Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wall'

English Word: wall

Key Russian Translations:

• стена /ˈstenə/ - [Formal, Common noun for a physical wall]
• забор /zɐˈbor/ - [Informal, Used for fences or outdoor walls]

Frequency: High (стена is one of the most common nouns in everyday Russian conversation and written language).

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner level for стена; slightly higher for забор at A2, as it involves basic vocabulary distinctions).

Pronunciation (Russian):

стена: /ˈstenə/

Note on стена: The stress is on the first syllable; beginners may struggle with the soft 'н' sound, which is pronounced as a palatalized 'n'.

забор: /zɐˈbor/

Note on забор: The stress is on the second syllable; the 'з' is a voiced fricative, similar to 'z' in English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Literal Meaning: A vertical structure made of brick, stone, or other materials separating spaces.

Translation(s) & Context:

• стена - Used in formal or everyday contexts for indoor or building walls, e.g., in architecture or home descriptions.
• забор - Applied in contexts involving outdoor boundaries, like gardens or properties, often implying a fence.

Usage Examples:

• Русская комната была отделена от коридора толстой стеной. (The Russian room was separated from the hallway by a thick wall.)

  English Translation: The room was separated from the hallway by a thick wall.

• Они построили высокий забор вокруг сада, чтобы защитить его от ветра. (They built a high fence around the garden to protect it from the wind.)

  English Translation: They built a high fence around the garden to protect it from the wind.

• В старом замке сохранилась древняя стена из камня. (In the old castle, an ancient stone wall has been preserved.)

  English Translation: In the old castle, an ancient stone wall has been preserved.

• За забором соседей всегда слышны звуки их повседневной жизни. (Behind the neighbors' fence, the sounds of their daily life are always heard.)

  English Translation: Behind the neighbors' fence, the sounds of their daily life are always heard.

• Стена в гостиной была украшена картинами и семейными фото. (The wall in the living room was decorated with paintings and family photos.)

  English Translation: The wall in the living room was decorated with paintings and family photos.

Metaphorical Meaning: A barrier or obstacle, figurative use.

Translation(s) & Context:

• стена - In metaphorical contexts, such as emotional or social barriers, e.g., in literature or psychology.

Usage Examples:

• Между ними выросла невидимая стена недоверия. (An invisible wall of distrust grew between them.)

  English Translation: An invisible wall of distrust grew between them.

• Его молчание стало стеной, которую невозможно пробить. (His silence became a wall that couldn't be broken through.)

  English Translation: His silence became a wall that couldn't be broken through.

• В политике часто возникают стены, разделяющие страны. (In politics, walls often arise that divide countries.)

  English Translation: In politics, walls often arise that divide countries.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "стена" and "забор" are feminine nouns in Russian. "стена" follows the first declension (feminine nouns ending in -а), while "забор" also follows a similar pattern but with slight irregularities in some cases.

Note: These nouns do not change in gender but inflect regularly across cases. Irregularities are minimal, making them straightforward for beginners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • перегородка (partition; used for internal dividers, often in rooms)
  • ограда (fence; similar to забор but more formal)
• Antonyms:
  • проем (opening; as in a doorway or gap)
  • пустота (void; metaphorical for the absence of a barrier)

Related Phrases:

• кирпичная стена (brick wall) - A common phrase for describing building materials in construction contexts.
• разрушить стену (to break down the wall) - Often used metaphorically for overcoming barriers in relationships or societies.
• за забором (behind the fence) - Refers to something hidden or private, implying secrecy in everyday conversation.

Usage Notes:

The English word "wall" most directly corresponds to "стена" in Russian for physical structures, but choose "забор" for outdoor or boundary contexts to ensure accuracy. In formal writing, "стена" is preferred, while "забор" is more casual. Be mindful of case inflections; for example, use the genitive case (стены) after prepositions like "of" (e.g., "wall of the house" = "стены дома"). When multiple translations exist, select based on context: "стена" for indoor walls and "забор" for perimeters.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "стена" interchangeably with "забор" without considering context. For instance, saying "забор комнаты" (fence of the room) instead of "стена комнаты".

  Correct Usage: Use "стена комнаты" (wall of the room). Explanation: "Забор" implies an outdoor structure, so it doesn't fit indoor settings, leading to confusion in meaning.

• Error: Forgetting case changes, e.g., using nominative "стена" in instrumental contexts like "с стеной" (with the wall) instead of "со стеной".

  Correct Usage: "Со стеной" (with the wall). Explanation: Russian requires instrumental case for prepositions like "with," so always check the required case to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, walls often symbolize historical barriers, such as the Kremlin walls in Moscow, which represent both protection and isolation. Metaphorically, phrases like "железный занавес" (Iron Curtain) build on the idea of walls as divisions, reflecting Russia's complex history with borders and invasions.

Related Concepts:

• дверь (door)
• окно (window)
• потолок (ceiling)