Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'swathe'

English Word: swathe

Key Russian Translations:

• полоса [ˈpɐləsə] - [Noun, Common, used for a strip or band of land, fabric, or similar]
• бинт [bʲint] - [Noun, Formal, used specifically for a bandage or wrapping material]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in descriptive or agricultural contexts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 Intermediate (for "полоса"); B2 Upper-Intermediate (for "бинт", due to medical connotations and declension patterns)

Pronunciation (Russian):

полоса: [ˈpɐləsə]

Note on полоса: The stress falls on the first syllable; be mindful of the soft "л" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers.

бинт: [bʲint]

Note on бинт: The initial "б" is pronounced with a soft "й" glide; no major stress variations.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A strip or band of something, such as land or fabric.

Translation(s) & Context:

• полоса - Used in contexts describing wide strips, like fields or patterns; common in everyday and literary language.
• бинт - Used in medical or wrapping contexts, such as bandaging wounds; more formal and specialized.

Usage Examples:

• Вся долина была покрыта широкой полосой цветов.

  The entire valley was covered with a wide swathe of flowers.

• Фермеры скосили полосу травы вдоль реки.

  The farmers mowed a swathe of grass along the river.

• Художник нарисовал полосу ярких красок на холсте.

  The artist painted a swathe of bright colors on the canvas.

• Врачи использовали бинт, чтобы замотать рану.

  The doctors used a swathe (bandage) to wrap the wound.

Meaning 2: To wrap or bind with a bandage (verb form of swathe).

Translation(s) & Context:

• заворачивать - Used for general wrapping actions; informal and versatile.
• обматывать - Used for binding or encircling; can be more emphatic in physical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Медсестра завязала бинт вокруг руки пациента.

  The nurse swathed the patient's arm with a bandage.

• Он обмотал полосу ткани вокруг подарка.

  He swathed the gift with a strip of fabric.

• В холодную погоду люди заворачивают себя в теплые платки.

  In cold weather, people swathe themselves in warm scarves.

• Доктор обмотал рану стерильной полосой.

  The doctor swathed the wound with a sterile strip.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For "полоса" (feminine noun, first declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with variations by case and number:

For "бинт" (masculine noun, second declension), it is relatively straightforward and does not have irregular forms:

For verbs like "заворачивать" or "обматывать", they conjugate regularly in present, past, and future tenses; e.g., present: заворачиваю, заворачиваешь (I wrap, you wrap).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: лента (band, ribbon; more for thin strips), полоска (small strip; informal variant), обвязка (wrapping, for binding)
• Antonyms: разрыв (break, rupture; for a strip being interrupted)

Related Phrases:

• Широкая полоса - A wide swathe; used to describe expansive areas, e.g., in geography or art.
• Заворачивать в бинт - To swathe in a bandage; common in medical contexts for wound care.
• Полоса препятствий - A swathe of obstacles; metaphorical for challenges in life or sports.

Usage Notes:

"Swathe" as "полоса" is a direct noun equivalent and is versatile in Russian, but ensure it matches the context—use for physical strips rather than abstract ones. For the verb form, "заворачивать" is more everyday, while "обматывать" implies a tighter bind. Be cautious with formality: "бинт" is neutral but leans formal in medical settings. When choosing between translations, consider the specific scenario; e.g., agricultural contexts favor "полоса".

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse "полоса" with "полоска" and use the diminutive incorrectly; e.g., Incorrect: "полоска" for a large area. Correct: Use "полоса" for broader strips. Explanation: "Полоска" implies something smaller, so match size and context.
• Mixing cases in sentences, e.g., Incorrect: "Я вижу полосу" but then using genitive wrongly in complex sentences. Correct: Follow proper declension as shown in the table above. Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, which can trip up beginners.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "полоса" can evoke imagery from rural life, such as vast swathes of farmland in the Russian countryside, symbolizing abundance or the vastness of the landscape in literature like Tolstoy's works. It's less culturally loaded than some words but ties into themes of nature and endurance.

Related Concepts:

• лентa
• обвязка
• препятствие