочный (pertaining to strolling)
• отдых (rest or leisure)