Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'veil'

English Word: veil

Key Russian Translations:

• вуаль [vuˈalʲ] - [Formal, often used in contexts like weddings or fashion]
• покрывало [pɐˈkrɨvalə] - [Informal or general, used for any covering or veil-like object]
• завеса [zɐˈvʲesə] - [Formal, metaphorical, e.g., a veil of secrecy]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, fashion, and everyday language, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of noun declensions and contextual usage, but not overly complex for learners at this level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вуаль: [vuˈalʲ]

покрывало: [pɐˈkrɨvalə]

завеса: [zɐˈvʲesə]

Note on вуаль: The stress is on the second syllable, and the 'лʲ' represents a soft 'l' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers—similar to the 'l' in "million".

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A covering for the face or head (Literal meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• вуаль - Used in formal or ceremonial contexts, such as weddings or religious events, to denote a thin fabric covering.
• покрывало - Applied in everyday or informal situations for any type of cloth or material that veils or covers.

Usage Examples:

• На свадьбе невеста надела красивую вуаль.

  At the wedding, the bride wore a beautiful veil.

• Ветер сорвал покрывало с её лица.

  The wind blew the veil off her face.

• Завеса скрывала тайну комнаты.

  The veil concealed the secret of the room.

• Девушка использовала вуаль, чтобы защитить себя от солнца.

  The girl used a veil to protect herself from the sun.

Metaphorical or abstract meaning (e.g., something that hides or obscures)

Translation(s) & Context:

• завеса - Often used metaphorically in literature or discussions to mean a barrier or disguise, such as in politics or emotions.
• вуаль - Less common metaphorically, but can imply subtlety or mystery.

Usage Examples:

• Завеса молчания окутала всю историю.

  A veil of silence shrouded the entire story.

• Её слова были как вуаль, скрывающая истинные чувства.

  Her words were like a veil, hiding her true feelings.

• Покрывало тайн сделало книгу ещё интереснее.

  The veil of secrets made the book even more intriguing.

• Завеса забвения пала на старые воспоминания.

  A veil of oblivion fell over the old memories.

• Вуаль иллюзий часто обманывает людей.

  The veil of illusions often deceives people.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Most translations like "вуаль", "покрывало", and "завеса" are feminine nouns in Russian, which follow standard declension patterns for third-declension nouns. They change based on case, number, and gender. Below is a table for "вуаль" as an example:

For "покрывало", it follows a similar pattern but is a neuter noun, so its forms are: Nominative Singular - покрывало, Genitive Singular - покрывала, etc. "Завеса" is also feminine and irregular in some cases, such as Genitive Plural - завес. These nouns do not change in invariable contexts like after prepositions requiring the prepositional case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пелена (pelena) - Similar to a veil but often implies a thicker covering; used in poetic contexts.
  • маска (mask) - Metaphorical for hiding, with a nuance of deception.
• Antonyms:
  • откровение (otkrovenie) - Revelation or disclosure, directly opposite to hiding.
  • прозрачность (prozrachnost') - Transparency, implying clarity without obstruction.

Related Phrases:

• Туманная вуаль (Tumannaya vual') - Meaning: A misty veil; used to describe foggy weather or metaphorical obscurity.
• Под завесой тайны (Pod zavesoy tayny) - Meaning: Under a veil of secrecy; a common phrase in mystery stories or confidential discussions.
• Снять покрывало (Snat' pokryvalo) - Meaning: To lift the veil; implies revealing hidden information, often in investigative contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Veil" in English often corresponds directly to "вуаль" in Russian for literal uses, but in metaphorical contexts, "завеса" is preferred for a sense of mystery or barrier. Be mindful of the formal register; "вуаль" is more elegant and less common in casual speech. When choosing between translations, opt for "покрывало" in everyday scenarios and "завеса" for abstract or literary ones. Grammatically, these nouns require agreement in gender, number, and case with accompanying adjectives or verbs.

• Always check the context: In Russian, veils can carry cultural connotations, so usage might vary by region or formality.
• For learners: Practice declensions to avoid errors in sentences.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the genitive case, for example, saying "вуаль тайны" instead of the correct "вуали тайны" (of the veil of mystery). Incorrect: "Я видел вуаль тайны" (wrong declension). Correct: "Я видел завесу тайны" – Here, "завеса" fits better for the metaphorical sense. Another error is confusing "вуаль" with "пелена", leading to overuse of "пелена" in fashion contexts where "вуаль" is more appropriate. Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case, so always adjust based on the sentence structure to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "вуаль" is often associated with traditional weddings or Orthodox religious ceremonies, symbolizing modesty and mystery, much like in Western cultures. However, "завеса" can evoke historical contexts, such as the Iron Curtain during the Soviet era, representing political division and secrecy. This adds a layer of cultural depth, especially in literature by authors like Tolstoy, where veils metaphorically hide social truths.

Related Concepts:

• маска (mask)
• тайна (secret)
• иллюзия (illusion)
• покров (covering or shroud)