Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'walkway'

English Word: walkway

Key Russian Translations:

• тротуар [ˈtrətʊər] - [Formal, commonly used in urban contexts]
• пешеходная дорожка [pʲɪˈʂexədnəjə dəˈroʂkə] - [Informal, for more general or recreational paths]

Frequency: Medium (This word and its translations are encountered regularly in everyday conversations about urban navigation, but not as frequently as basic vocabulary like "дом" for "house").

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and common prepositions. For "тротуар", it's straightforward; for "пешеходная дорожка", the adjective form adds slight complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

тротуар: [ˈtrətʊər]

Note on тротуар: The stress is on the first syllable; the "р" sound is rolled, which can be challenging for English speakers. Be mindful of the soft "т" in some regional accents.

пешеходная дорожка: [pʲɪˈʂexədnəjə dəˈroʂkə]

Note on пешеходная дорожка: The "ш" is a voiceless postalveolar fricative; practice the soft "х" for accuracy. This phrase has a natural flow in spoken Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

A path or sidewalk designed for pedestrians, often in urban or outdoor settings.

Translation(s) & Context:

• тротуар - Used primarily in formal or descriptive contexts for paved sidewalks in cities, such as when discussing traffic rules or urban planning.
• пешеходная дорожка - Applied in informal or recreational contexts, like parks or trails, emphasizing pedestrian-only areas.

Usage Examples:

• Мы шли по тротуару, избегая оживлённой дороги.

  We walked on the sidewalk, avoiding the busy road. (This example shows the word in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting safety in urban environments.)

• В парке есть удобная пешеходная дорожка для прогулок.

  In the park, there's a convenient walkway for walks. (Demonstrates use in a recreational context with an adjective modifying the noun.)

• Дети бегают по тротуару после школы.

  The children run on the sidewalk after school. (Illustrates plural subjects and everyday scenarios.)

• Эта пешеходная дорожка ведёт к реке и окружена деревьями.

  This walkway leads to the river and is surrounded by trees. (Shows the word in a descriptive phrase with prepositions.)

• Зимой тротуар часто покрывается снегом, что затрудняет ходьбу.

  In winter, the sidewalk is often covered with snow, making walking difficult. (Highlights seasonal variations and potential challenges.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are nouns, with "тротуар" being a masculine noun in the second declension and "пешеходная дорожка" involving an adjective-noun phrase. Russian nouns and adjectives inflect based on case, number, and gender. "Тротуар" is invariable in gender but changes by case and number.

Note: "Пешеходная" is an adjective that agrees with "дорожка" (feminine noun) in gender, number, and case, making it more complex than "тротуар," which has regular second-declension patterns.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • пешеходная зона (pedestrian zone; more general for car-free areas)
  • тропинка (trail; informal for narrower paths)
• Antonyms:
  • автодорога (highway; emphasizes vehicle traffic)
  • проезжая часть (roadway; specifically for drivable surfaces)

Related Phrases:

• идти по тротуару - To walk on the sidewalk; used in everyday navigation contexts.
• пешеходная дорожка в парке - Walkway in the park; refers to recreational paths with a focus on leisure.
• тротуар для велосипедистов - Sidewalk for cyclists; indicates shared or specialized paths.

Usage Notes:

"Тротуар" directly corresponds to "walkway" in urban settings, like sidewalks, and is the most precise translation for English speakers. It's neutral and widely used in formal writing or speech. "Пешеходная дорожка" is better for non-urban or informal contexts, such as trails, and includes an adjective that must agree grammatically. Choose based on context: use "тротуар" for city streets and "пешеходная дорожка" for nature walks. Be aware of prepositions like "по" (on) which are common in Russian mobility phrases.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "тротуар" interchangeably with "дорога" (road), leading to confusion in sentences like "Мы идём по тротуару" vs. incorrectly saying "Мы идём по дороге."
  Correct: "тротуар" specifically means a pedestrian path; "дорога" implies a road for vehicles. Explanation: English learners often overlook the pedestrian focus, so always specify the context to avoid implying vehicle use.
• Mistake: Forgetting adjective agreement in "пешеходная дорожка," e.g., saying "пешеходный дорожка" (wrong gender).
  Correct: It should be "пешеходная дорожка" with feminine agreement. Explanation: Russian adjectives must match the noun's gender, which differs from English's lack of grammatical gender.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "тротуар" often symbolizes urban life in cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg, where pedestrian safety is a growing concern due to heavy traffic. Historically, the expansion of тротуары in the Soviet era reflected modernization, but today, they highlight issues like snow removal in winter, which can make walking challenging and is a common topic in daily conversations.

Related Concepts:

• улица (street)
• парк (park)
• пешеходный (pedestrian)