Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'tenement'

English Word: tenement

Key Russian Translations:

• коммуналка [kəmʊˈnalʲkə] - [Informal, Cultural/Historical]
• многоквартирный дом [mnɐɡəˈkvartʲɪrnɨj dɐm] - [Formal, General]

Frequency: Low (This term is not frequently used in modern everyday Russian, especially outside historical or cultural discussions.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian cultural contexts and basic noun declensions. For 'коммуналка', it may feel more challenging due to its specific connotations, while 'многоквартирный дом' is closer to A2 for basic vocabulary.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

коммуналка: [kəmʊˈnalʲkə]

многоквартирный дом: [mnɐɡəˈkvartʲɪrnɨj dɐm]

Note on коммуналка: The stress falls on the third syllable ('nalʲ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'л' sound. Pronunciation may vary slightly in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A building divided into several apartments, often in a poor or crowded urban area, with shared facilities.

Translation(s) & Context:

• коммуналка - Used in informal, historical, or cultural contexts, referring to Soviet-era shared apartments where multiple families lived together, sharing kitchens and bathrooms.
• многоквартирный дом - Applied in formal or modern contexts for any multi-unit residential building, without the negative connotations of poverty.

Usage Examples:

• В советское время многие семьи жили в коммуналке, где общая кухня была местом для ежедневных встреч.

  In Soviet times, many families lived in a tenement where the shared kitchen was a place for daily gatherings.

• Этот старый многоквартирный дом в центре города напоминает о эпохе коммуналок.

  This old tenement in the city center reminds us of the era of communal apartments.

• Жители коммуналки часто жаловались на нехватку приватности в таких условиях.

  Residents of the tenement often complained about the lack of privacy in such conditions.

• В отличие от современного многоквартирного дома, коммуналка подразумевает тесное соседство и общие ресурсы.

  Unlike a modern tenement, a kommunalka implies close proximity and shared resources.

• После реформы, многие коммуналки были преобразованы в отдельные квартиры в многоквартирных домах.

  After the reforms, many tenements were converted into separate apartments in multi-unit buildings.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Коммуналка' is a feminine noun (first declension) and follows standard Russian noun patterns with inflections for case, number, and gender. It is irregular in some ways due to its diminutive form. 'Многоквартирный дом' is a phrase where 'многоквартирный' is an adjective that agrees with 'дом' (a masculine noun).

Note: 'Коммуналка' does not change in plural forms as frequently as other nouns but can be used in plural for multiple instances.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • общежитие (obshchezhitie) - Similar to a dormitory, often used for shared student housing; less negative connotation than коммуналка.
  • барак (barak) - Refers to a barracks-like building; implies temporary or poor conditions.
• Antonyms:
  • частный дом (chastnyy dom) - Private house, implying individual ownership and space.
  • элитная квартира (elitnaya kvartira) - Luxury apartment, contrasting with crowded living.

Related Phrases:

• Жить в коммуналке - To live in a tenement; often used to describe historical or challenging living situations.
• Многоквартирный дом с лифтом - A tenement with an elevator; refers to modern multi-unit buildings with amenities.
• Коммунальная кухня - Shared kitchen in a tenement; highlights the communal aspect of daily life.

Usage Notes:

'Коммуналка' directly corresponds to the historical and cultural sense of 'tenement' in English, especially in the context of Soviet-era housing, and is best used in informal or narrative discussions. 'Многоквартирный дом' is a more neutral, formal equivalent for general multi-family dwellings. Be cautious with 'коммуналка' as it carries negative undertones of overcrowding; in formal writing, opt for 'многоквартирный дом'. Grammatically, always ensure adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun, as seen in inflections.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'коммуналка' interchangeably with 'многоквартирный дом' without context. For example, an English speaker might say "Я живу в коммуналке" when meaning a modern apartment block.
  Correct: Use 'многоквартирный дом' for non-historical contexts. Explanation: 'Коммуналка' specifically evokes shared facilities, so it can mislead listeners.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., saying "в коммуналка" instead of "в коммуналке".
  Correct: Always decline based on case, as in "в коммуналке" for prepositional case. Explanation: Russian nouns require case agreement, which English speakers often overlook.

Cultural Notes:

'Коммуналка' is deeply tied to Soviet history, representing the overcrowded living conditions imposed during the 20th century when housing shortages forced families to share spaces. This term evokes themes of resilience, community, and hardship in Russian literature and films, such as in works by authors like Solzhenitsyn, helping non-Russians understand the social fabric of post-revolutionary Russia.

Related Concepts:

• общежитие
• квартирный вопрос
• жилищный фонд