Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tatter'

English Word: tatter

Key Russian Translations:

• лохмотье /lɐxˈmotʲjɛ/ - [Informal, Literary, Often used in descriptive or poetic contexts]
• обрывок /ɐˈbrɨvək/ - [Neutral, Common in everyday language for fragments]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in modern everyday Russian conversation, appearing more in literature or specific descriptive texts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Learners at this level should understand basic noun declensions, but the literary connotations may require additional context for full mastery.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

лохмотье: /lɐxˈmotʲjɛ/

обрывок: /ɐˈbrɨvək/

Note on лохмотье: The stress falls on the second syllable, and the 'х' is pronounced as a guttural 'kh' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in regional accents may soften this sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A torn or ragged piece of cloth or fabric.

Translation(s) & Context:

• лохмотье - Used in informal or literary contexts to describe something shabby or worn out, often evoking poverty or neglect.
• обрывок - Applied in neutral settings for any fragment, such as a piece of cloth, but less emphasis on raggedness.

Usage Examples:

• Его старая куртка была покрыта лохмотьями после долгой прогулки под дождем.

  His old jacket was covered in tatters after a long walk in the rain.

• В музее выставлены обрывки древних тканей, которые когда-то были роскошными одеждами.

  In the museum, there are tatters of ancient fabrics that were once luxurious garments.

• Дети нашли лохмотье на улице и использовали его для игры в пиратов.

  The children found a tatter on the street and used it for playing pirates.

• После аварии от флага остался только обрывок, висящий на мачте.

  After the accident, only a tatter of the flag remained, hanging from the mast.

• В старом фильме актера одели в лохмотья, чтобы показать его нищенское состояние.

  In the old film, the actor was dressed in tatters to depict his beggarly state.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Лохмотье" is a neuter noun in Russian, which follows the standard declension pattern for nouns ending in -ье. It is somewhat irregular due to its literary nature but generally declines like other neuter nouns. "Обрывок" is a masculine noun and declines regularly.

Note: These nouns do not change in gender or have verbal inflections, as they are not verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: лоскут (loskut - a piece of fabric), тряпка (tryapka - rag)
• тряпка is more everyday and neutral, while лохмотье carries a connotation of wear and tear.
• Antonyms: новизна (novizna - newness), целостность (tselostnost' - wholeness)

Related Phrases:

• В лохмотьях - In tatters (Used to describe someone dressed poorly, e.g., in a metaphorical sense for poverty.)
• Обрывок ткани - A piece of fabric (A common phrase for remnants in sewing or crafting contexts.)
• Лохмотья войны - Tatters of war (Refers to the remnants or devastation left by conflict, often in historical or literary discussions.)

Usage Notes:

"Лохмотье" directly corresponds to "tatter" in its literary and descriptive sense, but it's not a word used in casual conversation; opt for "обрывок" in everyday contexts. Be mindful of the noun's neuter gender when forming sentences, as it affects adjective agreements. For English learners, choose "лохмотье" when emphasizing emotional or visual decay, but avoid it in formal writing unless quoting literature.

• Grammar tip: Always decline the noun based on its case, as Russian requires this for proper sentence structure.
• Context guidance: If the "tatter" implies something positive, like in art, Russian might use different phrasing; otherwise, stick to these translations.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse "лохмотье" with "тряпка" (rag), using them interchangeably, but "тряпка" is more for cleaning cloths. Incorrect: "Я нашел тряпку на улице" when meaning a tattered piece (better: "Я нашел лохмотье"). Correct: "Я нашел лохмотье, которое выглядело древним." Explanation: "Лохмотье" emphasizes raggedness, while "тряпка" implies utility, so context matters to avoid miscommunication.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, such as in works by Dostoevsky, words like "лохмотье" symbolize poverty and social inequality, reflecting historical contexts of hardship in Russia. This adds a layer of cultural depth, where describing someone in tatters might evoke empathy or critique of societal issues.

Related Concepts:

• нищета (nischeta - poverty)
• изношенность (iznoshenmost' - wear and tear)
• лоскутное одеяло (loskutnoe odeyalo - patchwork quilt)