Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tarmac'

English Word: tarmac

Key Russian Translations:

• асфальт [ɐˈsfalt] - [Neutral, Commonly used for road surfaces]
• взлетно-посадочная полоса [vzˈlʲetnə pəsɐˈdɔtʂnəjə ˈpɐləsə] - [Formal, Technical, Used in aviation contexts]

Frequency: Medium (The word and its translations are encountered in everyday conversations about infrastructure and travel, but not as common as basic vocabulary.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and technical terms, varying by translation—e.g., 'асфальт' is easier for beginners, while 'взлетно-посадочная полоса' may be more challenging due to its length and specificity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

асфальт: [ɐˈsfalt]

Note on асфальт: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the 'ф' sound, which is a voiceless labiodental fricative, similar to 'f' in English. Regional variations in Russia might soften the 'л' sound.

взлетно-посадочная полоса: [vzˈlʲetnə pəsɐˈdɔtʂnəjə ˈpɐləsə]

Note on взлетно-посадочная полоса: This is a compound term; pronounce it in chunks for clarity. The 'щ' in 'посадочная' is a voiceless palatal fricative, often challenging for English speakers—similar to 'sh' but more sibilant.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A material used for surfacing roads or pavements

Translation(s) & Context:

• асфальт - Used in everyday contexts for describing paved surfaces, such as roads or sidewalks, in neutral or informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Дорога покрыта свежим асфальтом, что делает её гладкой и безопасной.

  English: The road is covered with fresh tarmac, making it smooth and safe.

• Русский: В городе часто ремонтируют асфальт на центральных улицах.

  English: In the city, they often repair the tarmac on the main streets.

• Русский: Асфальт треснул от жары, и теперь его нужно заменить.

  English: The tarmac cracked from the heat, so it needs to be replaced.

• Русский: Детям нравится играть на асфальте во дворе.

  English: Children like to play on the tarmac in the courtyard.

Meaning 2: An airport runway or paved area

Translation(s) & Context:

• взлетно-посадочная полоса - Used in formal, technical, or aviation-related contexts, such as airport operations or discussions about transportation infrastructure.

Usage Examples:

• Русский: Самолёт приземлился на взлетно-посадочную полосу, покрытую асфальтом.

  English: The plane landed on the tarmac runway, which is covered with asphalt.

• Русский: Из-за дождя взлетно-посадочная полоса была скользкой и опасной.

  English: Due to the rain, the tarmac was slippery and dangerous.

• Русский: Аэропорт расширяет взлетно-посадочную полосу для новых рейсов.

  English: The airport is expanding the tarmac for new flights.

• Русский: Пассажиры ждали на взлетно-посадочной полосе из-за задержки.

  English: Passengers waited on the tarmac due to the delay.

• Русский: Взлетно-посадочная полоса в этом аэропорту сделана из качественного асфальта.

  English: The tarmac at this airport is made of high-quality asphalt.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns. 'Асфальт' is a masculine noun that follows the standard third declension pattern in Russian, with regular inflections. 'Взлетно-посадочная полоса' is a feminine noun phrase, where 'полоса' is the main inflected word, following the first declension.

Note: These are regular inflections; no irregularities, but always ensure agreement with adjectives or modifiers in sentences.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • битум (bitumen) - Similar material, often used interchangeably in informal contexts.
  • покрытие (covering) - More general term for any surface material.
• Antonyms:
  • грунт (dirt or gravel road) - Unpaved surface, contrasting with smooth tarmac.
  • бетон (concrete) - Another paving material, but less flexible than asphalt.

Related Phrases:

• Асфальтированная дорога - An asphalted road; refers to a road surfaced with tarmac, commonly used in urban planning contexts.
• Взлетная полоса - Runway; a shortened form for airport tarmac, often in aviation discussions.
• Асфальтовое покрытие - Tarmac covering; used for describing surfaces in construction or maintenance.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'асфальт' directly corresponds to the material aspect of 'tarmac' and is neutral for everyday use, while 'взлетно-посадочная полоса' is more formal and specific to aviation. Choose 'асфальт' for general infrastructure talks and the longer phrase for technical scenarios. Be mindful of gender agreement in sentences (e.g., 'асфальт' is masculine). In informal speech, Russians might shorten phrases, so 'полоса' alone could suffice in context.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'асфальт' interchangeably with 'бетон' without context. Correct: 'Асфальт' specifically means asphalt-based tarmac, while 'бетон' means concrete. Example of error: "Дорога из бетона" when meaning tarmac. Correct: "Дорога из асфальта". Explanation: This confuses material types, leading to miscommunication in construction contexts.

• Error: Forgetting to inflect 'полоса' in sentences, e.g., saying "на полоса" instead of "на полосе". Correct: Always decline based on case, as in "на взлетно-посадочной полосе". Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, which English learners often overlook, resulting in grammatically incorrect sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, 'асфальт' often evokes discussions about urban infrastructure, reflecting historical challenges like poor road maintenance in rural areas versus well-paved city centers. The term 'взлетно-посадочная полоса' ties into Russia's aviation heritage, including Soviet-era airports, symbolizing progress and connectivity in a vast country.

Related Concepts:

• дорога (road)
• аэропорт (airport)
• инфраструктура (infrastructure)